A squeaky door hinge is one of those small annoyances that is surprisingly easy to fix. The squeak comes from metal-on-metal friction in the hinge pin, usually caused by lack of lubrication or slight misalignment. Most fixes take less than five minutes.

How to Fix Squeaky Door Hinges

Quick Fix: Lubricate the Hinge Pin

The fastest method that works most of the time:

Open the door partway and support it with a shim or book under the bottom edge
Use a nail or thin punch to tap the hinge pin upward from below
Pull the pin out (you may need pliers for the last inch)
Coat the pin with white lithium grease, petroleum jelly, or a drop of household oil
Push the pin back in
Swing the door back and forth to distribute the lubricant
Wipe any excess from the hinge

Repeat for each squeaky hinge.

What Lubricant to Use

Best options:

White lithium grease: Long-lasting, does not drip, resists washoff. The best choice.
Petroleum jelly (Vaseline): Easy to apply, effective, and available in every household.
Silicone spray: Clean and effective but can overspray onto surfaces you do not want slippery.

Avoid:

WD-40: It is a solvent, not a lubricant. It works temporarily but dries out and may make the squeak return worse than before.
Cooking oil: Attracts dust and can go rancid, creating odor.

If Lubrication Does Not Work

Clean the Pin

If the pin has corrosion or buildup:

Remove the pin completely
Scrub it with steel wool or fine sandpaper to remove rust and grime
Clean the hinge knuckles (the barrel shapes on the hinge) with a small brush
Apply fresh lubricant and reinstall

Check for Misalignment

If the door has settled or the hinge has shifted, the hinge leaves may be slightly out of alignment, causing the knuckles to bind:

Tighten all hinge screws — loose screws allow the door to shift
If screws are stripped, replace with longer screws that reach the stud
Check that the hinge leaves are flat and not bent — gently straighten with pliers if needed

Replace Worn Hinge Pins

On very old doors, the pin and knuckle may be worn to the point where no lubricant solves the squeak. Replace the pin with a new one from the hardware store (bring the old pin for matching) or replace the entire hinge. Residential interior door hinges cost $3 to $8 each.

The No-Remove Method

If you do not want to remove the hinge pin (perhaps the door is heavy or difficult to support):

Open the door and support the bottom
Squeeze white lithium grease or apply petroleum jelly to the top and bottom of each hinge knuckle
Swing the door back and forth to work the lubricant into the pin
Wipe away excess

This is less thorough than removing the pin but often effective for minor squeaks.

Prevention

Lubricate all door hinges annually as part of your home maintenance routine
When installing new doors, apply a small amount of lubricant to each hinge pin before setting it
In humid environments, check hinges more frequently — moisture accelerates corrosion

A tube of white lithium grease costs $5 and lubricates every hinge in your house several times over. Spend 15 minutes addressing every squeaky door, and the house sounds noticeably quieter immediately.

This is one of the simplest and most satisfying home repairs — a common annoyance eliminated in minutes with basic tools and a dab of grease.