The Best Door Draft Stoppers You Can Buy Online

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Save energy by keeping cold air out.

Nicole Lund is the shopping editorial director for Real Simple with six years of experience writing product reviews. She has written product reviews, gift guides, and more for Real Simple, The Spruce, MyDomaine, and Apartment Therapy.

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Real Simple / Brian Kopinski

Gaps in your windows and doors contribute to major energy waste since they force your HVAC system to work harder—not to mention they make for an uncomfortably chilly home when the temperatures drop. One solution is investing in inexpensive door draft stoppers, which not only prevent cold air from entering your home but also keep out bugs, debris, and even light and noise.

When you start researching the best door draft stoppers, you’ll notice a variety of options, including fabric, built-in, adhesive, and under-door models. We found the best door draft stoppers for every need, whether you’re looking to cover gaps in exterior doors, interior doors, or even windows. Plus, we spoke to two energy experts: Maureen Minkel, senior director of energy efficiency and conservation at South Jersey Industries, and Ryan Osterkamp, owner of Quality Comfort Home Services.

It’s heavy duty enough for both commercial and residential spaces.

The max gap height is shorter than other options.

The most durable type of door draft stopper is one that is screwed into the door, like this heavy duty option from M-D Building Products. Suitable for commercial and residential use, it’s made of a thick rubber seal with an aluminum carrier to keep out dust, pests, and air drafts. Because it attaches to the door with screws, it’s particularly suited for heavy traffic areas, and you won’t have to worry about it falling off.

It comes in two sizes and either can be shortened if necessary (although you’ll need a hacksaw to cut through the aluminum). Another thing to keep in mind is that the max gap height is on the short side.

Material: Aluminum, rubber | Length: 36 or 48 inches | Max Gap Height: 0.38 inches

It’s inconspicuous and easy to install.

It only comes in one size.

Under-door seals are much less intrusive and noticeable than other door draft stoppers, making them a good option if you’re worried about aesthetics. This option, also from M-D Building Products, is easier to install than our overall best pick since it doesn’t require any hardware. It’s made of strong vinyl and simply slides onto the bottom of the door. It only comes in one size, so you’ll have to shorten it yourself if necessary, but on the plus side, it has a higher max gap height than our overall best pick. You can get it in four colors: white, black, brown, or clear.

Material: Vinyl | Length: 36 inches | Max Gap Height: 0.75 inches

It has a high maximum gap height.

It doesn’t always stay in place.

Double-sided door draft stoppers are a common option because they are incredibly easy to install and have extra soundproofing. They are pretty visible, though, and they’re typically only usable for interior doors (not exterior). This option from Amazon comes in black, brown, gray, and white, and it covers gaps up to 1.7 inches in height. It’s available in five sizes, and you can cut to fit if necessary, making it one of the more versatile options on our list. Just note that this type of door draft stopper is prone to moving around, especially when it’s used on doors that get a lot of traffic, but it’s easy to slide back into place.

Material: Polyester | Length: 30, 32, 34, 36, or 38 inches | Max Gap Height: 1.7 inches

The triangular shape fits under doors easily.

It’s very noticeable.

Fabric door draft stoppers are another popular option because they require no installation and can be used or removed whenever you want. This Gorilla Grip stopper has a unique triangular shape that fits more securely under doors and grippy dots on the bottom to keep it secure and less likely to shift around. It’s filled with sand, which helps block out not just cold air but also noise and light. It can be used on doors and windows, and it comes in four lengths and five colors. It also has handles that make it easy to store on door handles when not in use, although they do make the stopper more conspicuous.

Material: Cotton, sand | Length: 32, 34, 36, or 38 inches | Max Gap Height: 3 inches

It’s easy to cut to size.

The adhesive can be finicky and could come detached if not applied correctly.

Adhesive door draft stoppers are similar to Velcro models, except the whole stopper attaches right to the door. This seriously budget-friendly option comes in a pack of two, with both measuring 37 inches in length. While it’s only available in one size, you can easily cut the silicone to fit to your exact specifications. The adhesive used is strong, waterproof, and simple to install, but if you don’t clean the area in advance, you could run into issues with it unsticking quickly (especially on a frequently used door).

Material: Silicone | Length: 37 inches | Max Gap Height: 1 inch

It stays in place without the use of hardware.

It’s not the most durable option.

Velcro door draft stoppers are a good idea if you want a secure fit without the use of hardware. This very inexpensive option comes in three lengths, but you can easily cut it with scissors for a more precise fit. One side is made of Velcro while the other has an adhesive backing that is placed on the door (just be sure you clean it first); you then stick the door draft stopper onto the Velcro. While it’s not as durable as screw-in or under-door options, it gets the job done for a low price and won’t affect your ability to open the door it’s used on.

Material: Styrofoam, fabric | Length: 30, 32, or 36 inches | Max Gap Height: 1.4 inches

It comes in 10 sizes for both windows and double doors.

It’s noticeable.

Looking for an extra-long (or extra-short) door draft stopper for double doors and windows? Check out this fabric option from Amazon, which is similar to our best fabric pick but comes in a wider variety of sizes ranging from 20 to 60 inches. It’s filled with cotton and weighted glass beads, so it’ll stay in place while it blocks out light, noise, and drafts. Plus, it comes with Velcro for even more security, although you don’t have to use the Velcro if you don’t want to. It’s available in six colors, which makes up for the fact that it’s not the most discreet option.

Material: Fabric | Length: 10 sizes ranging from 20 to 60 inches | Max Gap Height: N/A

It’s made of thick memory foam that sits on both sides of the door.

It only comes in black.

You’ll need more than a door draft stopper to get 100% soundproofing, but this double-sided option from Everlasting Comfort comes close. It blocks noise from both sides thanks to the thick double-sided foam construction, and it slides under the door for easy installation and use. The noise reduction makes it a great choice for home offices and bedrooms, but you can also use it to block out light, odor, and, of course, cold air. It’s suitable for doors between 30 and 36 inches, and it has a pretty high door gap coverage at 1.5 inches.

Material: Foam, fabric | Length: 30 to 36 inches | Max Gap Height: 1.5 inches

It’s barely visible once applied.

It doesn’t block noise or light.

Tape is easily the most versatile solution to door gaps, and we recommend the Alien Seal Insulation Tape for its durability and long length. Each pack comes with three rolls measuring 196 inches (just over 16 feet), so you’ll be set for weatherproofing every door and window in your home. The tape isn’t actually “tape”—it’s made of silicone with an adhesive backing and can easily be cut with scissors to the exact size you need. This is definitely the most discreet pick, as the clear silicone is barely noticeable, but take note that it doesn’t block out noise or light, just air and bugs.

Material: Silicone | Length: 196 inches | Max Gap Height: 1.4 inches

Our top pick is the M-D Building Products 68247 All-Season Door Sweep, a heavy-duty option made from quality materials. It requires hardware to install, but the process is fairly quick and means that the blocker won’t budge when in use. In addition to cold air, it also blocks out noise, dirt, and bugs from getting into your home.

You might be surprised to learn that door draft stoppers come in a variety of types. “​​Silicone and rubber door draft stoppers are considered the most effective temperature regulators and provide a permanent solution, as they are usually attached to the door by screws, tape, or Velcro,” Minkel says. Our overall best pick, the M-D Building Products 68247 All-Season Door Sweep, is one of these options, and we recommended it specifically for its durability and effectiveness.

If you don’t want to deal with installation, you still have plenty of choices. Fabric door draft stoppers are increasingly popular choices, since they’re inexpensive and can be used whenever and wherever they’re needed.

There are also double-sided door draft stoppers that offer the best of both worlds: They’re placed under the door and therefore fixed to one spot, but they can be easily removed as needed without dealing with installation. “I recommend fabric door stoppers that slide under the door and fit snug,” Osterkamp says. “They block outside air coming in and inside air going out. They still allow the door to open easily and seem to work the best, in my opinion.”

You can find door draft stoppers for both interior and exterior doors. More heavy-duty options, like the rubber and silicone stoppers that are attached to the door, are best for exterior doors since they’re the most effective at blocking air, bugs, and dirt, and can deal with lots of traffic.

You can use fabric stoppers for both interior and exterior doors, but you’ll have to readjust them every time you use the door, so they’re better for doors that aren’t used as often. Velcro and adhesive stoppers are less durable than screwed-in stoppers and can be used for both indoor and outdoor doors. The only stopper type that is suitable for interior use only are the double-sided stoppers, which can’t be used on a door with a threshold.

Most door draft stoppers offer some level of noise reduction, but the most effective at this are ones that combine dense materials with a tight seal. True soundproofing will require professional products and installation, but you can get impressive noise reduction with a double-sided stopper, like the Everlasting Comfort Door Draft Stopper. These stoppers benefit from thick foam on both sides of the door, preventing both noise and light from coming through. Thick fabric stoppers will also work pretty well, although they aren’t fixed to one spot.

Yes, they do! Door draft stoppers work by preventing hot air from escaping from and cold air entering through gaps in doors and windows (and vice versa during the summer). Stoppers do the same thing inside the house if you have rooms with varying temperatures (like a sunroom or basement).

“Door draft stoppers are a great start, but homeowners should look beyond that to increase overall energy efficiency,” Minkel says. “According to the EPA, homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs—or an average of 11% on total energy costs—by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and basements.”

“In addition to saving on heating costs, there are a few quality-of-life benefits homeowners will experience, including more comfortable heating, limited noise coming from the outside, and a reduction in light, dust, pests, and odors entering the house,” Minkel says.

Indeed, improving your home’s comfort is one of the best things about investing in a door draft stopper. “You will not walk by doors and feel a cold draft on your feet,” Osterkamp says.

This article was written by Nicole Lund, a writer and editor who was most recently the shopping editorial director at Real Simple and Southern Living. She has over six years of experience researching and testing the best home products, and conducted hours of research on door draft stoppers, considering different types and their installation and effectiveness.

Nicole spoke with Maureen Minkel, senior director of energy efficiency and conservation at South Jersey Industries, and Ryan Osterkamp, owner of Quality Comfort Home Services, for expert advice on choosing a door draft stopper and saving energy in the home.