The Best Automotive Door Seals and Weatherstripping
A quiet, comfortable ride free from dust, drafts, and wind noise is something drivers expect from their cars. Manufacturers spend big money to ensure acceptable levels of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH); weatherstripping, door and window seals are a big part of that. Without them, your car is a whistling, freezing, scorching, misery machine. Yet who thinks about the molded rubber and metal components that contribute so much to riding refinement?
The good news is that most factory weatherstripping is very durable and effective. But, if your original equipment weatherproofing deteriorates or becomes damaged, there’s no cause to worry; there are plenty of replacement options available to return tranquility and comfort to your car’s cabin.
The best door seals feature high-quality EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber with metal reinforcements. They are available as press-on seals with a clip that clamps to your internal door edge or with adhesive backing so they can adhere to any surface. Look for 3M brand adhesive for the most permanent solutions.
Here are some of our favorite replacement automotive door seals and weatherstrip.
Table of contents
- 1: Seal Rubber Automotive Weather Stripping
- 2. AutoEC New Weather Stripping Seals
- 3. BOAOSI Store Double-D Door Seal
- 4. KX Automotive Big-D Door Seal
- 5. Thlevel Automotive Seal
- 6. MG Mega Z-Shaped and L-Shaped Automotive Door Seal
- 7. Mikosi High-Density Foam Tape
- 8. Dorman OEM Replacement Weather Strip Door Seals
- How To Install Automotive Door Seals and Weatherstripping
1: Seal Rubber Automotive Weather Stripping
Seal Rubber’s automotive weatherstripping is an easy-to-install rubber door seal for your car, truck, or SUV. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
The C-clip and D-loop design of Seal Rubber automotive weather stripping makes it an ideal door seal for any car, truck, or SUV. The EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene monomer) seal consists of a C-clip with internal metal reinforcements and a closed-loop of rubber. The clip mounts on the edge of your doors with the D-loop facing inwards, and it’s that loop that compresses between your door and the door sill of your vehicle to form a watertight and airtight seal.
This product is available in lengths of 10, 13, 20, 25, 33, and 50 feet. The clip is 0.5 inches deep with a 0.06-inch opening, and the loop is 0.38 inches in diameter. We always recommend buying more than you think you need—most car doors need ten to twelve feet of seal. We also note that the 20-foot option ships as two packs of 10 feet each, which is not enough to fully complete a door edge.
There is no adhesive to use, just push it onto the clip. That means this door seal works best for doors with an internal lip or ridge that can accept the pressed-on door seal. This is a well-made and well-thought-out push-on door seal that is easy to install and lasts a long time.
Key Features
Material: EPDM rubber, vinyl, PVC, steel clips
Type: Push on
Shape: C-clip and D-loop
Pros | Easy to install, great price |
Cons | Non-adhesive design only fits door frames with mounting flange |
2. AutoEC New Weather Stripping Seals
This D-shaped weather seal by AutoEC comes with 3M adhesive so you can mount it on any surface in your car, truck, or SUV to enhance weather and noise protection. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AutoEC’s versatile weatherstripping consists of a 15mm (9/16-inch) wide D-shaped loop and high-quality 3M trim adhesive that makes this product easy to install on any opening on your car, truck, or SUV.
There is also a smaller diameter 10mm (3/8-inch) option but for most modern domestic vehicles the larger size is more effective. The maximum length available is 23 feet. The adhesive will grip well in all conditions once installed, but you should wait until a warmer day to install it. If that’s not possible, use a hairdryer or heat gun on low to warm the adhesive and the surface before you stick it down.
The EPDM rubber is a good quality material that compresses to form a seal and returns to its original shape quickly, so it won’t degrade over time. However, the walls of the tube are thinner than some options making it less effective as a noise barrier. This is an affordable and easy-to-use seal for a variety of automotive and household applications.
Key Features
Material: EPDM rubber
Type: Adhesive
Shape: D-loop
Pros | Versatile, good value |
Cons | Requires warm environment for installation, tube walls are thin |
3. BOAOSI Store Double-D Door Seal
At just 0.25 inches wide and 0.5 inches deep, this door trim from BOAOSI is a compact and unobtrusive option. It's perfect for vehicles with tight body clearances. To compensate for the lack of size, the seal employs a double-D design that helps increase sound deadening as well as air and water sealing around your door edges.
It is backed by 3M adhesive, which requires warmth to install effectively but bonds permanently. The rubber is durable, flexible, and won’t degrade in extreme temperatures. It can be ordered in quantities up to 54 feet; plenty to finish off most vehicles and the price is reasonable. We also like the vent holes that allow air to escape from within the cavities and help form a tighter seal.
There are thicker, more robust options on the market but the low price and easy installation process make the BOASI door seal worth a look.
Key Features
Material: Rubber
Shape: Double-D
Pros | Great value, compact |
Cons | Small, needs heat for installation |
4. KX Automotive Big-D Door Seal
KX Automotive’s large door seal is great for vehicles with large body gaps between the door and the body; think big trucks and classic cars. At 0.5 inches high and 0.63 inches wide with thick EPDM rubber walls this is a heavy-duty, D-section door seal. Though tough, it might not be the best choice for newer and smaller vehicles.>
The large size means it's especially effective at sealing trunks and hoods. It will even work for household applications. This is one of the more expensive options going, but the rubber is good quality with a bright, lustrous finish that won’t fade or degrade.
This product is sold in lengths ranging from 20 to 66 feet. Given how versatile this product is it makes sense to order the larger quantity.
Key Features
Material: EPDM Rubber
Type: Adhesive
Shape: Big-D
Pros | Heavy-duty seal, quality rubber |
Cons | Costly, heat required for installation |
5. Thlevel Automotive Seal
This ultra-sticky double-sided weather seal from Thlevel is a great option for automotive glass installers. It's also handy to apply between trim pieces that attach directly to your vehicle body. The thin and wide EPDM rubber strip offers a tight and consistent seal and the adhesive used on this system is among the strongest around.
You could use this stripping in and around doors, trunks, hoods, and tailgates as well, but the double-sided adhesive makes that difficult. This rubber seal is best used between car bodies and glass or trim pieces.
Thlevel offers its trim in 16-foot rolls and it is easy to cut to shape.
Key Features
Material: EPDM Rubber
Type: Double-sided adhesive
Shape: Flat strip
Pros | Strong adhesive, low profile, tough |
Cons | Limited applications, can be more complex to install |
6. MG Mega Z-Shaped and L-Shaped Automotive Door Seal
We like the MG Mega range of door seals for its variety of shapes and applications. Made from metal-reinforced EPDM rubber and backed by 3M adhesive, these are premium door seals that promise impressive durability and fit.
The Z-shaped design works for stepped surfaces and meeting points; such as the "barn doors" found on extended cab trucks. MG Mega’s L-shaped trim is more accurately described as a P shape. It's similar to many factory door seal shapes with a closed loop that compresses to form a seal and a tab that extends past the trim. You can even use these trim pieces in unison to make a tough, reinforced weather and noise barrier.
All of these designs are small, coming in widths no more than 0.5-inches; making this an option best suited to moderate duty only. However, the material is high quality and the innovative shapes make it easy to pick the perfect seal for your ride.
Key Features
Material: EPDM Rubber
Type: Adhesive
Shape: Z, P, D, double-D
Pros | Versatile; many styles, metal reinforced |
Cons | Price, smaller sizes |
7. Mikosi High-Density Foam Tape
This neoprene strip from Mikosi offers up high-density, weatherproof foam as an alternative to rubber solutions. It is backed by a strong and permanent adhesive and the flat, stable shape helps prevent it from degrading over time.
Mikosi supplies a wide range of size options, but for automotive use, the 0.75 inches wide 0.13-inch tall material sold in 49-foot rolls makes the most sense. The high density of this seal makes for excellent sound deadening but rubber is more durable and tougher. And, while neoprene itself is waterproof, water can still seep past foam door seals.
Foam tape is most effective as a backup for your existing door seals, or for use on your car trunk, hood, or around the tailgate.
Key Features
Material: High-density neoprene foam
Type: Adhesive
Shape: Strip
Pros | Great sound deadening, inexpensive |
Cons | Limited protection against water intrusion |
8. Dorman OEM Replacement Weather Strip Door Seals
Dorman makes a range of weatherstrip door seals custom cut and shaped to fit as a direct OEM replacement. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
The Dorman line-up of weather stripping door seals is an alternative to universal-fit solutions and direct factory parts. These custom-fit seals will replace your aged or damaged seals for a clean, OEM-look finish. While they’re cheaper than most OEM parts, the Dorman units are more expensive than universal-fit options.
These are push-on seals with no adhesive, so you can install them in any weather. The rigid construction makes for a tricky install without tools. On the plus side, you get a premium metal-backed rubber seal that mounts permanently in place of the original weather stripping.
Key Features
Material: EPDM Rubber
Type: Push on
Shape: C-clip and D-loop
Pros | Direct factory replacement, long-lasting seal |
Cons | More costly, can be difficult to install |
How To Install Automotive Door Seals and Weatherstripping
Door seals take only minutes to install and generally require no specialized tools though you might want to wear gloves. For best results though, it’s important to prepare the surface thoroughly. Here’s how:
- Remove the old seal and adhesive If you have one, peel away your old or damage seal. Use a goo remover or degreaser and a clean cloth to scrub off any adhesive residue and caked-on grit, then follow up with a damp cloth to finish and finally a chamois to dry the area.
- Warm the area
If you’re using an adhesive, make sure the area you’re attaching your seal to is warm. If it’s a warm day, you’re golden, if not, use a hair dryer or heat gun.
- Apply the seal
Press the seal into place firmly. If it’s a push-on strip, use a pair of snub-nose pliers or another firm, flat object to help push them home all the wall. If you’re sticking on your trim, press firmly and rub the seal to help it stick.
Test the seal
Carefully close and open your doors to make sure the weather stripping isn’t fowling the mechanism and that your door can close easily.
Bryan is just as likely to have a bone china teacup in his hand as a torque wrench, and he loves cars-especially old and sometimes unpopular ones. He shares this enthusiasm through Malaise Motors, the Facebook group he founded, and by contributing to publications such as Old Cars Weekly, Crankshaft, Forbes, and others. Bryan Fun fact: he is psychically attuned to the distinct electrical frequencies emanated by Lucas ignition systems.
More by Bryan Raab Davis
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I am looking for door weatherstrip of Lexus 1997 SC 400.Both doors.Not able to find anywhere.Will you please advise, where I can find, any compatible or OE parts.
Looking for weatherstripping for 2005 Ford fx4 f-150 extended cab Ford # 101c40 Old one is 63 inches