How to Make Your Own Draft Snake

A draft snake is one of those simple inventions that's been around for a hundred years and still works perfectly: a long fabric tube filled with something dense that sits against the bottom of an exterior door. It blocks the cold air that leaks through the gap. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, and it saves real money on heating bills.

Store-bought ones cost $15–$30. You can make one for under $5 in about ten minutes, with materials you may already have. Here are two versions — a fabric version for a nice-looking permanent snake and a towel version for the fastest possible fix.

How much a draft snake saves

Before we get into the how-to — is it worth it? The gap under a typical exterior door is about a quarter inch tall and 36 inches wide. That's roughly 2 square inches of open space. In a windy climate, this small gap lets in enough cold air to make a room noticeably colder.

Effect on your bill: a well-fitted draft snake on a single exterior door saves $10–$30 per year in heating costs. If you have two exterior doors, that's $20–$60 per year. The investment is $5 in materials and 10 minutes of time. The math is easy.

Beyond cost savings, a draft snake eliminates that annoying cold air you feel on your ankles when you sit near the door — which people tend to describe as the most underrated benefit.

Version 1: Fabric draft snake (nicer, still easy)

Materials

• Fabric: about 1/3 yard (36 x 6 inches) for a standard door. Any sturdy woven fabric works — cotton, denim, canvas, felt, an old pair of jeans, a pillowcase.
• Filler: 3–4 cups of dry rice, dried beans, or clean sand. Rice and beans are heavier and mold-resistant; sand is denser but messier.
• Needle and thread (or sewing machine), or fabric glue for a no-sew version
• Optional: a zipper for a refillable version, or a ribbon for decorative ties

Steps

1. Cut the fabric. Cut a rectangle about 36 inches long by 6 inches wide. (For a 32-inch door, cut 32 inches; add 2 inches for the seams.) If using an old pillowcase, you can skip this step.
2. Fold in half lengthwise. With the right side facing in, fold the fabric in half along its length. The long edge will be the seam you sew (or glue).
3. Sew the long edge. Sew or fabric-glue the long edge from one end to the other. Leave both short ends open. If using a sewing machine, a straight stitch takes about 30 seconds. If sewing by hand, use a simple running stitch. For the no-sew version, apply a thin line of fabric glue and press the edges together; let dry for 30 minutes.
4. Turn the tube right side out. Push the fabric through itself so the seam is now on the inside. You should have an open fabric tube.
5. Fill the tube. Using a funnel (or a rolled piece of paper), pour the rice or beans into one open end. Fill it about 80% full — you want the snake to be flexible and lie flat against the door, not stuffed tight like a sausage. Leave the last 2 inches of each end empty.
6. Close the ends. Sew or glue each short end shut. A whip stitch by hand takes about 2 minutes per end. Fabric glue takes 30 minutes to set.
7. Place against the door. Position the snake right up against the bottom of the door so it forms a seal. Push it lightly against the door — you want a snug fit, not a squeeze.

Total time: 10–15 minutes (plus glue drying time). Cost: $0–$5 if you use scrap fabric and rice from the pantry.

Version 2: The 60-second towel snake

If you want a draft stopper tonight without buying or sewing anything, this is the fastest option. It's not as pretty as a fabric snake, but it works almost as well.

Materials

• One bath towel (or two hand towels taped together)
• Optional: a long sock or a piece of string

Steps

1. Roll the towel tightly along its length, starting from one short end. You want a long, tight cylinder.
2. Secure it with a rubber band at each end, or slide it into a long sock.
3. Place it against the bottom of the door.

It takes 60 seconds, and if you already have a towel, it's free. The downside is that a rolled towel is thicker than a proper draft snake, so it may drag when the door opens and closes. For a door you use often, spend the 10 minutes on the fabric version.

Version 3: Refillable draft snake (fancier)

If you want the nicer look of a fabric snake but don't want to sew the ends shut (so you can wash the fabric or replace the filling), do this:

1. Cut the fabric rectangle as in Version 1.
2. Sew a zipper into one of the long edges instead of a simple seam.
3. Fill the tube as usual.
4. Close the zipper and place it against the door.

When the fabric needs washing, unzip and pour the filling into a bowl. Wash the fabric. Refill and zip closed.

Getting the right fit

Draft snakes work by blocking airflow, so the fit matters more than the material:

• Length: the snake should span the entire width of the door plus a few inches on each side. A 36-inch door needs a 40-inch snake.
• Thickness: fill the tube so it's about 2 inches in diameter. Too thin, and it won't fully seal. Too thick, and the door won't close easily.
• Weight: rice and beans give the snake enough weight to stay in place and resist being pushed aside by drafts. Very light fillings (like foam beads) don't work as well.

Where else to use a draft snake

Beyond exterior doors, draft snakes work well on:

• Doors to a cold basement or garage — where you don't need to stop the leak permanently, just isolate the space
• Attic access doors — if the door is at floor level
• Sliding glass doors — the bottom track often leaks; a longer snake (5–6 feet) can seal it
• Interior doors you want to keep warm/cold zones separated — like a home office you're heating with a space heater

What it saves

Draft snake on a single exterior door:

• Annual heating savings: $10–$30
• Cost of materials: $0–$5
• Time: 10 minutes

If you have two exterior doors, make two and put one on each. Total investment: under $10. Annual savings: $20–$60. Plus it makes the room noticeably more comfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions