Find out why it sags
- Close the gate and look at the gap along the top. Wider at the latch side than the hinge side means the gate is racking out of square.
- Put a level on the hinge post. If the post leans toward the gate, the post is the problem.
- Wiggle the gate on its hinges. Movement at the screws means loose hinges.
Fix loose hinges
Replace short hinge screws with longer exterior screws or through-bolts, and use heavier hinges if the originals are light-duty. Strap hinges that spread the load across the rails hold a gate square better than small butt hinges.
Square the gate with a brace or cable
A wooden diagonal brace runs from the bottom corner on the hinge side up to the top corner on the latch side, so the gate's weight pushes down through the brace into the bottom hinge. Installed the other way, it does nothing. An anti-sag kit is a steel cable and turnbuckle that runs the opposite way, from the top hinge-side corner to the bottom latch-side corner, and is tightened to pull the gate back into square. It is quick and works well on existing gates.
Fix a leaning hinge post
A gate hung on a leaning or loose post will always sag. The post has to be reset or replaced, ideally set deeper than line posts because it carries the gate's weight and swing. Contact BC 1 Call at least three business days before digging; the locate is free. See fence post repair for how the post is set.
Latch and clearance problems
Once the gate hangs square, realign the latch. If the gate drags on the ground, raise it at the hinges or trim the bottom, leaving clearance for ground that rises in the swing path. Vinyl gates sag when they lack an internal steel frame; see vinyl fence repair. For chain link gates, see chain link fence repair.
Wet winters, frost and pool gates
A cedar gate is heavier in winter than in summer, because the wood takes on water, and that extra weight is when a marginal hinge or brace gives up. Use hot-dip galvanized or stainless steel hinges, screws and latches outdoors; plain steel rusts quickly in coastal damp. In colder parts of BC, frost can lift a shallow gate post a little each winter, which shows up as a latch that no longer lines up.
If the gate is part of a swimming pool enclosure, most municipalities require it to close and latch by itself. Check your city's pool bylaw before changing the hinges or latch.
What gate repair costs
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Gate repair, Canada Hardware at the low end, gate frame at the high end | $100–$600 |
| Replace a post Digging, concrete and hardware | $200–$500 per post |
| Straighten leaning posts Posts not yet rotted | $150–$400 |
| Fence contractor labour Most repairs take 2–6 hours | $40–$80 / hr |
If the rest of the fence needs work too, see fence repair cost.
Common questions
Which way does a gate brace go?
A wooden brace runs from the bottom of the hinge side up to the top of the latch side. A tension cable, such as an anti-sag kit, runs the opposite way.
Why does my new gate sag already?
Usually a missing or backward brace, light-duty hinges, or a hinge post that was not set deep enough for the gate's weight.
Can a sagging gate be fixed without replacing it?
Almost always. Stronger hinges, a brace or an anti-sag kit fixes most gates. Replacement makes sense when the frame is rotted.
Related guides
Compiled from published 2026 Canadian cost data (Canadian fence repair contractors' price guides), in CAD. Locate requirements from BC 1 Call. We update these figures as we complete jobs.