How to Fix a Sagging Closet Rod

Co-authored by Lui Colmenares

Last Updated: February 17, 2022

A well-organized closet should, ideally, include a stout, straight rod that allows you to space your clothing evenly, keeping it tidy and not wrinkled, and allowing plenty of airflow. However, if you've overloaded your closet rod by squeezing too many clothes into too small a space, or if it's simply too thin for the job, it could sag in the middle. Aside from the common-sense solution of replacing it with a sturdier rod--as simple as lifting the old rod out of the hooks and dropping the new one into place--you have a few possible solutions for holding that sagging closet rod up.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Fix the Cause

1
Reorganize your closet so there's not as much weight on the closet rod. Possible ways of doing this include:
- Shift items to another closet entirely.
- Unpack hanging closet storage racks and multiple garment hangers, and hang each item individually. This distributes the weight more evenly across the closet rod. Or at the very least, hang heavy storage rocks near the ends of the rod where it's less likely to sag.
- Stack shoes on the closet floor, or store them in an over-the-door holder, instead of in a holder suspended from the closet rod.
- Store out-of-season clothes, especially heavy sweaters, under the bed or on closet shelves instead of hanging from the closet rod.
- Sort through your closet and donate unwanted clothing to friends or a charity; this might lessen the stress on the closet rod.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Add Extra Brackets

1
Measure your current closet rod's diameter, and how far it hangs away from the wall.
- The easiest way to do the latter is to measure how long the current brackets are.
2
Locate a stud near the center of the closet rod, or two studs equidistant to the center, with a stud finder.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Lui Colmenares
Handyman
Expert Interview. 18 August 2020.}
- If you don't have a stud finder, tap gently across the wall. The drywall will sound hollow between studs, and firmer as you're knocking over the stud itself.
3
Remove all the clothing from the rod. Hold the new brackets in place over the studs, supporting the rod so it lays flat, and mark the location of the mounting holes on the drywall with a pencil.
4
Drill the appropriate starting holes for the mounting hardware that came with your new closet bracket or brackets. Remove the rod and screw-mount the new brackets in place.^{[2]
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5
Drop the closet rod back into place. The new brackets will help support it along its length, preventing or at least reducing sag.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Prop It Up

1
Measure how high the bottom edge of the closet rod hangs from the floor at the end points, where it doesn't sag at all.^{[3]
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2
Mark this distance on a wooden 1 3/8-inch (3.5 cm) or thicker dowel.
3
Use the spade bit to bore a hole through the dowel. The bottom edge of the hole should intersect the mark you just made.^{[4]
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4
Saw straight through the hole you just bored, one-quarter to one-half of the way up from the bottom. This leaves a cylinder-shaped socket in the top end of the dowel.
5
Place the dowel beneath the center of the closet rod to prop up the sagging middle.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Can I install the brackets anywhere in the closet?

Lui Colmenares
Handyman
Lui Colmenares is a handyman and licensed home improvement contractor for Mr. Handy NYC based in New York City, New York. Lui is trained and educated as an industrial engineer and specializes in carpentry, painting, and general handyman work such as mounting TVs, doorknob and deadbolt installation, furniture assembly, tile repair, and grouting. Mr. Handy NYC prides itself on quality work performed with speed, skill, and punctuality.

Lui Colmenares

Handyman

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

No, closet rods tend to hold a lot of weight, so you need to mount the brackets in studs. Use a stud finder to identify the locations of your studs.