How to Fix a Broken Zipper: Repair Stuck or Separated Zippers

Quick and easy methods to fix a zipper without replacing it

Gray sweater with broken zipper being fixed

The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 5 - 30 mins
  • Total Time: 5 - 30 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner

Learning how to fix a broken zipper can save your favorite garments and accessories with quick and easy solutions. To fix a zipper that separates or comes off on one side, you can save your clothing item with a few supplies, tools, and a little patience.

How do you get a zipper back on track? It's as easy as gently moving the zipper up and down on the track to get it readjusted. Try a spritz of WD-40 to oil it up. If it still doesn't budge, use a pin or needle and stick it into the zipper or along the track to get it to move or force it back together.

Continue reading to learn how to fix a zipper slider easily or unstick a jammed zipper on jeans, pants, a backpack, a bag, or more.

Tip

If the teeth in a zipper get permanently bent or break off, you will likely need to replace the zipper.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Small needle-nosed pliers
  • Sewing needle (for plastic zipper stop)

Materials

  • Thread (for plastic zipper stop)

Instructions

Materials and tools to fix a broken or stuck zipper

The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

How to Fix a Broken or Separated Zipper

  1. Use Pliers to Remove the Stopper

    • Use pliers to get a good grip on the bottom stop (the little band of metal or plastic at the bottom of the zipper teeth) and pry it off. If you don't have pliers, you can pry it loose with a flathead screwdriver or the end of a kitchen knife.
    • Save the stopper if it's metal because it may be able to be put back on. Plastic stoppers are less likely to be reused and fixed.
    Pliers removing bottom stop from bottom of zipper band

    The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

  2. Position the Zipper Pull

    • Use the pull tab to move the zipper slider to the bottom of the zipper, below the last "teeth."
    • Note where any broken, missing, or damaged teeth are located, and mark the area with a pin or needle.
    • Reshape the zipper pull with pliers if it is distorted. 
    Pull tab brought to bottom of zipper

    The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

  3. Realign the Zipper Teeth

    Realign the zipper teeth so that they all mesh smoothly. If you can't get them to mesh, mark the spot where a problem aligns the teeth. The teeth may be damaged at that spot and will never align properly.

    Zipper teeth realigned smoothly on mesh

    The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

  4. Reposition the Zipper Pull

    Move the slider up to the top of the zipper, closing as many teeth as possible.

    Pull tab slid up to top of zipper

    The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

  5. Reattach or Sew New Zipper Stop

    • Reattach the metal zipper stop with pliers.
    • If the zipper stop was plastic or you can't reattach the metal zipper stop, use thread to make a new stop. Thread the sewing needle with heavy thread and tie a knot at the end. If you don't have heavy (buttonhole) thread, double the thread and then tie the knot at the end of both strands.
    • Pull the thread up through the zipper, leaving the knot on the back side of the zipper (on the inside of the garment). Make six or seven stitches across the bottom of the zipper where you removed the old stop to create a new stop made out of the thread.

    Tip

    Always make sure the zipper pull or slider is above the spot you are making repairs.

    New stop created at bottom of zipper with thread

    The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

How to Unstick a Zipper

Stuck zipper while being pulled up

The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

Zippers can get stuck for several reasons. They may snag on some fabric, one of the teeth can get out of line, or the metal or plastic teeth break or become worn.

Whatever method you try, hold the zipper slider by the body closer to the zipper teeth rather than the little pull tab. This will provide more power and control.

  • Do not force it: If you feel the zipper getting stuck and not moving smoothly, stop zipping before making it worse. If you are wearing the garment, remove it and examine the problem.
  • Carefully remove caught fabric: Gently pull away caught fabric. Pull the fabric, not the zipper. Use needle-nose pliers or tweezers to get a better grip. Slowly ease the fabric from the zipper slider and gradually slide the zipper pull tab up or down for the final release.
  • Use petroleum jelly: Use a lubricant like petroleum jelly on the stuck teeth. Coat a cotton ball with a light layer and work the jelly into the teeth near the stoppage.
  • Lubricate with WD-40: WD-40 lubricant can help metal zippers move more smoothly. Spray the lubricant on a cotton swab and apply it carefully to prevent staining the fabric of the garment.
  • Try the graphite pencil trick: Rub the teeth with the lead of a No. 2 pencil. The "lead" is graphite and will help lubricate the metal teeth and allow the zipper slider to move more smoothly. Or rub the zipper teeth with a bar of soap as another type of lubricant.
  • Realign the zipper teeth: Use your finger to smooth them back together if the teeth of the zipper look out of place. Before rezipping, check along the zipper to ensure the fabric is moved away from the zipper and loose threads are removed.

How to Fix a Zipper That Won’t Stay Up

Gray jacket zipped up with fabric moved away

The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

A zipper that won't stay up can be caused by misaligned zipper teeth or metal that has worn down from too much use.

  • Misaligned teeth: Use pliers to gently bend back teeth that have dislodged or fallen out of alignment.
  • Worn teeth: Repetitive use can essentially wear down the metal of the teeth. Paint clear nail polish on the teeth tracks to thicken or build up the teeth again. Allow it to dry before trying the zipper. If the zipper still slips down, add a second or third layer of nail polish.
  • Damaged lower teeth (only): If damaged teeth are close to the bottom of the zipper, move the pull slider above the damaged area and sew a new stop just above the damaged teeth. This option will shorten the length of the zipper, but the zipper should stay up.

When to Replace Your Zipper

Sometimes, nothing will save a broken zipper. Rather than tossing the garment, replace the zipper yourself or hire a tailor to help you. This method is particularly worth it if the garment is expensive or in good shape otherwise.

Weigh the cost of replacement vs. tossing the garment by pricing the cost of the zipper, the cost of paying a tailor, or your time. Replacing a zipper is usually inexpensive.

Tips to Prevent Broken Zippers

  • Proper storage: To protect zippers and keep them working well, close them completely and turn garments inside out before washing them.
  • Get a better fit: If the item is too hard to zip up, you might need to alter the clothing item. Consider taking the item to a tailor to get it resized.
  • Use a fork to get the teeth to mesh together: A fork is a temporary fix for zipping up the teeth when a stopper comes off. The zipper will come off again when you unzip it, but here's how to do it: Slide the zipper bottom onto the end of two middle prongs of a fork. On each side of the zipper—from the top—slide the bottom of the teeth evenly and gently into each side of the zipper, zipping it closed. To make this fix permanent, sew the stopper on.
FAQ
  • What is the easiest way to fix a broken zipper?

    Most times, when a zip starts to break, it's from a lot of continued use that widens the gap or hole the teeth go through. The best method for tightening this gap is to use pliers to gently squeeze the top plate and bottom plate of the zipper closer together. Be careful not to crush the slider.

  • How do you put a zipper back on track?

    Take off the item. Do not force the zipper, but gently move the zipper up and down on the track. Try WD-40 to lubricate it, or if it doesn't move, stick a sharp pin tip into the track where it's stuck to get it to move. Once back on track, use WD-40 to get it moving easily.

  • How hard is it to replace a broken zipper?

    Getting a tailor to replace a broken zipper is relatively inexpensive and easy. If you have a sewing machine and basic skills, you can replace a broken zipper, but it might take a little longer if you do it infrequently, unlike a sewing professional.