A sagging gate is one of those problems that seems small until you’re dragging it open every day, shoving it back into place, or yelling at it in front of your neighbors. The good news is you don’t have to rebuild the gate from scratch to get it working again. Most gate issues come down to a few common problems—things like loose hinges, warped wood, or gate posts that have shifted over time. With a little patience and a few tools, you can fix it and get on with your life.
Figure Out Why it's Sagging
First, take a look at the gate from a few feet back. Is the top edge or the fence post tilted? Is one corner dragging on the ground? Does the latch line up, or is it way off? Knowing how it’s sagging will point you to what needs adjusting.
In most cases, the issue falls into one or more of these:
- The gate hinge screws have loosened
- The post is leaning
- The wood has warped or shrunk
- The gate is too heavy for the current support
Try lifting the gate slightly by hand. If it moves easily and lines up when lifted, it’s likely loose screws, the hinges, or a wobbly post. If it still drags or doesn’t sit right, the frame might be twisted or the gate may need bracing.
1. Tighten, Adjust, or Replace the Hardware
Start by checking the gate hinge side. Look at where the hinges connect to the post and the gate frame. If the hinge screws are loose or pulling out of the wood, replace them with thicker or longer deck screws. You can also use wood glue and toothpicks or wooden match sticks to fill the screw holes before re-screwing if the wood is stripped out.
If the post is leaning, it may need to be reset in the ground, but don’t jump to that just yet. You can often solve the problem by reinforcing the gate instead.
You can also try adjusting the hinges. Some have slots instead of holes so you can raise or lower the gate slightly. If your hinges are badly rusted or bent, replace them with heavy-duty versions—especially for wide or heavy gates.
2. Add Support With an Anti-sag Kit or Diagonal Brace
If the gate frame is sagging under its own weight, it needs help holding itself together. One easy fix is a gate anti-sag kit with a wire cable and turnbuckle. These usually run corner to corner from the bottom hinge-side corner to the top latch-side corner. Tighten the turnbuckle and the gate pulls back into shape. You can also make your own with a metal turnbuckle, steel cable, cable clamps, and a couple of eye bolts. An advantage of the turnbuckle method is you can make minor adjustments to pull your gates into alignment.
If you want to keep things even simpler, a cross brace installed diagonally can do the same job. Fasten the angled board from the bottom corner on the vertical board side near the hinge up to the top corner horizontal brace near the latch. The weight of the gate pushes down on the brace, which distributes the downward force and helps hold everything square.
Before you add the brace, make sure the gate is sitting in the correct position. Prop it up with a block or wedge to where it should be, then fasten the cable or brace while it’s in place.
If you're going with the wooden "diagonal brace" method, make sure you drill pilot holes to avoid any wood splitting issues.
Here’s what you’ll need for most repairs:
- Screwdriver or cordless drill (for pilot holes)
- Exterior construction screws (longer than the originals)
- Gate repair kit with a wire cable and turnbuckle or a 2x4 (or same dimension wood as your gate) for a diagonal brace
- Wood shims or couple of blocks to prop the gate into place while working
- Level (optional, but helpful)
- Wrench for tightening the turnbuckle (if used)
3. Double-Check the Latch and Posts
Once the gate is squared up and swinging freely again, take a look at the latch. If the gate moved at all, the latch might not line up anymore. Most latches can be adjusted by loosening a few screws and sliding the catch into the right spot.
If you’ve done all this and the gate isn't right because the post is wobbly, you might have a deeper issue. Wooden posts can rot at the base, and even metal posts can lean if the concrete footing breaks down. Replacing or resetting a post is more work, but sometimes it’s the only fix. That said, unless the post moves when you push on it, the issue is more likely with the gate itself.
What if it sags again after I fixed it?
If it keeps sagging, there may be too much weight for the size of the hinges or the strength of the post. You may need to upgrade to stronger hardware or reinforce the post.
Also check for seasonal changes. Wood gates can shift with moisture, so things may move slightly over time. Tighten and check each year to keep it working smoothly.
FAQ
Can I use a gate repair kit on a metal gate?
Yes, as long as you can screw or bolt the hardware into the frame. Most kits work on both wood and metal, but double-check that the materials are compatible. For heavy steel gates, welding a brace might be a better option.
What about using metal brackets or corner braces?
Yes, those 90-degree L-shaped corner braces can work, but the biggest issue is that they're ugly. I like the aesthetic of an diagonal brace versus those metal braces or some type of bolt on metal plate.
