Plain navy weighted door snake lying across the gap at the base of a white timber door on a polished floor

Buying GuideCleaning & Home

Door Snake and Draught Stopper Guide: How to Stop Draughts Under Doors

A practical guide to door snakes and draught stoppers: how they work, how to choose the right length, fill and fabric, and how to buy them by the carton for rentals, aged care and resale.

By The dpack Trade Desk· Updated October 2026· 7 min read

Cold air sneaking under a door is one of the most common reasons a heated room never quite feels warm. In older Melbourne homes, rentals and long corridors, the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor can let in a steady stream of cold air all winter. A door snake - also called a draught stopper or draught excluder - is the simplest fix: a long, weighted fabric tube that sits against the base of the door and closes that gap.

This guide covers how a door snake actually stops draughts, how to choose the right length, fill and fabric, how it compares with door stops, sweeps and seal strips, and how to buy door snakes by the carton if you are kitting out a rental portfolio, an aged care facility or a retail shelf for winter.

The short version

Measure the door width first. An 82cm door snake suits a standard 820mm internal door; go longer (around 88cm) for wider or external doors.
Weight matters more than looks. A heavy, densely filled door draft stopper stays put on tiles and floorboards; a light one drifts away from the gap.
A door snake blocks air; a door stop holds a door open. They are different jobs - pick the right one.
No tools, no install. Ideal for rentals, aged care and anywhere you cannot drill or glue.
More than a few doors? Buying a carton is far cheaper per door than buying singles.

Close-up of a weighted fabric door draft blocker sealing the gap under an internal door on timber floorboards

How it works

How a door snake stops draughts under a door

Most internal doors are hung with a gap of 10 to 20mm at the bottom so they clear carpet and rugs. That gap is exactly where cold air moves between rooms, and where outside air pushes in under external doors. A door draft blocker works by physically filling it:

It closes the gap. A 7cm diameter snake is taller than a typical door gap, so air has nowhere to pass.
Its weight keeps it seated. A dense fill holds the snake against the door and floor, so it does not roll away when the door is bumped.
It needs no installation. Lay it down and it works - no screws, adhesive or trimming, and nothing to damage when you move out.
It handles more than cold air. As an under door draught stopper it also cuts dust, light, noise and the occasional insect - which is why people also search for a door wind stopper or door breeze stopper.

For a door you open and close all day, push the snake along with your foot or attach it to the door side so it moves with the door. For a door that stays shut overnight, simply lay it in place.

Three heavy duty door snakes in plain, linen and corduroy fabrics laid side by side to compare texture and size

Choosing well

Choosing a door snake: length, fill and fabric

Length. Match the snake to the door, with a little overhang at each end. An 82cm x 7cm snake covers a standard 820mm door. For wider doorways, external doors or a gap that runs past the frame, an 88cm long door stop gives extra coverage.

Fill and weight. A weighted door snake is the difference between a seal and a decoration. Sawdust and rock fill gives a firm, heavy tube that resists shifting on smooth floors - the build used in our heavy duty door snakes in plain colours. Poly foam and sand fill is slimmer (5.5cm) and a little softer, which suits doors with a tighter gap.

Fabric. Plain colours blend in anywhere and are the easiest choice for rentals and facilities. Linen gives a natural, textured look for living areas and short-stay rooms - see the linen series door snakes. Corduroy adds grip and a soft ribbed finish.

Draught proofing doors: where a door snake fits

If you are draught proofing a home or building, a door snake is the cheapest first layer: it costs a few dollars, takes seconds and needs no tradesperson. Permanent fixes such as door sweeps and seal strips can come later on doors that need them. For older Victorian and weatherboard homes, rental properties and aged care rooms in Melbourne, door snakes are often the fastest way to take the edge off winter while longer-term work is planned.

Side by side

Door snake vs other ways to stop door draughts

Not every draft stopper does the same job. Here is how the common options compare.

Option	Best for	Install needed	Stops draughts	DPack range
Weighted fabric door snake	Standard internal and external doors, rentals, aged care	None	Yes	Plain colour and linen series, 82cm x 7cm
Extra long door stop (foam and sand fill)	Wider doors and longer gaps, up to 88cm	None	Yes, plus holds a door in place	Corduroy and rhombus linen series, 88cm x 5.5cm
Wedge door stopper	Holding a door open	None	No	3-pack non-marking wedges
Door sweep or seal strip	A permanent fix on a door you own	Screws or adhesive	Yes	Not stocked

Need to hold a door open as well? Browse 3-pack wedge door stoppers or compare extra heavy duty long door stops in linen.

Open shipping carton packed with assorted plain colour door snakes ready for resale or a rental fit-out

For trade buyers

Buying door snakes by the carton for resale, rentals and aged care

DPack sells door snakes by the carton, not singly - 24 per carton for the 82cm plain colour and linen series, and 12 per carton for the 88cm long door stops. That makes them a strong fit for anyone buying for more than one door:

Retailers and resellers stocking a winter homewares range - assorted colours are mixed in each carton, so no sorting is needed for display.
Landlords and property managers fitting out several units before the cold sets in.
Short-stay and accommodation hosts who want warmer rooms without drilling into doors.
Aged care, schools and offices with long corridors and many internal doors.
Households with lots of doors - a carton covers a whole house with spares.

Per door, a carton works out at a fraction of retail single prices. Orders over $150 ex GST get free Melbourne metro delivery - a couple of cartons usually clears it - and we ship Australia-wide. Buy 82cm weighted door snakes by the carton, or browse more home decor wholesale lines.

Common questions

Door snake FAQs

What is a door snake used for?

A door snake is a long, weighted fabric tube laid along the bottom of a door to block the gap between the door and the floor. It stops cold draughts, and also cuts dust, light, noise and insects coming under the door. It needs no installation, so it suits rentals and any door you cannot modify.

How long should a door snake be?

Slightly longer than the door is wide. A standard Australian internal door is 820mm, so an 82cm door snake is the usual choice. For wider doors, external doors or gaps that extend past the frame, choose a longer door stop of around 88cm.

What is the difference between a door snake and a door stopper?

A door snake blocks air under a closed door. A door stopper, such as a wedge, holds a door open or stops it swinging into a wall. Extra long weighted door stops sit in between: they block the gap and help keep a door in place.

Do door snakes actually stop draughts under doors?

Yes, provided the snake is heavy enough to stay seated against the door and taller than the gap. A weighted draft stopper with a dense fill, such as sawdust and rock, makes a firm seal on tiles, timber and short carpet. Light, loosely filled snakes tend to drift away from the gap and leak air.

How do I stop a draft under a door without installing anything?

Lay a weighted door snake along the base of the door. It works as a door gap blocker with no screws, adhesive or trimming, and lifts away cleanly when you move out. For doors you use constantly, nudge it into place after closing the door.

Can I buy door snakes in bulk in Melbourne?

Yes. DPack sells door snakes by the carton - 24 per carton for the 82cm range and 12 per carton for the 88cm long door stops - with free Melbourne metro delivery on orders over $150 ex GST and shipping Australia-wide.