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Whether you live in an old house or a new one, keeping the cold outside when Jack Frost arrives is easy when you have a few quality draft door stoppers. We recently researched nine different draft stoppers for doors and put five of them to the test to see how well they stood up to drafts and colder weather. Our favorite was the Maxtid Adjustable Door Draft Stopper for its ease of use, effectiveness, and staying power, but we’ve found several others we think will also do the trick.
Draft stoppers can attach to, slide under, or sit in front of the door to block the little cracks and gaps that let cold air in—and heated air out. The best door draft stoppers can also keep noise, light, dust, and odors from entering a home. If you aim to improve your home’s comfort and stay warm without running the heat on high, getting one of the best door draft stoppers can help.
- BEST OVERALL: Maxtid Adjustable Door Draft Stopper
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Holikme 2-Pack Door Draft Stoppers
↓ Jump to Review - UPGRADE PICK: Decorealm Heavy Duty Door Draft Stopper and Blocker
↓ Jump to Review - MOST VERSATILE: Evelots Magnetic Door Draft Stopper
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR KIDS ROOMS: Magzo Door Draft Stopper for Kids
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR OVERSIZED DOORS: Fowong 38-Inch Heavy Door Draft Stopper
↓ Jump to Review - BEST TWIN DRAFT BLOCKER: Holikme Twin Door Draft Stopper
↓ Jump to Review - BEST PERMANENT: Frost King B79/36H Vinyl Slide-On Door Bottom
↓ Jump to Review
Our Top Picks
When it comes to choosing the best door stopper, it’s important to consider the material, how the device attaches to the door, and how easy it is to clean. Check out the options here—all considered to be among the best on the market—to help pick the right door stopper for your home.
Best Overall
Maxtid Adjustable Door Draft Stopper
What We Like
- Lightweight and easy to install
- Inexpensive
- Unobtrusive design comes in four colors
- Easy to trim if needed
- Stays in place
- Effective against drafts
What We Don’t Like
- Not as attractive as some options
- Backing on adhesive tape was hard to remove
- Can be challenging to get velcro in place
- Velcro remains in place when not in use
Product Specs
- Type: Velcro/Adhesive
- Material: Polyester and Polyvinyl Chloride
- Width: 36 inches
Our Ratings: Fit 5/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Appearance 4/5; Value 4/5
We chose the Maxtid Adjustable Door Draft Stopper as our best overall pick for a few key reasons: it’s inexpensive, easy to install, keeps out the drafts, and it stays in place. Installation was straightforward: after adding one of the sections of foam to the fabric sleeve, we peeled off the adhesive back on the Velcro tape. The sleeve has the other side of the Velcro, so it simply needs to be pressed into place.
At under $20, the Maxtid is affordable enough that you can grab one for every door, or even use it as a window draft stopper. The Velcro helps the piece stay in place when you open and close the door, which is ideal for high traffic areas. It’s made of a polyester fabric, making it easy to trim to fit other door sizes with a pair of sharp scissors. The only downside we found was that once the adhesive is in place, it’s a little difficult to remove. The tape did not leave residue on the steel door we used, but those with antique or painted doors may cringe at the idea of marrying them with strong adhesive. We liked that it comes in multiple colors, including black, brown, dark brown, gray, and white, which helps it blend in with the door.
What our tester says: “Despite some online reviews saying this was difficult to install, it took me a total of five minutes and was very straightforward. At first I thought it would be unattractive but once it was installed I could barely notice it.”—Amber Guetebier, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Maxtid Adjustable Door Draft Stopper at Amazon.
Best Bang for the Buck
Holikme 2-Pack Door Draft Stoppers
What We Like
- Great value for pack of two
- Includes cleaning wipes to help adhesion
- Silicone wipes clean if left in place
- Effective against drafts
- Blends in with the door
- Easy to trim to correct width
- Stays in place
What We Don’t Like
- A little unwieldy when trying to attach
- Hard to restick, so little margin for error
Product Specs
- Type: Adhesive
- Material: Silicone
- Width: Adjustable (37 inches maximum)
Our Ratings: Fit 5/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Appearance 3/5; Value 5/5
The Holikme 2-Pack gives you two flexible silicone door draft stoppers that can each reach up to 37 inches wide. The silicone is easy to trim down to a smaller width with a sharp utility knife, and the installation is just peel and stick. This process was simple, but it wasn’t easy to adjust once stuck, so if you place it incorrectly the first time you may be unable to try again. Because the silicone arrives rolled, it was a little unwieldy at first. We recommend letting the silicone door stopper relax a bit before installation so that it flattens out and is simpler to lay flush against the door.
This door draft stopper was absolutely effective against the cold and draft and kept the room cozy. We found it stayed in place well. And we really liked that, despite it being just a long piece of silicone, it blended in with the door and became almost invisible once installed. The draft stopper comes in several colors to complement your decor, including white, black, brown, gray, or a transparent finish. We were able to remove it with relative ease, without leaving behind residue.
Get the Holikme 2-Pack Door Draft Stoppers at Amazon, Walmart, or Holkime.
Upgrade Pick
Decorealm Heavy-Duty Door Draft Stopper and Blocker
What We Like
- Attractive herringbone pattern fabric in 4 colors
- No installation required
- Effective against drafts
- Hooks on door handle when not in use
What We Don’t Like
- May require repositioning after opening door
- Pets may think it is a toy
- Expensive compared to others
Product Specs
- Type: Cylindrical
- Material: Fabric and ceramic beads
- Width: 36, 32, or 30 inches
Our Ratings: Fit 4/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Appearance 5/5; Value 3.5/5
The Decorealm Heavy Duty Door Draft Stopper and Blocker is designed to keep out noise, light, and odor as well as cold—and look good while doing it. It’s available in 30-, 32-, and 36-inch lengths, which makes it a great front door draft stopper. This door “snake” is filled with ceramic beads, and the substantial weight of 3.5 pounds helped it stay in place better than other cylindrical-style door draft stoppers we tried. However, pet owners should be aware that one of our pups would not leave this model alone. Some pets may tear through the fabric, which could release the ceramic beads inside—and cause owners a major headache.
We found this draft door stopper to be sturdy and effective against the cold. It also held up against all the tests we conducted, including being dropped. It comes in an attractive herringbone pattern and four colors—charcoal (gray), chestnut (brown), pewter (gray), and oatmeal (cream)—that should complement any home’s decor. The satin cord handles allow it to hang from a doorknob or coat hook when not in use. Equally convenient is the removable fabric cover, which unzips and separates from the insulating inner portion for easy washing.
Get the Decorealm Heavy-Duty Door Draft Stopper and Blocker at Amazon or Decorealm.
Most Versatile
Evelots Magnetic Door Draft Stopper
What We Like
- Magnetic features help hold in it place
- Simple installation and removal
- Attractive and easy-to-use design
- Has loop to hang when not in use
What We Don’t Like
- Magnetic feature only works on metal doors
- Attachment brackets may not fit all doors
- Only comes in one color and size
Product Specs
- Type: Magnetic
- Material: Polyester, aluminum
- Width: 36 inches
Our Ratings: Fit 5/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Appearance 4/5; Value 3.5/5
The Evelots Magnetic Door Draft Stopper is unique in that it can be used in three different ways. First, it has magnets that allow it to attach directly to steel and metal doors. It can also simply be placed in front of any door like a traditional cylindrical draft stopper. Finally, you can slide the included clips under the door to hold the stopper in place, to avoid repositioning every time the door is opened. However, in our testing, these clips kept our door from closing properly—something that may not be an issue for everyone.
Because our test door is steel, the stopper held in place easily and did not fall off, even with repeated vigorous door opening and closing. The fabric is a fuzzy faux fur, which some may find attractive, but it only comes in one color: brown. It’s also only available in one width—36 inches—so if it doesn’t fit your door you can’t adjust it. Overall during our testing, it was effective against stopping the drafts and incredibly easy to use.
What our tester says: “This was one of my favorite door draft stoppers because it was brainless to install and super effective. I love how it just clung to the door even when I slammed it. However, this was with a steel door, and the alternative clips used to attach the stopper didn’t work on it.” —Amber Guetebier, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Evelots Magnetic Door Draft Stopper at Amazon or Walmart.
Best for Kids Rooms
Magzo Door Draft Stopper for Kids
What We Like
- Adorable and effective
- Zero installation
- Loops for hanging up when not in use
What We Don’t Like
- Shifts when door opens
- Looks like a dog toy
- Only one width
Product Specs
- Type: Cylindrical
- Material: Fabric and glass beads
- Width: 36 inches
Our Ratings: Fit 4/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Appearance 5/5; Value 4.5/5
With four adorable animal designs, the Magzo Door Draft Stopper offers a simple, affordable way to reduce drafts, noise, and light in any child’s room or nursery. Choose from raccoon, cat, dog, or panda. The plush doorway blocker is made of fabric and filled with polyester wadding and glass beads to give it enough weight to stay in place. It proved very effective against drafts and held up well in testing, though it wasn’t as effective at staying in place when we opened and closed the doors.
It’s simple to install because you just plop it in place, and it’s heavy enough that it could double as a doorstop. The attached hooks on either end make it easy to store on the door handle or a nearby hanger. It’s attractive and soft to the touch, but the main downside we found was that it looks like a dog toy. Because it is filled with those glass beads, it could become a problem if a dog tears into it, especially with little kids around.
Get the Magzo Door Draft Stopper for Kids at Amazon.
More Great Options
The following door draft stoppers are great options for a variety of needs. We’ve based the ratings below on past reviews, online ratings, and the style of each door draft stopper.
Best for Oversized Doors
Fowong 38-Inch Heavy Door Draft Stopper
What We Like
- Heavy enough to stay in place
- Option to attach with hook-and-loop
- Loops to hang when not in use
- Cover is machine washable
What We Don’t Like
- May not be effective enough unless attached
Product Specs
- Type: Cylindrical
- Material: Fabric
- Width: 38 inches
For a home that has larger-than-typical door widths, finding an effective draft stopper can be a challenge—but the Fowong 38-inch Heavy Door Draft Stopper might just do the trick. This heavy draft stopper is filled with glass beads and weighs almost 3 pounds, helping it to stay securely in place. It also comes with a strip of Velcro material that allows it to be attached semi-permanently if desired. Some reviewers stated that the draft stopper was only effective for their setup when attached this way, but most users found it satisfactory for use as a cylindrical floor door draft preventer as well.
Its upholstery-grade, weatherproof polyester cover is machine washable and comes in gray, brown, or white. Two cord handles, one on either end, make it easy to hang from a doorknob or coat hook when not in use.
Get the Fowong 38-Inch Heavy Door Draft Stopper at Amazon.
Best Twin Draft Blocker
What We Like
- Under door stops air from both sides
- Fast and easy install
- Multiple widths and colors
- Stays in place while door is open
- Adhesive hook-and-loop holds it in place
What We Don’t Like
- Can look a little bunched up when installed
- Some users found it not as adjustable as claimed
Product Specs
- Type: Under door
- Material: Polyester
- Width: 32, 36 or 38 inches
Twin draft stoppers work on both sides of a door to provide twice the barrier for keeping drafts at bay. The Holikme Twin Door Draft Stopper slides easily underneath the door and sandwiches it between two thick foam-sponge tubes, providing a tight seal. The Holikme’s foam is almost twice the size of some of its competitors, blocking gaps up to 1½ inches wide.
This door draft stopper comes in a 34-inch length that can be customized for smaller door widths. Simply remove the foam sponges from their sleeves, cut them to size with a knife or scissors, and slide them back in. The hook-and-loop flap folds over the sponges, keeping them securely in place. The whole fabric cover, which comes in several colors and patterns to suit numerous styles, is also removable and machine washable.
Get the Holikme Twin Door Draft Stopper at Amazon or Walmart.
Best Permanent
Frost King B79/36H Vinyl Slide-On Door Bottom
What We Like
- Stays in place year-round
- Easy to install
- Low profile
What We Don’t Like
- Not easy to trim
- Vinyl can become brittle over time
Product Specs
- Type: Under door
- Material: Vinyl
- Width: 36 inches
A draft blocker won’t do much good if it never makes it out of the closet. That’s where a permanent option like this Frost King B79/36H Vinyl Slide-On Door Bottom comes in. Simply slide the stopper under the door, cut it to length, and screw it on with the included hardware to create a long-lasting seal against drafts and uneven thresholds.
This vertical door draft stopper installs on doors 1¾ inches thick and up to 36 inches long, making it suitable for most entryway doors. It features six vinyl fins that flex and compress to form an airtight seal that also blocks bugs, dirt, noise, and rain.
Get the Frost King B79/36H Vinyl Slide-On Door Bottom Door Draft Stopper at Amazon, Walmart, or Ace Hardware.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose and Tested the Best Door Draft Stoppers
| Testing Stats | |
|---|---|
| Products tested | 9 |
| Time spent testing | 5 days |
| Tests performed | 5 |
| Price range | $8 to $45 |
There are many types of door draft stoppers on the market. To narrow the choices down, we looked at a variety of factors, including price, material, and installation steps. During our testing, we took into account aesthetics, ease of installation, how well the door stopper stayed in place, and its effectiveness against drafts. For stoppers that required adhesive, we noted how easy this was to remove and whether it left behind any residue.
We tested each door wind blocker in front of a moderately drafty steel door during early winter temperatures that ranged from 30s to mid-40s Fahrenheit, noting the room temperature at intervals of one hour, two hours, and four hours. When all of our door draft stoppers performed equally well in this test, with each one regulating the temperature at nearly identical rates, we decided to place a candle in front of the drafty door and observe how much or how little it flickered. This helped us determine if the draft was really being adequately blocked. In addition, we repeatedly opened and shut the door with some force to determine how well the door draft stoppers stayed in place. We also vetted the durability of each draft stopper, dropping it from a 6-foot height to see if it ripped or took any damage.
What to Consider When Choosing a Door Draft Stopper
The number one consideration when choosing a door draft stopper is the width of the door. The average width of door frames is between 32 and 36-inches, so measuring the door frame is the most important factor before buying. Some door draft stoppers can be trimmed to fit a smaller width and may also be used as window draft stoppers. After that, aesthetics, budget, and personal preference come into play.
Types of Door Draft Stoppers
There are several different types of door draft stoppers. These include under door, magnetic, cylinder-style, and Velcro and adhesive types. For some, the cylinder style may be the simplest choice: these are essentially long snakes made of fabric and filled with beads of some kind, often ceramic or glass. Cylindrical draft preventers are simple to install because you just position them in front of the door. They are also easy to move out of the way when not in use. These can be handy for winterizing apartments, where attaching something to the door is not practical.
For those who’d rather not block their door with a cylindrical stopper—or are looking for a less visible and more seamless option—several other types don’t interrupt the flow of traffic when installed. These include adhesive peel-and-stick models; those that adhere via hook-and-loop tape attached to the door; magnetic door stoppers with a built-in magnetic strip; and door draft stoppers designed to slide under the door itself.
Material
Most door draft stoppers are made of materials that are at least partially weather-resistant and that aren’t affected by cold temperatures. This can include polyester, plastic, silicone, and fabric. Cylindrical door draft stoppers are usually made of fabric and some kind of fill that consists of stuffing and glass or ceramic beads.
Installation
Installing a door stopper could be as easy as opening the package and placing it in front of the door, or as complex as using strong adhesive or screws to adhere it in place. Regardless of the type of door draft stopper, most can be installed in a matter of minutes and do not require any special tools. Those using an adhesive type may want to have a hair dryer handy to help the glue stick.
FAQs
Although door draft stoppers may seem like a fairly straightforward solution to keeping out the cold, there are still some frequently asked questions that are worth reviewing before clicking “add to cart.”
Door draft stoppers are designed to block the cold air that comes inside from gaps around the door, but some designs may be more effective than others. Moreover, they aren’t a substitute for whole-house weather proofing. You may still need some cozy socks to keep warm.
Although door draft stoppers aren’t equivalent to weatherproofing your home, they can help reduce energy bills by keeping the heat in a room sealed in. The less a heater has to work to keep a room at a certain temperature, the less energy is used.
Door draft stoppers can be made of many different materials, including plastic, silicone, and fabric, and none is perfect for every situation. However, it’s ideal if the material is weather-resistant and can be wiped down or washed in some way.
Door draft stoppers can last for years if properly installed and cared for. If the door stopper begins to visibly fray or decay or if it begins to let cold air through, it may be time to replace it.
The majority of door draft stoppers are designed to go on the inside of the door. One exception is under door draft stoppers, which are installed under the base of the door and feature blockers on either side. This makes an under door blocker both an interior and exterior door draft stopper.
A draft stopper should be placed at the bottom of a door and cover the full width of the door. It should also fully cover the height of the gap beneath the door, which may range from 1 to 3 inches.
Meet the Tester
Amber Guetebier is a writer, gardener, landscaper, and nursery professional with 25 years of experience. She primarily writes about plants but since living in the Upper Midwest in a somewhat drafty 1980s split-level, she has learned a thing or two about how to keep her plants alive despite the extreme temperatures and how to keep the icy fingers of winter from creeping into her house from the cracks around the doors and windows.
Additional research provided by Tom Scalisi.
