Door rattles when closed
A door that rattles when it's closed has a little space between the door and the stop it closes against, so drafts and the furnace blower knock it back and forth. Bending the tab on the strike plate usually fixes it in five minutes. If the gap is bigger, moving the strike plate or the door stop molding closer with a hammer and a few finish nails takes it out for good. A bent tab on the strike is the five minute fix.
Why a closed door can still move
When a door closes, its latch slips into the strike plate on the jamb, and the face of the door rests against a thin strip of wood called the stop. The latch holds it in, and the stop keeps it from swinging past. If the latch sits loosely in the strike, the door can move back and forth between the latch and the stop.
That gap shows up when wood shrinks in dry weather, when the strike plate was set a little too far from the stop, or when the stop molding was nailed on with a gap. Air moving through the house, especially when the furnace or AC runs, rocks the door and you hear it tap.
What makes a door rattle
The latch sits loose.
Dry seasons open a gap.
The door rocks along its edge.
The bolt no longer fills the strike.
| You notice | Likely cause | Start at |
|---|---|---|
| Moves only at the latch | Loose strike | Step 2 |
| Gap of more than 1/8 inch | Strike too far out | Step 3 |
| Rocks along the whole edge | Stop molding gap | Step 5 |
| Tiny tap with the furnace on | Small gap | Step 4 |
Let's fix it
- Find where it movesClose the door and push and pull on it near the latch, the top and the bottom. If it moves at the latch, the strike is the issue. If it rocks at the top or bottom corner, the stop or the door's shape is. Look at the gap between the door and the stop when it's closed.
- Bend the strike plate tabOpen the door and look at the strike plate. Many have a small metal tab inside the latch hole. Bend that tab slightly toward the stop with a flathead screwdriver or pliers so the latch is held tighter. Close the door to test it; it should latch firmly without slamming.
- Move the strike plateIf there's no tab or the gap is more than about 1/8 inch, unscrew the strike, file or chisel the jamb mortise a little toward the stop, and reset the plate closer to the stop. Fill the old screw holes with glued toothpicks first so the screws bite.
- Add bumpers or weatherstripFor a small rattle, stick two or three soft bumpers or a thin strip of foam weatherstrip on the face of the stop where the door touches it. The door then presses against something soft and stops knocking.
- Move the door stopIf the door rocks along its whole edge, score the paint along the stop with a utility knife, gently pry it loose with a putty knife and small pry bar, and set it back against the closed door so it just touches, about a business card's thickness of play. If it's only slightly off, you can instead tap it over with a hammer and a scrap block. Drive 1 1/4 inch finish nails every 12 inches to hold it in place, set the nails and fill the holes.
- Test and touch upClose the door, push on it, and run the furnace fan or open a window to check that it's quiet. Touch up paint where the stop moved and caulk any small gap along its edge.
Watch it done
- The door doesn't move when pushed closed
- It's quiet with the furnace running
- It still latches without slamming
Still rattles? Check that the door isn't warped by laying a straightedge on it.
If it won't latch at all
If the door won't latch at all, see the guide for a door that won't latch.
If the door swings open or closed on its own, see the guide for that problem.
What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): A handyman typically charges $75–$150 to adjust a strike plate and door stop on one or two doors.
Find a handyman near youSomething else going on?
Rattling door questions
Why does my door rattle when it's closed?
There's a small gap between the door and the stop, so the door moves on its latch when air pushes it.
How do I stop a door from rattling?
Bend the strike plate tab toward the stop, move the strike closer, add soft bumpers to the stop, or move the stop molding closer to the door.
What is the tab on a strike plate for?
It sets how tightly the latch holds the door. Bending it toward the stop pulls the door tighter.
How do I move a door stop?
Score the paint, tap the stop toward the closed door with a hammer and a block until it just touches, and renail it.
Why does my door rattle when the furnace turns on?
The blower changes the air pressure between rooms and rocks a loose door.