Repair a sagging drawer bottom
A drawer bottom that sags or slips out of its grooves usually means the small nails at the back have worked loose. A few brads hold it in place again, and glue blocks underneath keep it from happening again. Empty the drawer first. It's an obvious step, but all that weight is usually what caused the sag.
How drawer bottoms fit
Most drawer bottoms are a thin panel that slides into grooves on the sides and front, held at the back by a few small nails or staples. Load it with heavy things long enough and those back nails pull out, the panel bows, and eventually it drops out of the grooves. Putting it back is quick; the glue blocks are what keep it from happening again.
Why it drops out
Heavy items push the bottom down over time.
Staples and brads pull out.
Thin hardboard sags under load.
Panels swell and warp.
| What you see | Fix |
|---|---|
| Bottom slipped out of the grooves | Slide it back in, nail the back edge, add glue blocks. |
| Bottom sags in the middle | Add a thin wood brace underneath, across the center. |
| Bottom is cracked or broken | Cut a new piece of 1/4 inch plywood to the same size. |
| Drawer front or corners separating | Reglue and clamp the corner joints first. |
| Drawer drags or sticks after the fix | Rub wax on the runners, or check the slides. |
Reattach the drawer bottom
- Empty and flip the drawerTake everything out, remove the drawer, and set it upside down on a towel.
- Slide the bottom back inPush the panel back into the grooves along the sides and front.
- Nail the back edgeDrive two or three brad nails through the bottom into the back of the drawer.
- Add glue blocksGlue small wood blocks along the joint between the bottom and the sides to add support.
- Let it dry, then reloadClamp or weight the blocks until the glue dries, then put the drawer back.
Watch it done
- The bottom sits in its grooves without sagging
- The drawer holds its contents without the bottom dropping
- The drawer slides in and out smoothly
Still sagging in the middle? Glue a brace strip across the center.
If it still bows in the middle
If it sags in the middle, glue a thin strip of wood underneath across the center as a brace.
For drawers that stick after the repair, rub wax along the runners.
What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): A handyman or furniture repair shop typically charges $40–$100 per drawer.
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