Take a door off its hinges
Taking a door off is mostly a matter of tapping the hinge pins up and out, bottom hinge first, while someone holds the door. You need a hammer, a nail or a flat screwdriver to push the pins, and a helper, because even an interior door is heavier and more awkward than it looks.
How a hinge comes apart
Most interior doors hang on hinges with removable pins. The pin runs down through the knuckles and holds the two halves of the hinge together. Tap each pin up from below and the door lifts free, leaving one hinge leaf on the door and one on the frame.
Open the door partway and wedge it before you start. With the pins out, nothing holds the door up, and it can drop or swing into you.
Why pins get stuck
Paint glues the pin to the knuckles.
Common on exterior and bathroom doors.
A sagging door can bend a pin slightly.
Some security hinges have pins that are fixed or held by a set screw.
| Hinge | How to tell | How to remove |
|---|---|---|
| Standard removable pin | A pin head on top, a small hole or gap at the bottom | Tap the pin up from below. |
| Painted-over pin | The pin is buried in paint | Score the paint, then tap it up. |
| Security or fixed pin | No gap, or a small set screw | Loosen the set screw, or unscrew the leaves. |
| Spring or concealed hinge | A built-in spring, or no knuckles showing | Follow the hinge maker's instructions. |
Let's fix it
- Open and wedge the doorOpen the door partway and slide a wedge or folded cardboard under the bottom edge on the latch side, so it can't swing or drop when the pins come out.
- Start with the bottom hingeHold a nail or nail set against the bottom of the hinge pin and tap upward until the pin's head lifts clear. If there's no hole at the bottom, set a flat screwdriver under the pin head and tap that upward instead.
- Do the middle, then the topPull the bottom pin, then the middle one. Take out the top pin last, while your helper holds the door.
- Lift the door freeWith all the pins out, tilt the hinge side of the door away from the frame and lift it off. Lay it flat or lean it safely against a wall.
- Rehang it in reverseLine up the knuckles, drop the top pin in first, then the others, and tap them home. Check that the door swings and latches.
If a pin won't come out
If a pin is stuck, cut through any paint around the pin head with a utility knife, spray penetrating oil into the top and bottom of the knuckles, wait a few minutes and tap again.
If there's no way for the pin to come out, or there's a small set screw in the hinge, it's likely a security hinge. Loosen the set screw, or unscrew the hinge leaves from the frame instead.
What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): A handyman typically charges $75–$150 to take down, trim and rehang an interior door.
Other door problems
Door removal questions
Do I need to take the hinges off the frame?
Usually not. Pulling the pins leaves the hinge leaves on the door and frame, which makes rehanging easy.
Which hinge pin comes out first?
The bottom, then the middle, then the top, with someone holding the door.
How do I get a painted hinge pin out?
Cut the paint around the pin head with a utility knife, tap the pin up from below, and use penetrating oil if it's still stuck.
Can I take a door off by myself?
A light hollow-core door, carefully, with a wedge under it. For solid or heavy doors, get a helper.
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