How Much Does It Cost to Weather Strip a Door? [2024 Data]

Cost of Weather Stripping per Linear Foot

The price range per linear foot of weather stripping is usually $1.45 to $25. Weather stripping is a cost-effective way for homeowners to save energy and it comes in various materials and styles, all of which are priced differently. On the low end, you have foam, tubular, and gasket weather stripping products, and on the high end, you have magnetic, metal, and door sweeps.

Weather Stripping Cost Factors

The cost range for weather stripping is so vast because there are many factors that can impact the total. The labor and materials are the most significant factors, but other things like your location, and the number and size of the gaps you need addressed, play a role as well.

Labor

Regardless of the type of weather stripping you install, the cost of labor is usually the most expensive component. Expect around 80% of your total costs to go toward the labor.

This can vary, as certain types of weather stripping are more challenging to install than others, and some varieties are more affordable. The cost of a weather stripping replacement project will usually go mostly toward labor.

Material

There are many different styles of weather stripping and materials to choose from based on your application. For example, compressible weather stripping–like foam tape and tubular weather stripping–is great for the tops and sides of doors and under window sashes, while a door sweep is only suitable on the bottom side of doors.

The different weather stripping materials all come with different costs, with fin seals and gaskets coming in at under $1 per linear foot, and door sweeps and magnetic weather stripping totaling more than ten times that amount. The table below includes a quick look at the common materials and the average price you’ll pay for each.

The material you choose will be largely driven by your application, but your installer can help you decide which is right for your budget as well.

Tools

Some weather stripping may require the use of tools, like hammers, utility knives, and pry bars to remove old weather stripping. This won’t add to your costs if you hire a professional to do the work for you, but you may need to allocate $25 to $50 to purchase the necessary tools if you plan on doing the work yourself.

Location 

Weather stripping prices vary slightly in different parts of the country. Keep in mind that most of the cost comes from the labor when you hire a professional to do the work for you, so the cost of living in your area can play a role in your total price. The table below includes the average cost of weather stripping in major cities around the country.

Number of Doors or Windows

Of course, the more weather stripping you need installed, the more it will cost both in terms of materials and labor. If you’re looking to seal around a single exterior door, your cost will almost certainly be lower than if you want all of your doors and windows sealed to maximize your bump in energy efficiency.

Keep in mind that, while your upfront cost will be higher to install weather stripping throughout your home, you might still end up saving in the long run by reducing your monthly heating and cooling costs.

Size of the Gap

Finally, the size of the gap you need sealed will affect your pricing, as it takes more material and time to fill a large gap than it would to seal a hairline gap. You might also have fewer options for the weather stripping materials you can use, which could push your price up if a more expensive weather stripping is the only suitable one for your needs.

Once again, though, sealing large gaps will be more costly upfront but will typically save you more on energy bills over time, as you’ll be fixing a larger air leak.

Angi Tip

Sealing gaps and weatherstripping can save up to 20% in annual energy bills according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Caroline Gilbert

Director, Content & Editorial, Angi

Cost of Weather Stripping by Type of Material

There are a good number of choices of materials to pick from when it comes to weather stripping. Foam tape and felt are some of the most affordable items, and metal and magnetic ones are the most expensive.

Felt

Felt strips are some of the most common and most affordable weather stripping options at just $0.10 per linear foot.

They come in felt-only strips and felt strips with a thin metal backing for added rigidity. These are easy to install because you just staple them into place. They’re usually best under compression, like on the sides and the top of door frames, or where your window sash meets the top or bottom of the frame, and they offer only minimal sealing.

Fin Seal

Fin seals are about twice the price at $0.20 per linear foot, and they consist of brush-like fins made of Mylar held in place on a plastic or metal strip. These are very durable and do a decent job at blocking airflow. You install these on surfaces that see a lot of wear and friction, like on the sides of sliding window sashes or the top and bottom of sliding doors.

Foam Tape

Foam tape costs around $1.47 per linear foot, making it a more expensive option than many others. For the price, though, you get a strip that’s a breeze to install and offers a good seal when it’s compressed. It’s best for use around door frames, inoperable windows, and things like attic hatches that swing closed.

Gaskets

Gaskets are made from rolled vinyl in most cases, and they provide great sealing power when they’re compressed. As such, they’re best on the tops and bottoms of moving window sashes and on the tops and sides of doors. Gaskets total around $0.60 per linear foot.

Magnetic

Magnetic weather stripping is some of the most expensive, averaging around $20.50 per linear foot. It’s very challenging to install and usually requires a professional, so labor costs contribute to the overall price as well. This works well on the tops and sides of doors, as well as window sashes compressed against the frame.

V-Strips

V-strips come in the shape of a V, are made of vinyl in most cases, and provide great sealing capabilities for areas where compression creates a partial seal, like the tops and sides of doors or on hinged windows. These cost around $0.25 per linear foot, but they’re suitable on perfectly smooth surfaces.

Tubular

Tubular weather stripping costs about $0.35 per linear foot, and it’s shaped like a tube that compresses on itself when in use. You’ll usually only find this around door frames, excluding the bottoms of doors. It provides a good seal, but it’s difficult to install.

Door Sweeps

As the name suggests, door sweeps are only suitable for the bottoms of doors. They’re ideal for this purpose, though, as they bend and fold to slide easily over uneven surfaces, like carpet. You can buy a standard door sweep for around $10, or an automatic door sweep for close to $100. Automatic sweeps provide a much better seal and can prevent leaking under your door, but they’re costly, challenging to install, and require that you wait a second after unlocking the door before you open it for the seal to break.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Weather stripping is a fairly easy DIY project that anyone with the time and patience can tackle. The materials you choose and the tools you need ultimately determine the cost.

For example, if you choose foam tape as your weather stripping material of choice, the cost is around $10.25 for a seven-foot roll. A standard door of 80 inches by 36 inches will need three rolls of tape, and the total cost will be $30.80, plus the time you spend doing it, which won't be that long.

When getting weather stripping installed by a handyperson, the labor costs for the entire project will be around $150, including multiple doors and windows. If you only need to weather strip one or two doors, you might be better off doing it yourself, unless it is an intricate door–like  a French door–or you don't have the time to do it.

We recommend getting a professional to help you if you’re working with a challenging material, like an automatic door sweep. In those cases, a handyman near you can make sure that the strip is installed properly to give you the biggest energy efficiency boost possible.

How to Save on the Cost of Weather Stripping 

Installing weather stripping is a relatively affordable endeavor, even if you hire a professional to weatherize your home for you. However, costs can add up if you’re sealing multiple doors and windows. Below are some tips to help you save money in the process.

• Choose the right weather stripping: Some types of weather stripping are more expensive than others, so make sure you choose one that suits your climate but fits into your budget. A professional can help you decide what’s best.

• Replace all weather stripping at once: You’ll likely save on travel costs,and maybe even get a deal on the work, if you pay to replace the weather stripping on all doors and windows in your home.

• Do the easy stuff yourself: For easy-to-install weather stripping, like felt strips, tackle the process yourself to save on labor costs.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.