Buying guide for best door sweeps
![Michael]()
Written by
Michael
Updated October 2021
Doors always have a gap at the top and bottom. The gap at the top, like the ones along the sides, can easily be filled with weather stripping of various kinds. No problem there. But the gap along the bottom is a little harder to take care of.
Putting weather stripping on the threshold of the door is an invitation to trouble. It makes it easy for someone to trip over it and hurt themselves. Or it could catch on the sole of a shoe and be torn off. Finally, with so much daily wear and tear, weather stripping is unlikely to hold up for very long. What you need is something on the door itself, something that seals the gap between the threshold and the door and moves with the door. Voilà! You’ve just described a door sweep.
Our buying guide has what you need to know to choose the best door sweeps for your home, including the key considerations, features to take into account, and how much you should pay.
Key considerations
Door width
The first thing you need to consider is the width of the door you’re putting the door sweep on. Most older doors are 28, 30, or 32 inches wide. If you have an older house, your exterior doors will probably fit door sweeps of those widths. If you have a newer house, you’ll likely need a longer door sweep as the new standard door width is 36 inches. Make sure you measure your door before you buy.
Gap height
The next thing you need to measure is the gap under the door, from the bottom of the door to the threshold. Some door sweeps only work with gaps up to a certain height. Measure the gap under your door so you’ll know what kind of door sweep to look for.
Purpose
Most people think of door sweeps as keeping out drafts by keeping heat inside during the winter and keeping it out during the summer. For the most part, that’s true, but there are other things door sweeps can be used to block as well, including insects, rodents, light, moisture, smoke, and fire.
If you’re trying to keep out or prevent something specific, this may change the type of door sweep you need to install. For instance, rodents can readily chew through solid door sweeps, but they hate the feel and sensation of bristle-type door sweeps and tend to avoid them.
Features
Types of door sweeps
There are two types of door sweeps: those with bristles at the bottom and those with a solid blade at the bottom, also known as a fin. Each type has its pros and cons.
Door sweeps with bristles are much maligned because they don’t prevent drafts as well as sweeps with solid blades. It’s a valid criticism, but only to a point. If you have a tile floor with grout lines between the tiles, those trenches are lower than the surface of the floor and a solid blade won’t reach them. A bristle door sweep can be set low enough to fill the grout lines. If you have an older home and your floors are uneven, a bristle door sweep is an excellent option as well. And, as noted earlier, bristles are very good at discouraging rodents.
Door sweeps with solid blades are far and away the best at keeping out drafts. If stopping those power bill-inflating drafts is your primary concern, a blade door sweep is definitely the one for you.
Materials
Door sweeps have two parts. The upper part of a door sweep attaches to the door, and the lower part seals the gap between the door and the threshold. The upper part is often made of lightweight aluminum, while the lower part may be bristles made of nylon or solid blades made of high-quality rubber, vinyl, or silicone. Some door sweeps have rolled bottoms, which are made of fabric filled with styrofoam.
Attachment method
Heavier door sweeps use screws to hold the sweep in place on the door. These are generally permanent installations.
Door sweeps that are held in place with adhesive strips are normally temporary or seasonal door sweeps. Just because they’re held in place by adhesive, though, doesn’t mean they’re always cheaper. In some cases, they’re actually more expensive than permanent door sweeps.
Color
Door sweeps are available in neutral colors to match most doors. The most common colors are black, brown, white, gray, bronze, clear, tan, and aluminum finish.
Door sweep prices
The least expensive door sweeps cost under $10. These are basic sweeps, attached with either screws or adhesive. Most of them are 36 inches wide, but some of the adhesive models are longer so you can cut them down to size.
Mid-range door sweeps cost $10 to $15. The main difference here is the quality of the workmanship. You may see some manufacturer warranties in this price range, too.
With door sweeps, a higher price doesn’t necessarily mean better quality. Door sweeps over $15 are often simply longer sweeps with add-ons like Velcro attachments or special fabrics.
Tips
- The door sill is the portion of the door frame that sits directly on the foundation of your house. The threshold is the sloped piece that sits on top of the sill. A door sweep is used to close the gap between the top of the threshold and the bottom of the door.
- Door sweeps should be installed on the inside of an exterior door since most exterior doors open inward.
- You can install a door sweep while the door is in place, but it is easier to remove the door and lay it down on a flat surface to install the sweep. Once attached, you can re-hang the door. You’ll save yourself a stiff back doing it that way.
FAQ
Q. Will a door sweep block noise from coming through the door?
A. Door sweeps will block a lot of noise, but not all of it. On average, they block about 50% of the noise from the other side of the door.
Q. Can door sweeps be used on interior doors?
A. Yes, door sweeps can be used on any door in the house. They should still be installed only on the inside of the door, though.
Q. Do door sweeps harm hardwood floors?
A. As long as they are the proper height, no. If a door sweep is set too low, it can gradually wear away the wood. As long as the sweep just barely touches the floor, there won’t be any damage.
Q. Will door sweeps leave marks on carpet?
A. Again, it depends on how low the door sweep is set on the door. If it is set too low, it will leave marks on carpet or rugs. Make sure to measure the gap between the door and the threshold carefully before you buy a door sweep.
