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Home is where your energy bill is highest. At least, that’s probably the case, even though you might not want it to be. There are plenty of things you can do to warm your home without turning up the thermostat, such as investing in a window insulation kit. But perhaps the lowest-hanging fruit you should tackle first when it comes to trying to lower your energy bill while keeping the temps in your home from lowering is to draft proof your doors and windows. And one way to do that is to add door draft stoppers around your front and back doors.
Door draft stoppers, sometimes called door guards, are built to block drafts from sneaking into your home and keep indoor air right where it belongs. They can save you big bucks on your energy bill, and they also block out noise, light, odors, smoke and even mischievous insects. Door draft stoppers come in a few different styles, which is why we’ve outlined our favorite picks below for different types of doors and lifestyles.
Jump To: Best Overall | Best Under-Door Stopper | Best Portable Option | Best Decorative Choice | Best For Sliding Glass Doors | Best For French Doors
What To Look For
Length
The length of a door draft stopper is, obviously, essential to make sure it adequately blocks out the cold. Most American doorways average around 36-inches wide, which is why most door draft stoppers you’ll find online are 36-inches. If you need a specialty sized stopper for sliding glass doors or French doors, you’ll need something nearly twice as long, around 71- to 72-inches long. We’ve noted below if our picks come in extended sizes.
Design
Door draft stoppers can come in a few different designs. A weighted draft stopper is plush like a pillow, and usually filled with some mix of non-breathable polyester and weighted beads to keep it in place, though it is ultimately portable and ideal for temporary use. A door seal is a type of draft stopper that adheres to the bottom of your door’s threshold, and which creates a sweeping draft guard to block out air, noise and dust. These are a more permanent, year-round solution. Lastly, you’ll find under-door draft stoppers, which work by having dual sweeps on each side of the doorway to block out unwanted cold and dust. This is a good in-between option that blocks out drafts more permanently — and does not require you to physically move it each time you open the door. It can be packed away in the warmer months.
Do door draft stoppers really work?
Yes, usually. Well-made door draft stoppers are designed to block out drafts, keeping outside air where it belongs. It’s an affordable and easy solution to keep drafts from penetrating the inside of your home. They also work to block out noise, smells, smoke, dust and even bugs.
Should door draft stoppers be inside or outside?
Most door draft stoppers are designed to be placed inside your home, but there are different types of stoppers for different situations. An under-door dual-sided sweeper is designed to block air from both sides, while a traditional plush door stopper sits inside the home.
Our Recommendations for Best Door Stoppers
1. Best Overall — GroTheory Door Draft Stopper (2 pack)
Length: 39 inches, cut to exact size | Design: Door seal stopper
For those who need a draft solution year-round, we recommend the GroThreory Door Draft Stopper. It’s a doorway seal that adheres to the bottom of a door threshold with a little bit of heat, and it’s designed to give more permanent protection from cool drafts, unwanted noise and outside dirt and dust. This solution is best for those who want a year-round permanent door stopper that they don’t have to remove each time they open or close the door. It’s also a great choice for those with slimline doors that run smaller than your average 38-inch doorway, since the stopper can easily be cut to size. Out of over 23,000 reviewers, many say they “highly recommend” it and claim that it’s “easy to apply.”
Pros:
- Long-term solution
- Easy to install silicone
- Cut to size, making it good for slimline doors
Cons:
- More hands-on installation
- Not ideal for French doors or sliding glass doors
2. Best Under-Door Stopper — Holikme Twin Door Draft Stopper (36 inch)
Length: 32, 34 and 36 inches | Design: Under-door stopper
For those who want a semi-permanent door draft stopper solution but that doesn’t involve damaging the door, this dual-sided under-door stopper is the best pick. It has a small piece of fabric that slides underneath the door, and includes dual sweeps on each side of the doorway to block out unwanted drafts. It doesn’t require you to physically move it each time you open the door, which is one of the main reasons we recommend this stopper. That said, given its sweeping design, it will need cleaning more often than other door draft stoppers on this list.
Pros:
- Little installation
- Easy to use
- Doesn’t have to be moved to open and close doors
Cons:
- Can get dirty quickly and easily
- Not for French doors or sliding glass doors
3. Best Best Portable Option — MAGZO Door Draft Stopper (36 inch)
Length: 36 inches, but available in a variety of sizes | Design: Weighted draft stopper
If you just need a standard, run-of-the-mill door draft stopper, this one from MAGZO is the best we’ve found. It’s simply, but effectively, designed, filled with polyester and glass beads for weight. It comes with Velcro to attach the stopper to the door to keep it in place, and so you don’t always have to physically move it when opening or closing the door. You can purchase it in a variety of sizes as well, from 32 inches to 72 inches, so you can find exactly what you need.
Pros:
- No installation
- Easy to use
- Comes with Velcro to attach the stopper to the door at the base
Cons:
- Occasionally need to be moved to open or close door
4. Best Decorative Choice — Estimber Animal Under Door Draft Stopper (36 inch)
Length: 36 inches, but available in a variety of sizes | Design: Weighted draft stopper (but make it cute)
Those who want a door draft stopper that isn’t ugly might like these stoppers that are designed to look like your favorite four-legged friends. After all, if you’re going to add something to your house to block out a draft, shouldn’t it be cute to look at? This stopper comes in a standard 36 inch size and can be purchased in seven different styles — including two non-animal designs.
Pros:
- No installation
- Easy to use
- Unique design
Cons:
- Must be moved to open and close doors
- Design might not appeal to all
5. Best For Sliding Glass Doors— Home District Sliding Door Draft Stopper (71 inch)
Length: 71 inches | Design: Weighted draft stopper
This sliding glass door draft stopper is specially designed for the unusual shape of sliding glass doors. It has a long weighted stopper for the full length of the sliding doors, as well as an additional plush stopper that snuggly fits into the gap where the door slides to ensure no outdoor breeze drifts in.
Pros:
- No installation
- Easy to use
- Unique sizing solution
- Effective
- Available in additional colors
Cons:
- Must be moved to open and close the doors
- Bulky to store in off seasons
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6. Best For French Doors — Home District Extra Long Draft Dodger (72 inches)
Length:: 72 inches, but available in a variety of sizes | Design:: Weighted draft stopper
For those who have extra long doors like French doors or double doors, this 72-inch weighted door stopper is your best bet. It’s made of a faux suede fabric, and is filled with polyester and gravel for weight. It also comes in lesser common sizes, like 35.5 inches and 60 inches in width. Reviewers say that it “works well” and many recommend it for stopping drafts from window sills, too.
Pros:
- No installation
- Easy to use
- Available in uncommon sizes
- Portable
Cons:
- Not a permanent solution
- Must be moved to open or close doors
- Bulky to store in off seasons
