How to Fix a Squeaky Door or Cabinet Hinge

A squeaky door or cabinet hinge is one of those small annoyances that’s almost embarrassingly easy to fix, but it’s worth doing right so it doesn’t creep back in a few weeks later. The squeak comes from metal-on-metal friction inside the hinge barrel, and in almost every case a few minutes of cleaning and the right lubricant will silence it for good.

Fixing a Squeaky Door Hinge: Quick Overview

Squeaky hinges are caused by dried-out or dirty lubricant, rust, or a slightly bent hinge pin rubbing against the barrel. The fix is almost always to remove the pin, clean off the old grime, and apply a fresh, light lubricant — never a thick grease, which just attracts more dust. If the door itself is sagging or sticking rather than just squeaking, that’s usually a loose hinge screw rather than a lubrication issue, which you can tighten with the same screwdriver you’ll use here. For a full home tune-up of small fixes like this one, check our home maintenance timeline, and if you’re not sure whether a squeak means a bigger problem, our what’s wrong, find your fix tool can help you triage it.

What’s Actually Wrong

Every hinge has a pin running through a barrel made of interlocking metal knuckles. Factory lubricant on that pin wears off over months or years of opening and closing, especially in humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms where moisture can also introduce light surface rust. Once the metal is dry or slightly rusted, you get that high-pitched squeak or grinding sound every time the door swings. Cabinet hinges squeak for the same reason, just on a smaller scale, and outdoor or garage doors are especially prone to it because of temperature swings and exposure to moisture.

Tools You’ll Need

• Screwdriver (Phillips and flathead)
• Hammer and a nail or nail set (for stubborn door hinge pins)
• Rag or paper towels
• Fine steel wool or an old toothbrush (for rust)
• Light penetrating oil or silicone spray lubricant

Step-by-Step Fix

1. For a door hinge, remove the pin. Place a nail or nail set under the head of the hinge pin and tap it upward with a hammer until it slides free. Support the door so it doesn’t shift while the pin is out.
2. Wipe down the pin. Use a rag to remove old grease and grime. If you see surface rust, buff it off gently with fine steel wool.
3. Apply a light lubricant. Spray or drip a few drops directly onto the pin and into the top of the hinge barrel. A thin household oil works better than heavy grease, which attracts dust and can gum up over time.
4. Reinsert the pin and work the door. Slide the pin back in, tap it fully seated, and open and close the door several times to work the lubricant through the whole barrel.
5. For cabinet hinges, most are surface-mounted and don’t have a removable pin — simply apply a drop of oil directly to the visible pivot point and both sides of the hinge, then open and close the cabinet door a dozen times to distribute it.
6. Wipe away excess. Any oil that drips onto the door or cabinet finish should be wiped off immediately to avoid staining.
7. Tighten loose screws while you’re in there. If the hinge itself wiggles, snug up the mounting screws; if a screw hole has stripped out, pack it with a golf tee or wooden matchsticks and wood glue, let it dry, then reinsert the screw.

Watch the Repair

Not every squeak comes from a dry hinge. This short clip from Ask This Old House shows the pin-and-lubricant method, plus what to do when the door itself is the problem.

When to Call a Pro

This is about as DIY-friendly as home repairs get, so a professional is rarely needed. The one exception is a door that’s badly sagging or out of square in the frame — if lubrication and tightening screws doesn’t stop the squeak and the door also drags on the floor or won’t latch properly, the frame itself may have shifted, which is worth having a carpenter or handyman look at.