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As the weather turns cold, even an enclosed garage might not be enough to keep out the chill. A cold garage can make routine maintenance or getting in and out of the car an unpleasant experience. If the cold is creeping into your garage, often the culprit is an uninsulated or underinsulated garage door. Rubber Seals
Enhancing a garage door with insulation can make all the difference in keeping your garage warm. We’ve brought you five of the best garage door insulation products on the market. Our methodology considers price, quality, and flexibility of application.
One term you’ll see throughout this article is “R-Value.” This figure describes the ability of a product to resist heat flow. A product with a higher R-Value is generally better at insulating a space. While not an all-encompassing rule, products with a higher R-Value typically command a higher price. With that in mind, check out our list of the best garage-door insulation products of 2024.
Made with flexible waterproof rubber, U shape +O ring combination, 7 insulation round layers
BOWSEN Garage Door Bottom Seal
Cut to fit, flexible waterproof rubber construction, easy to install and replace, 2 years warranty
BOWSEN Garage Door Bottom Seal
Blocks upto 95% of radiant heat, 2 Layers Of 5/32-Inch insulation layers, Covers 8x8 ft garage door, Made in USA
There is no R-Value anywhere on this product, but it is claimed to block up to 95% of radiant heat. That would make it an R-16, which is well beyond anything here. If that were the case, the manufacturer would be letting everyone know its R-Value. Admittedly, it’d be better if the manufacturer advertised the real number, but the Reach Barrier is still one of the most effective overall products on our list, and it’s popular with consumers. It has an easy installation kit and it is a top-tier product that even exceeds most fire code standards. If you really need maximum protection it may not be the best choice, but for most users it’s a useful and cost-effective solution.
SmartGARAGE – Reflective Garage Door Insulation Kit
For those who live in warmer or hot climates, a different type of garage door insulation is necessary. The SmartGARAGE Reflective Garage Door Insulation Kit is made of closed cell foam, and covered in a reflective foil material on both sides. The company says it keeps 95 percent of radiant heat out of the garage. The kit comes with heavy duty double-sided tape, which is good for use in climates with extreme temperatures. This kit also installs easily, with simple measuring and cutting.
Garage Door Insulation Set Double Bubble Insulation Panels
More costly than some other options, but very effective, are these Double Bubble Insulation Panels. Made of reflective aluminum material, these pre-cut panels affix easily to the panels of many standard garage doors, and do not require cutting or other tools. The panels come with pre-cut pieces of adhesive tape, making installation even easier.
Best of all, the panels have an R-Value of 8, and are equally useful in other areas of your home which may need insulation like exterior walls and attic spaces. The panels are available in other sizes too, including 20.5 by 54 inches and 24 by 54 inches, respectively.
Matador SGDIK001 Garage Door Insulation
One of the main reasons to install garage-door insulation is to save money. And you can save even more by installing the insulation yourself. This Matador kit is highly rated, and buyers indicate it’s easy to install as a DIY project. The kit is different from others as it uses scored panels made of polystyrene laminate. The scored panels allow for snap-in installation with no tools, glue, or tape. The R-Value of the insulation is 4.8, and eight panels sized 20.3 by 54.0 inches are included in the kit.
US Energy Products Double Bubble Reflective Foil Kit
If you’re handy enough to know what you’re doing, then the roll is the only way to go. It allows for more complex shapes and overlapping. This is helpful, as this product does not have the same insulating properties as others on the list. But the ability to cut whatever shape you want allows you to bring your insulation strategy to life. The R-Value is not specified.
We considered widely available products to feature as our best garage door insulators while evaluating insulation effectiveness, ease of installation, and value. We also considered a broad range of end-user ratings and evaluations by multiple testers, including Forbes Wheels staff members, and weighed them with user expectations and concerns.
We rate all garage door insulation based on the following weighted metrics:
Made with flexible waterproof rubber, U shape +O ring combination, 7 insulation round layers
BOWSEN Garage Door Bottom Seal
Cut to fit, flexible waterproof rubber construction, easy to install and replace, 2 years warranty
BOWSEN Garage Door Bottom Seal
Blocks upto 95% of radiant heat, 2 Layers Of 5/32-Inch insulation layers, Covers 8x8 ft garage door, Made in USA
If you live in an area with extreme hot or cold temperatures, an uninsulated garage can be a very uncomfortable place. Insulating the garage door makes the space more usable throughout the year, in addition to valuable energy cost savings. Any cars parked in the garage also benefit from reduced exposure to harsh temperatures.
If the aim is to save money, then self-installation is a must. Most garage-door insulation products (and all of the ones we’ve included) are specifically designed for DIY installation. Some include complete kits, while others will require a bit of handiwork with measurements, scissors, and tape or glue. Though a DIY project like this has a learning curve, it’s still very doable.
If your walls are insulated, make sure you have the right windows and frames to keep the weather out. It’s also important to make sure there are no gaps around the garage door itself, or any other doors to the garage. An easy and cost-effective way to insulate is with weather stripping around the doors themselves. Insulation strips for exterior doors and garage doors are readily available at many retail locations.
Yes. A garage door is likely the largest exterior door on your home, and has a large surface area where hot and cold can seep through. The difference between an insulated door and an uninsulated door is significant. You’ll be more comfortable every time you walk out to the garage, and you’ll be saving money on energy bills.
An additional benefit of any type of door insulation is a garage that’s quieter. Noise reduction is helpful if you prefer a quiet garage area, or if you spend time working in the garage and don’t want to disturb the neighbors with various late-night projects. Insulated doors are also better in extreme weather conditions, such as high wind, rain, and snow.
My fascination with cars and motorcycles began at a young age in London, evolving during my adolescence in Los Angeles where I discovered some of the world’s greatest driving roads in a black Mustang GT convertible. I’ve since crossed the country in a vintage Porsche 911 and written three books on motorcycles, racecars, and supercars, embracing both the classics and the cutting edge. My two, four, and sometimes three-wheeled writing can be regularly found in Automobile, Robb Report, Men’s Journal, and Wired magazines, among others. For an inside peek at my process, find me on Instagram: @basemwasef.
Smoker Gasket Corey Lewis a journalist based in Cincinnati, with a lifelong interest in cars and all things automotive. His formative car experience was arranging Matchbox cars on the carpet in the 1980s, but more recently he's branched out into automotive journalism. He enjoys the historical aspects of cars and little details lost to time. You can find his historical content at "The Truth About Cars," and follow him on Twitter at @CoreyLewis86.