The best draught excluders to keep your home warm and cut down your energy bills this winter

It doesn't get much worse than a cold breeze making its way through the gaps, windows and doorways of your home during the winter months. A good draught excluder will sort you right out, and is an efficient way to save on energy bills by keeping the chill out and the warmth in.

In a study conducted by the Energy Saving Trust, it’s estimated that the average UK home could save over £60 on their household energy bills per year by installing simple draught-proofing measures, including draught excluders on windows and doors.

Here at The Recommended, we've pulled together some of the best draught excluders on the market to help you find the most effective, affordable and easy-to-install ones for your living space. From stylish, patterned designed, to personalised and child-friendly options, we've got you covered with something for everyone. Plus we've included a handy buyer's guide for all the top tips and tricks you need to know when it comes to draught-proofing your home.

The best draught excluders at a glance:

• Best doorway draught excluder: John Lewis Diamonds Draught Excluder, £30 at John Lewis
• Best unique draught excluder: Personalised Draught Excluder, £41.56 at Not On The High Street
• Best stylish draught excluder: M&S Velvet Draught Excluder, £19.50 at Marks and Spencer
• Best patterned draught excluder: Scandi Floral Draught Excluder, £14 at Dunelm
• Best budget-friendly draught excluder: Stormguard Rubber Foam Weather Strip, £6 at Dunelm
• Best draught excluder for kid’s bedrooms: The Magic Toy Shop Micro Fleece Draught Draft Excluder, £9.99 at Amazon
• Best slide-on draught excluder: Everlasting Comfort Under Door Draft Excluder, £18.99 at Amazon
• Best draught excluders for exterior doors: Fowong Heavy Door Draft Excluder, £25.99 at Amazon
• Best draught excluder for cat lovers: Grey Cat Draught Excluder, £26.99 at Amazon

The best draught excluders

Best doorway draught excluder: John Lewis Diamonds Draught Excluder

Long and cosy

This draught excluder is 100cm in length, providing full protection from draughts in the doorways. It has a polyester filling and 100% cotton exterior, and finished with real leather straps at each end. It is also weighted at each end to stop unwanted movement. Secure in place and prevent cold snaps from getting inside.

Best unique draught excluder: Personalised Draught Excluder

For a personal touch

Practical but personal, this draught excluder will keep the outside breeze out while bringing a unique touch to your home. Available in three lengths and with the option for up to 25 characters, choose your family name or a humorous phrase and add some character to your doorways. Made from soft to touch but durable cotton/linen blend fabrics and filled with hollow fibre. It also features two loops at its ends to attach to the door and keep it in place.

Best stylish draught excluder: M&S Velvet Draught Excluder

Functional and smart

Minimize the cold air getting into your home with this practical draught excluder, designed with a chic velvet finish to add a stylish twist to your living space. 93cm long and generously filled, it’s guaranteed to help keep the room warm and its 100% polypropylene lining can be wiped clean for easy maintenance.

Best patterned draught excluder: Scandi Floral Draught Excluder

Pretty and practical

Line this 90cm draught excluder along your doorway and keep the cold out throughout the winter months. This excluder is filled with recycled polyester and features a zip to secure it in place. Available in olive and ochre colours and with a sweet floral pattern, choose your favourite and add some character to your home, while saving you money thanks to its reasonable price.

Best budget-friendly draught excluder: Stormguard Rubber Foam Weather Strip

Quick and easy to install

Wave goodbye to draughts coming in from your windows and doors thanks to this practical draught seal. Self-adhesive and easy to install, it will keep the cold breeze out in no time and is designed to seal gaps between 2-7mm. Once its in, it will remain firm in place and provide long-lasting protection, saving you money on your energy bills and preventing you from shivering through winter.

Best draught excluder for kid’s bedrooms: The Magic Toy Shop Micro Fleece Draught Draft Excluder

A cute design with a practical purpose

This super cute draught excluder could be easily mistaken for a cuddly toy, making it the perfect solution for a kid’s room.

This cute pup wouldn’t look out of place amongst a collection of toys, but looks aren’t everything – its long, dense body is perfect for blocking out chills and draughts, so it’s ideal for stretching along the bottom of a draughty door or stretching out on a gappy window ledge.

Best slide-on draught excluder: Everlasting Comfort Under Door Draft Excluder

A simple, easy-to-use solution

This thick foam under-door draught excluder easily slides onto the bottom of your door and moves with it as it opens and closes – so you don’t have to worry about readjusting it.

One of the biggest frustrations about standard draught excluders is having to reposition them each time you open or close your doors. However, this slide-on excluder attaches to the door itself, insulating both sides, making it one of the most practical excluders you can buy for interior doors.

Best for exterior doors: Fowong Heavy Door Draft Excluder

Insulate against the elements

This weighted draught excluder is filled with polyester wadding and glass beads and wrapped in thick fabric to effectively prevent chills and draughts from entering your home.

While most draught excluders are suitable for interior doors in your home, you want to invest in a heavier, weighted excluder, like this one, for exterior doors to block out elements. This excluder also features hook fabric, allowing it to be attached to doors with the included velcro stripping and loops at either end so you can hang it up and out of the way when not in use.

Best for cat lovers: Grey Cat Draught Excluder

A purr-fect gift idea

This draught excluder is disguised as a charming row of six happy cats – not only does it look great, but it provides effective protection from chills and draughts.

If you’re looking for a practical gift for a cat lover, look no further. This cute door draught cushion is the ideal alternative to traditional draught excluders and makes for a great housewarming gift.

Draught Excluder Buyer's Guide

We've rounded up some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to draught excluders and keeping your home breeze-free. Read on for all the handy tips and tricks.

How to draught-proof your home

Draughts can permeate your home through unwanted gaps in its construction, typically around doors and windows, letting in a chill, allowing heat to escape, and sometimes leading to more serious issues with moisture and leaks.

While extensive issues with weatherproofing your home may require specialist, professional attention, there are some simple steps you can take yourself to prevent draughts and chills throughout winter.

Below we’ve summarised some of the easiest ways you can draught-proof your home and save money on your heating bills in the process:

• Draught excluders: One of the best ways to prevent draughts from entering your home, and stop heat from leaking out, is to invest in some good quality draught excluders for any external doors. You can also use excluders for interior doors to help you heat a room more efficiently.
• Letterbox covers: If you have a letterbox fitted in your front door, make sure you install a letterbox cover with flaps or brushes (or both) that adequately block wind and rain from passing through your home.
• Keyhole covers: Buying and fitting purpose-made keyhole covers, typically a metal disc that you can slide over any large keyholes (like those for warded keys), is also an easy way to block out the breeze.
• Door and window frame strips: Windows and doors are typically fitted with seals designed to prevent draughts, but often these wear away over time. You can replace these seals easily with self-adhesive foam strips that create a windtight closure around the window or door.
• Chimney pot caps and blocks: Installing caps over unused chimney pots is one of the best ways to prevent wind from tunnelling down into your home. Installing a chimney pot cap is best done by a professional, but there are DIY solutions to block out chimney draughts, like chimney balloons, which can be bought relatively cheaply and installed with professional help.
• Silicone mastic for floorboards: Hardwood floors, especially exposed floorboards, often feature many small gaps between boards. If you don’t have underlay or insulation under your flooring, these gaps can make draught-proofing and heat retention exceptionally difficult. The easiest way to fill these gaps is by using silicone mastic or decorator's caulk around the edges and between the boards.
• Extractor fans: Older extractor fans and vents are often some of the biggest causes of heat leakage and draughts. Updating an old extractor fan with a modern replacement fitted with an effective draught shutter is an easy way to draught-proof kitchens and bathrooms.

What features should I look for in a draught excluder?

There are several factors to consider when choosing the right draught excluder for your home. These include the following:

Material: Opt for durable materials which will last, and that are flexible to line up to the gaps you are shielding. Thicker materials will provide better insulation.

Length: Ensure you pick a sufficiently long draught excluder to cover the lengths of your gaps effectively, keeping the maximum amount of cold air out.

Self-adhesive: If opting for self-adhesive draught excluding sealants, make sure it is easy to install and remove.

Design: There are plenty of stylish, patterned, colourful options out there to fit in with your home décor. Choose a design which complements you interior style.

Maintenance: Make your life easier and look for draught excluders which are easy to clean, whether machine washable or wipe clean.

How much does a draught excluder cost?

There is no one price for draught excluders - it can vary depending on its type, material, brand, and size. Basic, budget-friendly designs can start from as little as £5, and more specialised higher end options can go well above £25-£30. Investing in a quality excluder can pay off in the long run by providing better insulation and longevity.

Where should I position my draught excluder?

Wherever there's a draught! Position your draught excluders at the base of your doors, preventing draughts from infiltrating in beneath them, and place them around the frames of your windows to seal any gaps. Make sure to fit them snuggly against the gaps to significantly reduce heat loss, keep your home cosy and save on energy costs.

If you want to read more product guides, check out our Household page, where you’ll find more home recommendations, including the best energy-efficient heaters, the best weighted blankets and the best hooded blankets.