How to Stop a Door From Swinging Open

Updated: Jan. 29, 2019

Stop a door from opening on it's own by putting a slight bend in the hinge pin.

FH05MAY_SWINGD_01-2 how to fix a door that won t stay open door won't stay openFamily Handyman
We'll show you a simple fix that will keep interior doors from swinging all the way open if you leave them slightly ajar. It's an annoying problem with an easy solution that you can do yourself. All it takes is bending the hinge pin.

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Time
An hour or less
Complexity
Beginner
Cost
Free

Door Won’t Stay Closed: Bend the hinge pin

how to fix a door that won t stay open

Photo 1: Remove the hinge pin

To learn how to keep a door open, shim the door and knock out the upper hinge pin.

how to keep a door open how to fix a door that won t stay open

Photo 2: Bend the hinge pin

Hit the hinge pin with a hammer. The bent pin should keep the door from swinging open on its own.

If you have a door that swings all the way open every time you leave it slightly ajar, the door frame isn’t plumb. But you don’t need to take the door down and go through the hassle of disassembling everything just to adjust the frame and learn how to stop a door won’t stay open. Instead, try this much simpler fix.

Grab a hammer, a few scraps of wood, a large nail and a shim. Take them into the room and close the door. Stick the shim loosely between the door and the jamb to hold the door in position when you drive out the upper hinge pin. Then bend the pin slightly with a firm whack. Reinsert the pin and check the results. If the door still won’t stay open, do the same with the lower hinge.

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this how to keep a door open DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.

  • Hammer
  • Pliers

Required Materials for this How to Fix a Door that Won’t Stay Open Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.

  • You'll need a nail to knock out the hinge pin.