Brrr, it’s cold outside. Do you have a small gap under your door to the outside? Or to your basement or attic? Making a door draft stopper (and then using it) will help keep the cold out and your home warmer.
A fabric door draft stopper is an easy sewing project that blocks drafts while adding a handmade touch to your home.
I’ll show you how to make a quick and easy, energy-saving draft guard in this article. What makes this tutorial different is I put two handles on the blocker, making it easy to hang on your door handle when the door is in use. It’s a simple project – just straight-line sewing!
Door draft stoppers are sometimes called door snakes since they look like a snake sliding by the bottom of your door. And, sometimes referred to as a draft dodger, draft snake, door draft blocker, or draft guard.
It is a long fabric tube a bit longer than the width of the bottom of your door, that you place to block the crack between the door and the door jam (or window sill) to help keep the cold air out.
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Use them on drafty doors, window frames or anywhere you want to stop a draft of cold air. Lower your heating bill and energy costs, while increasing efficiency in cold weather. These aren’t just for an old farmhouse, even newer homes have drafty doors and windows!
Make diy door snake for your entry doors and any older windows. Keep the warm air in with this diy project.
With our directions, the fabric is quilted first before making the tube which makes it harder for the cold air to enter your home. Also, we have two handles. When you pick up the stopper to open the door, simply slip the handles over the door knob for storage!
How do you make a DIY door draft stopper?
Sew a simple fabric tube, turn it right side out, fill it with your preferred stuffing, stitch the opening closed.
What is the best filling for a door draft stopper?
I prefer a mix of poly pellets and polyester fiberfill. It’s a perfect mix for weight and flexibility.
How long should a door draft stopper be?
Measure the width of your door. The finished draft stopper should about 2 inches wider than your door, which blocks drafts from the corners.
Do fabric draft stoppers actually work?
Yes! They help reduce cold draft and keeps warm air inside.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to make a simple door draft stopper using basic sewing supplies and your favorite fabric. It’s a beginner-friendly project that takes less than an hour and is a great way to use leftover fabric from other sewing projects.
Whether you’re sewing one for your own home or making several as thoughtful handmade gifts, this easy project is practical, quick, and satisfying.
What you’ll learn
- Measure a door for the right size draft stopper
- Choose the best fabric for everyday use
- Select a filling based on weight and flexibility
- Sew a simple tube with straight lines
- Fill and close the project neatly
- Personalize your draft stopper with decorative fabrics
Quick start:
Before you begin:
- Measure the width of your door
- Wash and press your fabric
- Decide what filling you’ll use
- Gather a funnel for filling your draft stopper
Difficulty: Beginner
Time: about one hour
Skill level: Basic sewing
How to make a Draft Stopper
Learn how to make a draft stopper to keep the cool air out of your home and the hot air in.
The snake-like tube snugs up against the bottom of your door.
This is an easy sewing project, perfect for beginners.
Here are our step-by-step instructions:
Materials
- One (1) piece of fabric 40-inches long by 10-inches wide for the outside
- One (1) piece of fabric 42-inches long by 12-inches for the lining
- Piece of batting 42-inches long by 12-inches wide
- 2 pieces of webbing or ribbon for the handles cut at 9-inches each
- 2 cups poly pellets
- Small bag of polyfill
- Thread for sewing
- Thread for machine quilting
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Quilter's ruler
- Yard stick
- Container to hold tube while filling with poly pellets
- Optional: Funnel if your poly pellet bag doesn't have a spout
- Optional: Walking foot for quilting
Instructions
Step 1: Measure your door
Measure the width of the door where the draft stopper will sit.
Step 2: Prep fabric for making your Draft Stopper:
Start by preparing your fabric to make the door draft stopper. I made this piece from scraps left over from a project. The fabric needs to be 4-inches wider than your door. Most doors are 36-inches wide, so my piece is 40-inches x 10-inches wide.
This is a perfect use for orphan quilt blocks left over from a project, or just use a solid piece of fabric!
Step 3: Quilt fabric:
I like to quilt this piece. It gives the door stopper more stability, and the quilting is like a coat, helping keep the drafts and cold away.
Layer the top for the door snake with batting and the backing.
Now quilt the layers together. You don't need dense quilting; it is just to hold the layers together while you fill the tube. I like to use my walking foot to make it easy (don't make this hard, unless you want to!). I followed the diagonal lines formed by the checkerboard. 
Here is the piece, all quilted and ready to make into a door draft stopper. 
Step 4: Sew the snake (tube)
I had cut the batting and backing a little larger than the top fabric. Now is the time to trim the edges and gather the other supplies you'll need. Here I've got the poly pellets, poly fill, two strips of webbing for the handles and my quilted piece of fabric.
Step 5: Sew the snake (tube)
Take your quilted piece of fabric and one of the handles. Place one of the handles along one of the short edges on the right side of the fabric.
Fold your quilted fabric piece in half lengthwise. Hold with Wonder Clips. 
Sew along the short end with a 1/2-inch seam allowance with the right sides together and the handle tucked in, catching the ends of the handle in your stitching. 
Turn and sew along the long side with a 1/2-inch seam allowance with the right sides together. 
Step 6: Turn and fill:
Next, turn the tube right side out through the open end. 
Here is the door draft stopper tube turned right side out and ready to be filled. Place the tube in a container before filling. Ask me how I know - the pellets can go everywhere!
Start by putting a handful of polyfill into the tube. Use a yardstick to help nudge the polyfill to the sewn end of the tube. Some people use a chopstick but I found it is too small for such a long tube. 
Then, carefully (in a container) pour about 3/4 cup of poly pellets into the tube. You don't need to be exact. With use, the pellets will distribute throughout the inside of the door draft stopper. If you don't have a bag of pellets with a pouring spout, use a funnel. 
Alternate between adding a handful of polyfill and the pellets until the tube is filled to about 2-inches from the end. This does not need to be tight. 
Step 7: Close and finish:
Now you are ready to close the end of the tube. Fold the end fabric in about 1-inch and secure with Wonder Clips. 
Tuck the second handle inside, making sure that the ends will be caught when sewing this end closed. 
This will be thick. Topstitch about 1/2-inch from the folded edge, securing the ends of the second handle in the seam.
Here is the second end of the door stopper, all sewn and ready to catch a draft! 
Here is the door stopper at work. 
And, when you want to open the door, simply hang the stopper from your door handle for easy storage.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Fairfield The Original Premium Polyester, Soft Pillow Stuffed Animals, Toys, Cloud Decorations, and More, Machine-Washable Poly-Fil Fiber Fill, 16-Ounce Bag, White -
HipGirl 1 Inch Polypro Webbing, 8 x 5 Yards Bulk Set, for DIY Key Fob Hardware, Yoga Strap, Tote, Bag Handle, Backpack Strap, Belt Webbing Strap, Leash, Lawn Chair Webbing Replacement -
Fairfield Poly-Fil Poly-Pellets, Premium Polyester Weighted Stuffing Beads, Stuffing for Stuffed Animals, Toys, Bean Bags, Weighted Blankets, and More, 6 lb Bag
Common mistakes
- Overfilling so it becomes stiff
- Underfilling so gaps remain
- Choosing slippery fabric that slides away
- Forgetting to backstitch the seams
- Using food fillers (like rice or beans) if moisture is a concern
What is the best filling for a draft stopper?
I prefer the mix of polyfill and poly pellets to fill the door draft stopper. This is a perfect mix for weight to keep it in place and make your home more energy efficient.
The best filling is one that will hold up with everyday use. The mixture of polyfill and poly pellets makes the door draft stopper weighted so that it stays in place. And, if it gets wet there are no worries.
What can I use to fill the door draft stopper?
As you plan your own draft stopper, remember, this is intended to be on the floor. I prefer a mix of poly pellets and polyfill.
Some people use beans, kitty litter, walnut husks, popcorn kernels, plastic bags, sand, and more.
I don’t know about you, but my floors get wet, especially when it is cold outside. I didn’t want to use things to fill my door snake that could absorb the dampness, and mold or attract bugs or rodents.
Some people use pool noodles, but they don’t have the little bit of weight you need to keep the DIY draft stopper in place.
- Poly pellets and poly fill: Enough weight to hold in place, and poly fill helps keep it flexible
- Poly pellets only: Draft stopper can get pretty heavy
- Poly fill only: Too lightweight, may not stay in place
- Rice or dried beans: Easy to find, inexpensive, but might attract bugs.
- Crushed walnut shells: Flexible, lightweight, may rot if gets wet
Best fabrics for door draft stoppers
If you don’t want to quilt a piece of fabric for your stopper, medium to heavy woven fabrics hold up best to everyday use.
Good choices include:
- Canvas
- Home decor fabric
- Denim
- Duck cloth
- Quilted piece of fabric
Do I need to quilt the fabric for the door stopper?
No. I find using the extra layers gives extra security that the poly pellets won’t slip through a seam. Also, the quilting does provide an extra layer to help block the drafts.
How do I wash or maintains my draft stopper?
By filling the draft stopper with polyfil and poly pellets, just toss your snake into the washer and dryer!
Many other fillings, like beans, are not washable and will need to be cleaned with spot cleaning with a wet rag. Be careful not to get the snake wet – it may mold when filled with beans.
What other options are there to make a homemade draft stopper?
Fill long socks with the poly pellet / polyfill blend. You may need more than one sock for the width of the door.
Take old pillows and line them up along the bottom of the door.
This is a perfect project for your scrap fabrics. Dig into your fabric stash and find fabrics you like. Piece them together to match your home decor!
Make one for each of your exterior doors.
Is your door wider or narrower than the standard 36-inch width? Measure your door first with a tape measure. Take the width of your door and add 4-inches to the length of your fabrics and batting.
Easy ways to customize
- Use seasonally themed fabrics to make your draft stopper. Holiday prints, snowflake, or snow-related fabrics. Select novelty fabrics that complement kids’ room styles, or your home decor!
- Add decorative elements to accentuate your decor!
- Use fabrics that match your furniture.
- Embellish your snake with patchwork, appliquè, or embroidery. You could make it look like a snake!
- Cut the legs off of old jeans. Sew a long tube about 10-inches in diameter from the leg. Fill and place in your door frame.
Frequently asked questions
Quilted piece of fabric, or heavy woven fabrics such as canvas, denim, duck cloth, or home decor fabrics are all durable choices.
If filled with fiberfill or poly pellets, yes. Rice and dried beans should not be washed.
Absolutely! This is a great scrap-busting sewing project.
Enough so that the draft stopper rests firmly against the floor while remaining flexible.
Yes. If you can sew a straight seam, you can make this project.
Yes! Simply adjust the finished length to fit your door. You may want to make two shorter ones.
They make thoughtful housewarming, holiday and hostess gifts.
A DIY door draft stopper is one of those sewing projects you’ll appreciate every day. It’s quick to make, uses only a small amount of fabric, and helps make your home warmer and more comfortable. Once you’ve sewn one, you’ll probably find yourself making several more for other rooms or as handmade gifts for family and friends.
Browse through more home dec projects on Create Whimsy.
