How to Stop a Draught Under Your Door (in 10 Minutes, No Drilling)

Feel a cold breeze around your ankles even with the heating on? The gap under your door is a likely culprit. It's one of the easiest draughts to fix, it costs very little, and it takes about ten minutes with no tools or tradespeople needed.

Here's how to find the draught, choose the right fix, and fit it properly.

Why the gap under your door matters

Most doors have a gap at the bottom so they open and close smoothly over flooring. Over a whole door that gap adds up to a surprisingly large opening, and it lets in more than cold air:

• Heat loss: warm air escapes and cold air is drawn in, so your heating works harder.
• Insects and dust: small gaps are an open invitation for spiders, ants and outdoor dust.
• Noise and light: sound and light travel straight through gaps, which matters for bedrooms and home offices.
• Summer cooling: the same gap lets cool air out when you're running a fan or air conditioning.

Step 1: Find the draught

On a cold or windy day, hold your hand flat near the bottom of the door and feel for moving air. You can also hold a lit incense stick or candle near the gap (carefully) and watch the smoke or flame move. Check every external door, plus doors to cold rooms such as a garage, conservatory or utility room.

Step 2: Choose your fix

Option	Best for	Drawbacks
Self-adhesive door seal strip	Most interior and exterior doors, renters, quick DIY	Needs a clean, dry surface to stick well
Fabric draught snake	Temporary fix, occasional draughts	Moves when the door opens, needs repositioning
Screw-on brush or aluminium strip	Heavy-use external doors	Needs drilling and cutting to size

For most homes, a flexible self-adhesive strip is the best balance: it stays attached to the door, moves with it, and needs no drilling, which also makes it a good choice if you rent.

Step 3: Fit a door seal strip

1. Measure the width of the door and cut the strip to length with scissors.
2. Clean the bottom of the door with a damp cloth, then let it dry completely. Grease and dust are the main reasons strips peel off.
3. Peel the backing a little at a time and press the strip on from one end to the other, keeping it straight.
4. Position it so the flexible edge just touches the floor when the door is closed. Too low and the door will drag; too high and air will still get through.
5. Press firmly along the whole length and, if you can, leave it 24 hours before heavy use so the adhesive fully bonds.

Our door seal strip is made from flexible PE that bends over uneven floors and thresholds, and it's one of our best-reviewed products. Customers use it on front doors, bedroom doors, and even windows and cabinets.

Other quick ways to cut draughts

• Check the sides and top of the door too. Foam or rubber weatherstrip in the frame seals those gaps.
• Cover the letterbox and keyhole. A brush letterbox or a simple keyhole cover helps more than you'd expect.
• Close doors to unheated rooms so warm air stays where you're sitting.
• Use heavy curtains on windows and glazed doors in the evening.

Frequently asked questions

How do I stop a draught under my door without drilling?

Use a self-adhesive door seal strip. It sticks to the bottom of the door, moves with it, and needs no screws, so it's ideal for renters.

Will a door seal strip stop the door closing?

Not if it's fitted correctly. Position it so the flexible edge just brushes the floor. If the door drags, peel it off and reposition it slightly higher.

Does sealing doors really reduce heating bills?

Sealing draughts reduces the warm air your heating has to replace, so rooms warm up faster and stay warm longer. How much you save depends on your home, but it's one of the cheapest efficiency improvements you can make.

Find more simple fixes in our home and cleaning collection.