How Much Does Weather Stripping Cost?

Replacing Weather Stripping

Replacing old weather stripping costs an average of $255, or about the same as installation. You may pay more if the pro has to remove any old material. You should repair or replace weather strippnig if you notice things becoming cracked, brittle, dry, bent, loose or otherwise dysfunctional.

Weather Stripping Prices

Weatherstripping costs can range from about $90 to $105 per project, and most homeowners do more than one project at once. Here’s a look at costs for sealing different parts of your home. Estimate the size of the project by finding the number of drafty windows and doors in your house. Here’s what you can expect to pay for each:

• $94 per interior door

• $64 per exterior door

• $103 per window

You can seal drafty windows and doors in several ways. Here’s a quick list of the most popular materials.

Tapes

• $10.27 for a 7-foot roll

• Best for: Door jambs, window jambs, window sashes, door bottoms

• Pros: Good sealant, effective against wind

• Cons: Low durability, highly visible, produces greenhouse gas emissions

Weather stripping tape is inexpensive and perfect for filling oddly shaped gaps. You can cut the tape to size with scissors or a utility knife. Most tapes are also self-adhesive, making application simple and effective. Be sure to only apply weather stripping tape to clean surfaces.

“Weather stripping is probably one of the best things you can do for your house,” says Bob Tschudi, Expert Review Board member and Raleigh, N.C.-based general contractor. “The energy savings more than pay for the cost in a very short time. Weather stripping also keeps insects at bay, as it seals all the tiny openings to your interior space.”

V-Strips

• $3.97 for a 17-foot roll

• Best for: Double-hung window jambs, tops, and sides of doors

• Pros: Durable, invisible, effective

• Cons: Difficult to install

V-strips are thin, flexible strips of metal or vinyl shaped to conform to gaps. Metal v-strips are more affordable than vinyl options.

Gaskets

• $5.99 for a 10-foot roll

• Best for: Doorstops, window stops, inside window sashes, outside window sashes, door bottoms

• Pros: Easy to install, low costs, self-adhesive

• Cons: Visible

Gaskets can be cut to length to fit onto the bottom of doors and windows.

Door Sweeps

• $10

• Best for: Interior and exterior door bottoms

• Pros: Easy install, adjustable, reduces carpet drag

• Cons: Price

Door sweeps fit onto the bottom of a door and help eliminate under-door drafts.

Magnetic

• $20.50 per strip

• Best for: Doors, double-hung windows, and sliding window channels

• Pros: Effective sea.

• Cons: Price

Magnetic weather strips fit into the top and sides of your door jambs and create an airtight seal.

Felt

• $2.78 for a 17-foot roll

• Best for: Door Jambs

• Pros: Inexpensive, easy to install

• Cons: Ineffective, susceptible to moisture, very visible

Felt is an inexpensive, easy-to-install sealant. You can cut felt with scissors or a utility knife. Some felt comes with a metal reinforcement.

Fin Seal

• $18.50 for 100 feet

• Best for: Sliding doors, sliding windows

• Pros: Durable

• Cons: Difficult to install

Fin seal weather strips have piles of different strands of material like carpet. In the center of the pile is a fine that helps to reinforce and strengthen the material. Piled weather strips are perfect for sliding doors and windows.

Weather Stripping Doors

The cost to replace door weather seals varies depending on the type of door you’re adding weather stripping to. Larger doors and more difficult-to-install types of weather stripping will increase your overall costs. You can often have your door weatherstripping replaced by a local door repair service. The cost to repair a door is $228 on average, but varies depending on the size of the job.

Hinged Doors

Hinged doors cost $35 to $80 per door to weatherstrip. They also require stripping around the jamb. Be sure to include floor sweeps as part of your weatherstripping project.

Standard Measurements (Feet)

• 3-by-6.6

French Doors

French doors cost $50 to $90 per set to weatherstrip. They need stripping around the jambs and areas where the two doors meet. Adding floor sweeps will also help insulate your home.

Standard Measurements (Feet)

• 2.5-by-6.6

• 2.6-by-6.6

• 2.8-by-6.6

• 3-by-6.6

• 4-by-6.6

• 5-by-6.6

• 6-by-6.6

Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding glass doors cost $60 to $90 to weatherstrip. They need to be sealed where the sliding part of the door meets the jamb. It’s best to use piled stripping with sliding glass doors; any brand works well.

Standard Measurements (Feet)

• Vary widely

Dutch Doors

Dutch doors cost $50 to $80 per door to weatherstrip. They need stripping around the jambs—similar to hinged designs—as well as beneath the top half of the door. Include floor sweeps to boost your door’s insulation value. 

Standard Measurements (Feet)

• 2.5-by-6.6

• 2.6-by-6.6 

• 3-by-6.6 

Some custom and design-oriented doors differ in size. Make sure to measure your doors before you begin your project.

Weather Stripping Windows

Weatherstripping windows gives them a good seal and ensures that they fit properly within their frame, stopping air or heat from leaking out of your home. Only windows that open and close require weatherstripping. Installers often price per window and provide better window repair rates when weatherstripping multiple windows at once.

Single-hung Windows

Weather stripping for single-hung windows costs $5 to $6 per window. Place weather stripping in the bottom sash of the window, which slides up and is the only part of the window that moves.

Standard Measurements (Feet)

• 2-by-3 

• 2-by-3.8 

• 2.3-by-4.5 

• 2.3-by-5.5 

• 2.3-by-5.8

• 2.8-by-3.8

• 2.8-by-5.1

Side-sash and Double-hung Windows

Weatherstripping for side-sash and double-hung windows costs $6 to $7 per window. Since both sashes move, seal these windows between the sash stiles and jamb.

Standard Measurements (feet)

• 2-by-3 

• 2-by-3.8 

• 2.5-by-4.5 

• 2.5- by-5.5 

• 2.5-by-5.8

• 2.8-b- 3.8 

• 2.8-by-5.1

Casement Windows

Weather stripping for casement windows costs $5 to $6 per window. Casement windows crank or push out and require weather stripping on the top, bottom, and sides of the inside of the window.

Standard Measurements (Feet)

• 1.7-by-3.7 (Twin)

• 1.7-by-4.4 (Twin)

• 2-by-3 (Single)

• 2.5-by-4 (Single)

• 2.5-by-4.9 (Single)

Awning Windows

Weather stripping for awning windows costs $5 to $6 per window. These windows push out from the bottom. Seal the side jambs of the window.

Standard Measurements (Feet)

• Vary

Weather Stripping Garage Doors

Garage door sealing goes along the exterior of the door’s opening and should include an under-door weather guard to keep out water and seal the bottom. Research different types of seals that work best for the type of door you have and the climate you live in.

Standard Measurements (Feet)

• 8-by-7

• 9-by-7

• 10-by-7

“When insulating garages, some homeowners insulate the door itself,” Tschudi says. “Not only is this good to keep out extreme cold or heat, it also provides sound dampening to keep out street noises and keep the neighborhood from hearing garage-band noise.”

Garage Door Seal Cost

Garage door seals cost between $170 and $490 to replace. This cost includes:

• Material

• Labor

• Supplies

In many cases, you can hire a general handyperson service to handle your garage door seal installation. The labor cost for a handyperson can vary depending on where you live.

Garage Door Weather Stripping Cost

Garage door weather stripping costs $60 to $85 per door. There are gaskets and door sweeps designed specifically for garage doors. Additionally, most weather stripping for moving or sliding windows and doors can be used, just in a larger format. Your local garage door installer can install new weather stripping when your old weather stripping fails.

How to Choose Weather Stripping

If you’re having a professional install your weatherstripping, they will likely offer recommendations or choose the best material for you. Otherwise, you’ll find a wide variety of available weatherstripping products, each of which suits different needs around the home.

To narrow your search, start by looking at the windows and doors you want to seal. Distinguish between those that swing and those that slide and note the type of openings they have. Sliding windows and doors need a weatherstripping material that allows movement. You’ll also need larger pieces of material for larger gaps.

If you’re installing weatherstripping as a DIY, choose products that you’re comfortable using. Some products are designed to self-stick, while others may require additional tools and materials.

DIY vs. Hiring a Weather Stripping Installer

Many homeowners can tackle this as a DIY project by learning how to install weather stripping. Homeowners who want to save time and ensure a tight seal should let a professional handle the project. Hiring a pro can spare you the headache of DIY errors and the potential financial pain of fixing those errors later.

FAQs

Does weather stripping keep bugs out?

Yes, weather stripping can help keep bugs out. Insects and other pests find ways into your home through small cracks and spaces. Sealing your windows and doors decreases the chance that bugs make it inside. Consider installing door sweeps to stop bugs from getting in under the door.

How do I stop cold air from coming through my windows?

Weather strips are a cost-effective way to stop cold air from coming into your home through your windows. You can also:

• Insulate your windows with window film.

• Re-caulk your windows.

• Hang insulated curtains.

• Put a door draft stopper/blocker at the base of your exterior door.

What is the purpose of weather stripping?

Weather stripping saves energy in your home by sealing small openings in your windows and doors. Weather stripping windows and doors saves money on your utility bill and keeps your home more comfortable year-round.

Is weather stripping permanent?

Many weatherstripping solutions are permanent. In harsh climates, materials that are permanently adhered or attached with screws will offer better protection for your home. Other products can be installed temporarily at a lower cost. Some use magnets or simply rely on pressure to stay in place.

How often should you replace weather stripping?

Weatherstripping should be replaced when it becomes visibly worn. You may see missing or damaged pieces, or you may notice air leaking around your windows and doors. If you can take a piece of the old weatherstripping with you to the store, you’ll be able to compare it to other products and find the best match.

How much does car weather stripping repair cost?

Car weather stripping repair costs anywhere from $150 to $800 depending on the make, model, and year of your vehicle as well as the technician’s experience level. This is not a DIY repair in most cases. Instead, you’ll need to take your vehicle to the dealership or qualified repair service.