The Best Types of Doorstops for Every Door In Your Home | Wayfair (2024)

We've all been there – a heavy door that refuses to stay open as you carry in loads of groceries, or that rogue door that whams into your decorative baseboard too often. That's where doorstops come in to save the day. First, however, you need to make sure that you have the right stop for the type of door you have. Keep reading to find out which types of doorstops will work best for your doors and home design.

Have questions about what kind of door you're working with? Check out our guide on types of interior doors and their purposes so you can make sure to buy the right stop for your type of door.

What is a Doorstop?
For Keeping Doors Open or Closed:
For Preventing Collisions:

Doorstops, also called doorstoppers, door jambs, or floor stops (if positioned on the floor) are devices that aim to keep your home's doors in line. There are two types of doorstops. Those designed to hold a door open or keep it closed, and those designed to literally "stop" doors from hitting adjacent walls or furniture. So which are you looking for? Read below to find the best doorstop for your home’s needs.

Kick Stops: Kick stops, also called "kick down" doorstops, are incredibly practical and work on all kinds of doors regardless of a door's weight or materials. These doorstops are installed on the push side of the door, and you flip them down to hold the door open. Just make sure you choose the right size for your door's clearance level. For example, does the door you want to use have less than 1 inch of space between the bottom doorframe and the floor? Opt for a 4-inch kick stop. Have more than 1 inch of clearance beneath your door? Try a 5-inch kick stop. The general rule of thumb is for the bottom of the kick stop's template to be about 1.5 inches above the bottom of the doorframe, so that when a kick stop flips down, there's enough friction between the stop and the floor to hold the door in place.

We love that kick stops have so many benefits. They're attached to the door, so you don't have to worry about a potential tripping hazard or moving a doorstop back and forth when you want to use it. Kick stops can be engaged or disengaged with a simple foot motion, so there’s no need to bend to maneuver a heavy weighted floor stop or pause to wedge a rubber doorstop beneath the frame. These types of doorstops work well on garage doors or other frequent-use doors, so if you're looking for an outdoor doorstop, consider the kick stop.

Weighted Doorstops: Weighted doorstops, also called weighted floor stops, rest up against doors and can function as decorative accents when not in use. Some are made from heavy materials like cast iron, while others are made of a sandbag covered by fabric. The great thing about these types of doorstops is that they're easily movable and that they come in a variety of colors, patterns, and shapes. So if you want a stylish doorstop that will fit right in with your home decor, a weighted doorstop may be the way to go.

Specialty Doorstops: Specialty doorstops are for anyone who wants a doorstop that’ll add a bit of fun and character to their home or fit with their existing decor. This might mean a cast iron door wedge with a cartoon-like figure who appears to be pushing the door open, or something more functional, such as a stainless steel doorstop with a special feature like a stationary bar that rests in the doorframe when sliding doors are shut. This specialty doorstop keeps those on the outside from opening sliding glass doors, giving you an extra sense of security!

Tip!

Want more security solutions for your exterior doors? Check out our door hardware guide, where we get you up to speed on all things doorknobs and door locks.

Draft Excluders: Draft excluders make our list of doorstops because of their dual purposes. During winter months they keep the cold out when placed against closed doors, but they can also act as weighted doorstops in warmer months to hold open doors for some fresh air.

Draft excluders typically come in cylindrical shapes covered in fabric and filled with a heavy material like sand. The best part? Draft excluders come in a variety of colors, patterns, and shapes to choose from, from stylish to simple and functional.

Floor Mount Stops: Floor mount stops are best if you have a door that opens next to a wall. Floor mount doorstops typically have a dome-like or circular shape designed to absorb the impact of the door's edge, preventing the door handle from hitting the wall itself. For best results, test how much space you need between the door and the wall to keep the door handle from making contact. Keeping that space in mind, install the floor mount stop toward the outer edge of the doorframe.

Floor mount stops are most suitable for narrow entryways, positioned next to doors that open into hallways, or positioned next to adjacent walls, as they may create tripping hazards in open spaces. Most floor mount stops can be installed on wood, concrete, and most other floor types, but use extra caution when installing them on stone or tile floors to prevent breakage.

Wall / Handle Bumpers: Wall / handle bumpers are a great option when you want to keep your floors clear, but still want to protect adjacent walls from rogue door handles. Some wall / handle bumpers have an adhesive base, but others can be attached with a central screw to the adjacent wall that a door will swing into. This is also a great alternative to the floor mount stop if you have a stone or tile floor, since drilling holes in the floor could cause cracks or breakage. Wall / handle bumpers consist of a round metal frame and a rubber center that pops out to absorb the impact of the door handle. The best part is these doorstops come in a variety of finishes, from golden brass to silver stainless steel to match your other hardware.

Baseboard Stops and Spring Stops: Baseboard doorstops and spring stops are similar in their shape and their function, as both aim to protect the baseboard portion of the wall from being hit by the door — and indirectly prevent the door handle from hitting the wall.

The difference is that baseboard stops consist of a solid base and a rubber tip, meant for absorbing the impact of heavier doors, while spring stops have a rubber tip and spring-like frame that helps absorb the door’s impact and causes the door to bounce back away from the wall — best for lightweight doors to prevent damage to their thin doorframes.

Use the bottom of the doorframe as a guide to place the doorstop, rather than the baseboard, since baseboard heights can vary. For the best results, install a baseboard or spring doorstop about 1.5 to 2 inches from the outer edge of the doorframe, so that it meets with the bottom corner of the door and sits about half an inch up from the bottom of the door frame.

Hinge Pin Stops: Remove any need to take up floor or wall space with Hinge doorstoppers, also called hinge pin stops. Hinge pin stops consist of two parts: one side with a square rubber edge (designed to brace the door) and one side with a round rubber edge that resembles a baseboard doorstop (designed to absorb the impact and prevent the door from opening further).

They are installed on the door hinge itself and the process is super easy. Just remove the hinge pin from the top door hinge, position the doorstopper over the hinge with the square side facing the door, and then reinsert the hinge pin to lock it in place. From here, you can adjust the length of the side that hits the wall to dictate how far a door can swing open.

To ensure success, install hinge pin stoppers on the top hinge for lightweight doorframes or install hinge pins on the top and bottom hinges for heavier doorframes.

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