Fix a squeaky floor
A floor squeak usually comes from the subfloor rubbing against a joist or a nail. How you fix it depends on whether you can get underneath: a glued shim from a basement or crawl space, or a squeak repair kit through carpet or hardwood from above. Have someone walk over the spot while you listen from below. It's much easier to pin down a squeak when you can hear exactly where it starts.
What's under your floor
Floors are built in layers: the finished floor you walk on, a layer of plywood under it called the subfloor, and wood beams called joists under that. When the subfloor comes loose from a joist, it moves a little with every step. Every fix below does the same thing: pulls the subfloor tight to the joist so it can't move.
Why floors squeak
The subfloor has loosened, so it moves and rubs underfoot.
Old nails loosen and squeak as the floor moves.
Squeaks often get worse in dry winter air.
Hardwood strips rub at the seams.
| Your situation | Best approach |
|---|---|
| Basement or crawl space below | Glue a shim into the gap from below, or screw a 2x4 block along the joist. |
| Carpet, no access below | A through-carpet squeak kit that snaps the screw off under the carpet. |
| Hardwood, no access below | A hardwood squeak kit, or a trim-head screw into the joist, filled with matching putty. |
| Tile | Leave it. Screwing through tile cracks it. Fix it from below or call a pro. |
| Squeak moves around, or the floor feels bouncy | Could be a joist problem. Have it looked at. |
Find it, then fasten it
- Find the exact spotHave someone walk slowly while you listen, from below if there's a basement. Mark the spot with tape.
- Find the nearest joistJoists usually run every 16 inches. Use a stud finder on the floor, or knock and listen for a solid sound.
- From below: shim the gapIf you can see a gap between the joist and subfloor, tap a glued wood shim into it. Don't force it, or you'll create a bump.
- From above: screw it downUse a squeak repair kit that drives a scored screw through the carpet or finish floor into the joist, then snaps off below the surface.
- Test and fillWalk over it. On hardwood, fill the tiny hole with matching wood filler.
Watch it done
- Walking over the marked spot is quiet
- No bump where a shim went in
- The repair hole on hardwood is filled and flush
Squeak moved along the joist? Glue and screw a 2x4 block there.
If the squeak moves or comes back
If it's the stairs that squeak, check our guide for fixing squeaky stairs.
If a squeak moves around, there may be a gap along a longer stretch of the joist. Glue and screw a short 2x4 block along the joist, snug against the subfloor. Use screws short enough that they can't poke up through the finished floor.
Seasonal squeaks sometimes fade when humidity returns. A humidifier in winter can help hardwood floors.
What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): A handyman or flooring pro typically charges $150–$400 to fix squeaks, depending on access.
Find a flooring contractor near you