14 Different Types of Door Weather Stripping to Keep the Elements Out

Weather stripping is a strip that goes around windows, doors, and garages to keep Mother Nature out of your home. It keeps the unconditioned air outside at bay, prevents snow or rain from entering, and helps seal air leaks to prevent HVACs from overworking. Choosing the best type of door weather stripping for your situation is crucial for maximizing energy efficiency and keeping your living space comfortable.

Whether you’re planning to DIY replacement weather stripping or hire a pro for the job, this article explains 14 types of weather stripping for you to consider.

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

1. Tension Seal

A tension seal is one of the most common types of weather stripping. You might also find this type of weather stripping called a “V-Strip.” This type of weather stripping is typically made out of vinyl, but you can also find it in aluminum, bronze, and stainless steel.

You’ll typically find this type of seal around the top and sides of a door or sliding window. A tension seal generally is “invisible” because it’s hidden in your window track or inside your door frame. One side has a peel-and-stick surface for installation, and the other presses against your door or window to create a seal against air and water.

Pros

• Long-lasting

• Not visible once installed

• Quite effective at blocking drafts

• Relatively affordable

Cons

• Only suitable for flat and smooth surfaces

• Challenging to install properly, especially around corners

• Can make doors and windows a little harder to close

Best For: Side tracks of sliding windows, top and bottom tracks of sliding doors, tops and sides of standard doors

2. Felt

Felt weather stripping is, unsurprisingly, made from felt, and the strip sometimes includes a flexible metal strip to add some rigidity. Rather than the peel-and-stick method, you’ll instead need to use staples or glue to put the felt into place.

While relatively inexpensive compared to a tension seal, it requires more frequent replacement. Opening and closing doors repeatedly causes the flexible metal strip to bend, which can render the weather stripping useless.

Pros

• Easy DIY installation

• Affordable

• Easy material to work with

Cons

• Not the best for blocking drafts or water

• Won’t stand up to friction

• Visible when installed

• Needs regular replacement

Best For: The hinge side of doors or the bottom of a window sash

3. Reinforced Foam

Reinforced foam is another fairly common material for sealing wall openings. This type of weather stripping will go at the bottom of a door or window, which means you’re likely to pair this one with another type. It’s made up of closed-cell foam that compresses to prevent any air or water from entering your home.

For reinforced foam, you need to saw the material first and then nail it into the area. This does create quite a bit of durability and tends to fare well against even the highest winds. Because of the material, though, it does tend to stick out like a sore thumb.

Pros

• Very efficient

• Affordable

Cons

• Visible once installed

• Can be challenging to install

• Won’t stand up to much friction

Best For: Bottom of window sash or door, on door or window stops

4. Tape

Tape weather stripping is made from durable rubber that’s slightly compressible to create a good seal, or from closed-cell or open-cell foam, depending on the intended application. You’ll only want to use it in areas where you notice wear and tear on existing weather stripping. Consider this a temporary solution when none of the other options are feasible.

For extra reinforcement, you may want to staple the tape into the frame for best results.

Pros

• Simple installation

• Affordable

• Provides decent protection in a pinch

Cons

• Visible once installed

• Not terribly durable

Best For: Around window sashes and doors, as needed for quick repairs, and for sealing irregular areas

5. Rolled or Reinforced Vinyl

With reinforced vinyl, you’re getting a relatively solid weather stripping option. This one does require that you have a metal or wood strip already present before installation, though. Because it’s vinyl, you get quite a few options for colors and painting, but it can still be visible because of the difference in texture.

Use reinforced vinyl weather stripping when you already have a metal or wood stripping in place, and you’re simply looking to minimize the amount of airflow into your home. It comes in a strip with a self-adhesive side for easy installation.

Pros

• Easy to install

• Can be somewhat hidden if the color matches your window or door

Cons

• More expensive than many other types

• Must have a pre-existing wood, vinyl, or metal strip for installation

Best For: Door or window stops, bottoms of doors or windows

6. Door Sweep

Photo: irina88w / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Door sweep weather stripping only goes on the bottom of a door to make the door more energy-efficient. If it’s an interior door, you should only place it on the side of the door that swings open. There are a lot of different materials to choose from for door sweeps. The strip that attaches to your door is usually aluminum or stainless steel, and the sweep that hangs down to create a partial seal is either vinyl, sponge, flexible plastic, or felt.

The big problem with door sweep weather stripping is that it tends to hang too low on the bottom part of the door. So, if you have carpet in the area, there’s a high chance it catches when the door opens.

Pros

• Variety of designs and materials available

• Easy to install

• Suitable for sealing against uneven surfaces

Cons

• Visible

• Expensive

• Can snag on carpet

• Requires door removal to install

Best For: Bottom of exterior door

7. Magnetic

Magnetic weather stripping works by attaching magnetically to the tops and sides of a door and window. It’s extremely easy to install and uninstall since it’s magnetic, and it creates a great seal in the process. It does come with a high upfront cost, though.

Pros

• Very efficient

• Super easy to install and adjust

Cons

• Expensive

Best For: Sides and tops of windows and doors

8. Tubular Rubber and Vinyl

Tubular rubber weather stripping usually only goes on doors, but you can install it on certain types of windows, including basement hoppers and other styles that hinge closed. It does also come with the benefit of surrounding the entire door or window. This way, you don’t have to pick two different weather stripping types to accomplish the task. You’ll want to hire a local door repair specialist for this one, as DIY installation tends to be tricky if you’ve never worked with it before.

Pros

• Great for sealing against air

• Works as standalone weather stripping

Cons

• Expensive

• Challenging to install

Best For: Around doors and windows that hinge closed

9. Reinforced Silicone

Reinforced silicone is similar to tubular rubber/vinyl, but it includes a metal strip to add rigidity and durability. It creates a solid seal against drafts for areas that pinch closed, like a window stop or the sides of your door frame. This does tend to come with a higher cost than its vinyl counterpart, however. 

Pros

• Great for blocking air drafts

• Durable

Cons

• Expensive

• Hard to install

Best For: Side jambs on doors and window stops

10. Door Shoe

Door shoes go on the bottom of a door and work similarly to a door sweep. Instead of strips that extend down to meet the door threshold, though, it uses a C-shaped piece of silicone or plastic to create a better seal. This type of weather stripping is perfect for those in a rainy climate; its angle prevents the water from entering your door frame and coming into your home.

With door shoes, you’re going to have a combination of aluminum and vinyl inserts. You can switch out the inserts easily, which can cut costs in the long run.

Pros

• Great for blocking water from coming inside

• Some have replaceable inserts to cut down on replacement costs

• Suitable for uneven flooring or threshold

• Less likely to catch on carpet than door sweep

Cons

• Expensive

• Difficult to install

• Requires you to remove the door to install

Best For: Bottom of exterior door

11. Bulb Threshold

A bulb threshold is a tubular piece of vinyl with a t-shape that you insert into your threshold to seal door gaps along the bottom. It’s pretty easy to install, which is good because it wears down rather quickly from foot traffic. It does create a great seal against water since it sits on the threshold rather than the underside of your door. It’s also decent at sealing against drafts.

Pros

• Easy to install

• Great for sealing against water

Cons

• Expensive

• Wears easily, demanding frequent replacement

Best For: Door thresholds

12. Frost-Brake Threshold

Frost-brake threshold weather stripping is perfect for those in cold climates, as there’s less heat transfer through the various materials, which usually include wood, aluminum, and rubber. They run into the same problems as bulb threshold weather stripping in that they wear down relatively quickly from foot traffic and need to be replaced regularly.

Pros

• Good seal against water and air

• High thermal value for cold climates

Cons

• Can be difficult to install

• May have to replace entire threshold when you install a new one

• Expensive

Best For: Exterior door thresholds

13. Fin Seal

If a sliding glass door needs weather stripping to help keep severe weather out, a fin seal—also called pile weather stripping—is probably your best bet. It’s made of an aluminum or vinyl strip that has wool fibers or another kind of fiber extending outward to brush against your window jambs or the tracks of sliding doors.

These are very durable since the fibers are ultra pliable, but they are difficult to install if they wear down.

Pros

• Great for sealing sliding windows and doors

• Durable

Cons

• Challenging to install

• Not the best protection from water

Best For: In sliding channels for sliding doors and window sashes

14. Interlocking Metal Channels

Interlocking metal channels are a weather stripping type that is only active when the door is closed. It interlocks together to create one of the strongest seals possible and goes around the door’s perimeter. One side has a channel with a particular shape, and the other side has a protruding piece of aluminum that fits snugly into the channel.

Though this type of weather stripping offers some of the best performance, it does require professional installation and has a high upfront cost.

Pros

• One of the best seals for doors

• Durable

Cons

• Very expensive

• Demands professional installation

• Can make your door slightly harder to open

Best For: Around exterior doors

Cost to Install Door Weather Stripping

The price of installing weather stripping ranges between $130 and $430 for each project. Your location, the type of materials selected, labor, and the total number of doors and windows that you need to seal will influence what you pay. 

The upshot for homeowners is that investing in quality weather striping materials means better energy savings and a more comfortable indoor environment. For most folks, this project is worth the expense.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Going the DIY route for less intensive, peel-and-stick weather stripping projects is ideal for handy homeowners looking to save some money. While it could be a satisfying weekend project, remember—you'll need to be precise to ensure you're keeping drafts out.

If DIY isn't your thing or you want to be certain it's done right, hiring a door repair specialist near you is the best option. A pro can get everything done efficiently and fairly quickly, so you can enjoy the energy savings STAT.

Dan Simms contributed to this piece.