Short answer
A gate that drags on the ground and misses the latch has lost its square, and the hinge post is usually why. Push the hinge post hard before you touch the gate. A post that wobbles is the whole problem, and resetting that post brings the latch back into line. If the post is firm and the gate itself flexes out of square, the frame gets braced or a new panel goes on the same posts.
Tell a bad post from a sagging gate in five minutes
- Push the top of the hinge post with both hands. Any wobble at the ground line means the post is loose or rotten.
- Lift the latch-side corner of the gate with one hand. Note how far it rises before the latch lines up with its catch.
- Watch the bottom of the gate as you swing it. A straight drop with even scraping points at the post or the hinges.
- Push on two diagonal corners of the gate frame. A frame that flexes into a diamond shape has lost its bracing.
- Turn each hinge screw. Screws that spin without biting hold nothing, and the gate drops every time you open it.
- Scrape a few inches of soil off the base of the hinge post. Press the wood with a screwdriver tip.
If the post is solid, the frame is square, and only the hardware is loose, new screws and a latch adjustment are the whole job. If the post moves or the wood sinks under the screwdriver, the post gets reset or replaced first. A rebuilt gate hung on a loose post sags again within weeks.
Repair or replace
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Hinge screws loose, post and frame solid | Repair. Longer screws into solid wood lift the gate back into line. |
| Hinge post wobbles when you push it | Repair the post first. It gets reset in concrete, then the gate is rehung and the latch reset. |
| Post base is dark, soft and crumbly | Replace the post. Rot below grade keeps spreading, so new hardware on that post fails. |
| Gate frame flexes out of square, pickets and rails sound | Repair. A diagonal brace or an anti-sag cable pulls the frame square. |
| Rails split at the corners, pickets loose or rotten | Replace the gate panel. The posts usually stay. |
| Gate scrapes the ground but still latches | Repair. Raising the gate on its hinges or trimming the bottom rail clears the ground. |
| Fence sections beside the gate lean too | Price both together. A leaning fence drags the gate post with it. |
What it costs
Runhome contractor estimates for this job, including the trip and assessment.
| Option | Range |
|---|---|
| Rebuild the existing gate, new hinges and latch, paint | $340 to $810 |
| New gate panel and new posts, old gate hauled away | $530 to $1,405 |
Can I do it myself?
Yes, if the posts are solid and the fault is hardware. Swapping hinges, driving 3-inch screws into firm wood, and fitting an anti-sag kit are afternoon jobs with a drill and a level. Trimming the bottom rail to stop scraping is also within reach.
Hire someone if the hinge post wobbles or its base is soft. That post has to come out, the hole has to be dug deeper, and the new post has to be set plumb in concrete and left to cure. Gate posts also carry the weight of the fence beside them, so a post set badly takes the fence run with it.
What a contractor will ask you
Have these ready and you skip the back-and-forth.
- What happens when you open it. Scrapes on the ground, binds at the latch, or sags and won't close. One homeowner answered "All of the above".
- The age of the gate. The year you moved in works when the gate came with the house.
- Whether the hinge post wobbles noticeably when you push it.
- Which way the bottom moves as the gate swings: toward one side, or straight down and scraping evenly.
- Whether the fence beside the gate is part of the job or stays as it is.
- What you want back. The same style of wood gate, or a new pre-built panel in the same size.
- Whether paint is included, and in which color.
- A wide photo of the whole gate from a few steps back, with the hinge side and the latch side both in frame.
Last reviewed .