How to weatherstrip a drafty door
Find the draft first: on a windy day, close the door on a sheet of paper; if it slides out easily, the seal is weak there. Clean the door frame, measure each side, and press in self adhesive foam or rubber strips along the stop, where the door closes against the frame. Add a door sweep or bottom seal if light shows under the door. In a rental, ask first.
Why it matters: A drafty door is a cold room and a higher heating bill, and it takes an afternoon to fix.
Steps
- On a windy day, close the door on a sheet of paper at several points; where it pulls out easily, the seal is weak.
- Look for daylight around the frame and under the door.
- Clean the door stop with mild soap and let it dry fully.
- Measure each side and cut self adhesive foam or rubber strip to length.
- Peel and press it onto the stop so the door squeezes it lightly when closed.
- Fit a door sweep or bottom seal if light shows under the door.
- Check the door still latches easily, and trim or swap for a thinner strip if not.
Common mistakes
- Sticking strips onto a dusty or damp frame.
- Using strip so thick the door no longer latches.
- Changing fixtures in a rental without asking the landlord.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to weatherstrip a drafty door
What to say
Find the draft first: on a windy day, close the door on a sheet of paper; if it slides out easily, the seal is weak there. Clean the door frame, measure each side, and press in self adhesive foam or rubber strips along the stop, where the door closes against the frame. Add a door sweep or bottom seal if light shows under the door. In a rental, ask first.
What to show
- On a windy day, close the door on a sheet of paper at several points; where it pulls out easily, the seal is weak.
- Look for daylight around the frame and under the door.
- Clean the door stop with mild soap and let it dry fully.
- Measure each side and cut self adhesive foam or rubber strip to length.
- Peel and press it onto the stop so the door squeezes it lightly when closed.
- Fit a door sweep or bottom seal if light shows under the door.
- Check the door still latches easily, and trim or swap for a thinner strip if not.
Check question
How do you find where a door seal is weak?
Answer: Close the door on paper and see where it pulls out easily. A loose grip on the paper shows a gap.
Your checklist
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Quick quiz
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Related skills
Sources
- US federal home energy saving guidance, 2025. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .