Best draught excluders for front doors: seal the gap, letterbox, keyhole and frame
A draughty front door can undo a lot of expensive heating. Most of the cold comes through four places: the gap at the bottom, the letterbox, the keyhole and the edges of the frame. Here's the kit that seals each one, all cheap and mostly DIY-friendly, and what not to block.
Quick picks
- Best overallStormguard bottom-of-door brush seal, white, 914mm (02SR0200914W)Check price
- Best stick-on sealVellure self-adhesive silicone door draught excluder strip, 100cmCheck price
- Best frame sealtesamoll E-profile self-adhesive rubber draught seal, white, 10mCheck price
- Best letterbox coverStormguard internal PVC letter box brush cover, white (06SR0150000W)Check price
- Best replacement letterboxXfort MailPlate 12" draught-proof letterplate, matt blackCheck price
- Best keyhole coverCyclaire door keyhole draught excluder, pack of 2Check price
- Best no-fit optionMarwood weighted under-door draught stopper, 91cm, dog designCheck price
- Best for very draughty doorsDeconovo thermal blackout door curtain, grey, 132 × 214cm (1 panel)Check price
How we chose: We compared popular front-door draught-proofing products on Amazon.co.uk, checking the gap size each one seals, the fitting method, sizes and materials from listings and manufacturers. We looked for recurring themes in Amazon.co.uk owner feedback, especially how long adhesives and brushes last. Advice on where to draught-proof, what not to block and likely savings comes from the Energy Saving Trust. We have not personally tested these products; this is a research-based roundup. Our research process.
The Energy Saving Trust (EST) says draught-proofing around windows, doors and floors could save around £55 a year in Great Britain, and that a draught-free home feels comfortable at a lower thermostat setting, which saves more. Front doors are usually the worst offenders, and the EST breaks the job into four parts: a brush or hinged flap for the gap at the bottom, a flap or brush for the letterbox, a purpose-made keyhole cover, and foam, brush or wiper strips around the edges.
Start by finding the draughts. On a windy day, run a damp hand slowly around the edges of the door, letterbox and keyhole, and look for daylight under and around it. Then pick the fixes below for the gaps you actually have. Once the door's sealed, a small ceramic heater or electric radiator in the hallway has a much easier job. For the person in the house who's still cold, see our gifts for people who are always cold.
Who this guide is for: Homeowners and renters with a cold hallway or a front door that whistles in the wind, especially in older houses and flats with timber doors. Most fixes here need no tools or just a screwdriver, and the stick-on options suit renters. If your home also suffers from damp, read our condensation guide first, because ventilation matters.
Black Friday tip: Black Friday is Friday 27 November 2026, but draught excluders are cheap and every cold week costs you heat, so we wouldn’t wait for a sale. For bigger winter buys, our Black Friday home buying guide explains how to check price history and spot a genuine deal.
Comparison table
| Pick | Seals | Fitting | Best for | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stormguard brush stripBest overall | Gaps up to 25mm under the door | Screw-on; cut to size | Most front doors | Check price |
| Vellure silicone stripBest stick-on seal | Smaller gaps under the door | Self-adhesive; trim to size | Smooth floors and renters | Check price |
| tesamoll E-profileBest frame seal | Gaps 1–3.5mm around the frame | Self-adhesive into the rebate | Doors that rattle or whistle | Check price |
| Stormguard letterbox brushBest letterbox cover | Letterbox opening | Screws to the inside of the door | Standard letterboxes | Check price |
| Xfort MailPlate 12"Best replacement letterbox | Whole letterbox (flaps both sides) | Telescopic sleeve; screws | Wooden, composite and uPVC doors 40–80mm | Check price |
| Cyclaire keyhole coverBest keyhole cover | Keyhole | Self-adhesive | Traditional mortice keyholes | Check price |
| Marwood weighted stopperBest no-fit option | Gap under the door (on the floor) | None; lay it along the door | Renters and temporary use | Check price |
| Deconovo door curtainBest for very draughty doors | The whole door (insulating layer) | Eyelets; needs a pole or portière rod | Victorian and glazed doors | Check price |
Specs are from manufacturer listings as of 20 October 2026; claimed figures (running costs, runtimes) are the maker’s, not ours. Check the Amazon page for the current price and exact variant before you buy.
The picks in detail
Stormguard bottom-of-door brush seal, white, 914mm (02SR0200914W)
Best for: The gap under most front doors, on uneven floors and over door mats
- Seals
- Gaps up to 25mm under the door
- Fitting
- Screw-on; cut to size
- Best for
- Most front doors
A rigid PVC strip with a brush along the bottom, fitted to the inside face of the door with the screws provided. The brush flexes over uneven floors, thresholds and thin mats, and Stormguard says it seals gaps up to 25mm. Adjustable fixing slots let you set the height so the brush just touches the floor, and you can cut it to width with a hacksaw. Stormguard gives it a one-year warranty.
Owners say it's easy to fit with clear instructions and works well on front doors, and it's easy to cut to size. The main complaint is durability: some report bristles falling out or the brush sliding out of its holder. It's sold by a third-party seller.
What owners and reviewers like
- Seals big, uneven gaps
- Adjustable height
- Cheap and long-lasting
Watch-outs
- Needs a drill or screwdriver
- Some bristle loss reported
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Vellure self-adhesive silicone door draught excluder strip, 100cm
Best for: Renters, and doors where you don't want to drill
- Seals
- Smaller gaps under the door
- Fitting
- Self-adhesive; trim to size
- Best for
- Smooth floors and renters
A white silicone strip that sticks to the bottom of the door, with a flexible sweep that seals against the floor. Clean the door, peel off the backing and press it on, then trim any excess. It's 100cm long, and Vellure says it can be removed without damaging the door. It's sold by a third-party seller.
Owners say it's quick to fit and blends in with the door. The weak point is the adhesive: some say it sticks well, others that it lifts along part of the door, and some say it lasts about a year. Fit it on a dry, room-temperature day and clean the surface first. It doesn't cope with big gaps the way a brush strip does.
What owners and reviewers like
- No tools
- Neat, discreet look
- Easy to trim
Watch-outs
- Adhesive can lift
- Not for large gaps
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tesamoll E-profile self-adhesive rubber draught seal, white, 10m
Best for: Gaps around the sides and top of the door, inside the frame
- Seals
- Gaps 1–3.5mm around the frame
- Fitting
- Self-adhesive into the rebate
- Best for
- Doors that rattle or whistle
A rubber E-profile strip that sticks into the rebate of the door frame, so the door closes against it. tesa says it suits gaps of 1–3.5mm and lasts up to eight years. Ten metres is enough for a front door and several windows. It's sold by Amazon. For slightly larger gaps, the Stormguard E-profile seal is a popular alternative, sold by a third-party seller.
Owners say it stops draughts and one says it halved the noise coming in. The adhesive gets mixed comments. The EST notes that if a strip is too big the door won't close, and if it's too small a gap remains, so measure the gap first: a strip of paper that slides out easily when the door's shut is a good test.
What owners and reviewers like
- Cheap and discreet
- Long-lasting rubber
- Enough for several jobs
Watch-outs
- Adhesive can fail on dusty frames
- Must match the gap size
Check current price on Amazon Affiliate link · opens Amazon.co.uk
Stormguard internal PVC letter box brush cover, white (06SR0150000W)
Best for: Stopping the icy blast through the letterbox
- Seals
- Letterbox opening
- Fitting
- Screws to the inside of the door
- Best for
- Standard letterboxes
A PVC frame with two rows of brushes that screws over your letterbox on the inside of the door. Post pushes through the brushes, and they close behind it. The outside measures 335 × 75mm and the opening 279 × 45mm, so measure your letterbox first. Fixings are included, and it's sold by Amazon.
Owners say it fits nicely, is easy to install and keeps wind and cold air out, even in bad weather. Sturdiness gets mixed comments. Thick magazines and parcels can push the brushes out of shape over time.
What owners and reviewers like
- Very cheap
- Easy to fit
- Sold by Amazon
Watch-outs
- Plastic can crack
- Brushes can splay with thick post
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Xfort MailPlate 12" draught-proof letterplate, matt black
Best for: Replacing a broken or rattling letterbox
- Seals
- Whole letterbox (flaps both sides)
- Fitting
- Telescopic sleeve; screws
- Best for
- Wooden, composite and uPVC doors 40–80mm
A complete replacement letterbox with matching flaps inside and out, a telescopic sleeve that fills the hole through the door and aluminium flaps that open to 180° so they don't snap off. It's 300 × 65mm and suits wooden, composite and uPVC mid-rail doors 40–80mm thick. Check your existing letterbox size and fixing positions before ordering. It's sold by a third-party seller.
Owners say it fits flush and securely, looks smart and is a good replacement for a broken letterbox. Some found the screws too short, so have longer ones ready, and opinions on depth and size are mixed.
What owners and reviewers like
- Flaps both sides, plus a sleeve
- Anti-snap flaps
- Smart finish
Watch-outs
- Screws may be too short
- Must match your door's cut-out
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Cyclaire door keyhole draught excluder, pack of 2
Best for: Old mortice locks with an open keyhole
- Seals
- Keyhole
- Fitting
- Self-adhesive
- Best for
- Traditional mortice keyholes
A small cover that sticks over the keyhole on the inside of the door, with a sliding flap you lift to insert the key. Cyclaire says it measures 37 × 27mm with a 24 × 8mm keyhole slot, and it also stops people looking through. The EST recommends a purpose-made keyhole cover for front doors. It's sold by Cyclaire, a third-party seller.
Owners say it does what it says and stops the draught, but some found it fiddly to stick on and a few say it fell off within days. Clean the area with a degreaser first. A screw-fixed metal escutcheon from a hardware shop is a sturdier alternative.
What owners and reviewers like
- Tiny, cheap fix
- Flap for the key
- Pack of two
Watch-outs
- Adhesive can fail
- Flimsy
Check current price on Amazon Affiliate link · opens Amazon.co.uk
Marwood weighted under-door draught stopper, 91cm, dog design
Best for: Renters, and an extra layer on very cold nights
- Seals
- Gap under the door (on the floor)
- Fitting
- None; lay it along the door
- Best for
- Renters and temporary use
A classic "sausage dog" draught excluder filled with fibre and bags of washed sand, so it weighs about 1kg and stays put. Lay it along the inside of the door when you're in for the evening. It's 91cm long and has loops at each end so you can hang it on a hook when it's not in use. It's sold by a third-party seller.
Owners say it's effective, stays in place thanks to its weight, and looks fun. The catch with front doors is that you have to move it every time someone comes in, so it works best as a top-up to a brush strip, or on a back door you rarely use.
What owners and reviewers like
- No fitting at all
- Heavy, so it stays put
- Cheerful design
Watch-outs
- Has to be moved to open the door
- Can get damp from wet boots
Check current price on Amazon Affiliate link · opens Amazon.co.uk
Deconovo thermal blackout door curtain, grey, 132 × 214cm (1 panel)
Best for: Old or glazed front doors that stay cold even after sealing
- Seals
- The whole door (insulating layer)
- Fitting
- Eyelets; needs a pole or portière rod
- Best for
- Victorian and glazed doors
A heavy, triple-weave thermal curtain that hangs across the inside of the door, adding a layer of trapped air between the hall and the cold door. It's one panel, 132 × 214cm, with eyelets for a curtain pole. A portière rod, which lifts as the door opens, is the neatest option for a front door, and you'll need to buy it separately. It's OEKO-TEX certified and machine washable. It's sold by Deconovo's store.
Owners say it keeps warmth in and cold draughts out, and one noticed a big temperature difference. Check the drop: it should reach the floor without dragging in a wet doormat.
What owners and reviewers like
- Insulates the whole door
- Huge owner base
- Machine washable
Watch-outs
- Needs a pole or portière rod
- Takes up space in a narrow hall
Check current price on Amazon Affiliate link · opens Amazon.co.uk
Which fix for which draught?
| Where the draught is | Best fix | Quick test |
|---|---|---|
| Under the door | Brush strip or hinged flap; stick-on seal for small gaps | Daylight under the door |
| Letterbox | Internal brush cover, or a new letterplate with flaps both sides | Flap rattles or lets light through |
| Keyhole | Purpose-made keyhole cover | Cold air on your hand |
| Around the frame | Rubber E or P-profile, brush or wiper strips | Door rattles when shut; paper slides out easily |
| The door itself | Thermal door curtain | Door surface or glass feels icy |
The EST says self-adhesive foam strips are cheap and easy but may not last long, while brush and wiper strips last longer. That matches the owner feedback above: adhesive products are the quickest fix, screw-on products the longest-lasting.
What not to block
Draught-proofing is about stopping uncontrolled draughts, not ventilation. The EST says you shouldn't block extractor fans, airbricks or underfloor grilles, wall vents or trickle vents, and you must not block ventilation that gas appliances need. It also says internal doors shouldn't be draught-proofed, because the gap underneath helps air circulate around the home.
If your home already has condensation or mould, sealing every gap can make it worse. Keep trickle vents open, use extractor fans and see our guide to stopping condensation. A dehumidifier helps in homes that stay damp.
Fitting tips that make seals last
- Clean first: wipe the door or frame with soapy water or an alcohol wipe and let it dry fully before using anything self-adhesive.
- Fit when it's warm: adhesives grip better at room temperature than on a frosty morning.
- Set brush strips just touching: the bristles should brush the floor lightly. Too low and the door drags; too high and the draught gets under.
- Measure the frame gap: an oversized frame seal stops the door closing, the EST warns, and an undersized one leaves a gap.
- Check the door itself: if it's warped or the hinges have dropped, a locksmith or carpenter may need to adjust it before any seal will work. For older homes with traditional doors, the EST suggests getting professional help.
Bigger savings: heating the hallway sensibly
Once the front door is sealed, warm air stays in the hall longer. If you heat a cold hallway or porch with a portable heater, choose one with a thermostat and use it only when needed: our ceramic heaters guide includes running costs at the current price cap. The EST notes that turning your thermostat down from 22°C to 21°C could save around £120 a year in Great Britain, and a draught-free home makes that much easier to live with.
FAQs
What is the best draught excluder for a front door?
For most front doors, a screw-on brush strip such as the Stormguard bottom-of-door brush seal is the best all-round fix, because it copes with uneven floors and bigger gaps. Add a letterbox brush, a keyhole cover and frame seals for a complete job.
How much can draught-proofing save?
The Energy Saving Trust estimates around £55 a year in Great Britain for draught-proofing windows, doors and floors, plus more if a warmer-feeling home lets you turn the thermostat down.
Should I draught-proof internal doors?
No. The Energy Saving Trust says internal doors shouldn't be draught-proofed, because the gap underneath helps air circulate. Focus on doors to the outside, and don't block vents.
Do stick-on draught excluders work?
Yes, for small gaps, and they're ideal for renters. The adhesive is the weak point, so clean and dry the door first and fit them at room temperature. Screw-on brush strips last longer.
How do I stop a draught through the letterbox?
Fit an internal letterbox brush cover, or replace the letterbox with one that has flaps on both sides and a sleeve through the door, like the Xfort MailPlate. Measure your letterbox before ordering.
Do you get commission?
Yes. If you buy through our links, Amazon may pay us a small commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn't affect which products we include. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Sources we consulted
Prices change constantly, so we don’t list them here. Always check the current price, seller and delivery details on Amazon before buying. If anything on this page looks wrong or out of date, tell us.
