Why Your New Dresser Drawers Stick (And How to Fix It)

Three Reasons a New Drawer Sticks

A brand-new dresser with a sticky drawer almost always has one of three causes — all fixable in five minutes.

1. The Runners Aren't Aligned

The drawer slides on two runners (one each side). If the runners are a fraction off — usually because a cam lock wasn't fully tightened — the drawer twists and catches. Re-tighten every cam on the dresser frame, then check that the runners are parallel.

2. The Drawer Isn't Square

Lift the drawer out and measure corner to corner. If the diagonals differ by more than 1/8 inch, the drawer is racked. Loosen the cam locks, square the drawer by hand, and re-tighten in a star pattern.

3. The Drawer Front Is On Crooked

The drawer front is screwed to the drawer box from inside. If it's rotated even a degree, it rubs the frame. Loosen the screws, re-seat the front flush, and tighten.

The Fix That Always Works

Pull the drawer fully out, re-seat it level on the runners, and push it in slowly while watching where it catches. The catch point tells you which of the three it is — front rub, side rub, or bottom rub.

Wax, Not Oil

If the drawer glides but feels rough, rub a candle (paraffin) on the runner — not oil. Oil attracts dust and turns gummy; wax stays slick and clean.

When It's a Defect

If the runner is bent or a cam hole is stripped, no adjustment fixes it. That's a replacement part — contact the retailer.

Book a dresser assembly in NYC — drawers that glide the first time.