01 / DOORS
The best door thresholds, by published section
The part under the door rather than on it. You need one when the sill is gone, the gap is too big for a sweep, or the floor has been replaced under you.
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A threshold is the strip on the floor that the door closes onto. Buy one when the existing sill is rotted or missing, or when the gap is too large for a sweep to reach. Match the published height to your door's clearance first — a threshold raises the closing surface, and getting that wrong means planing the door.
Most people arrive here from the wrong direction. They have a cold draft, they read about door sweeps, and somewhere in the process they find the word threshold and are not sure which one they need. The short version: a sweep hangs off the door, a threshold sits on the floor, and you only need the second when the first cannot reach or when the sill under the door has failed.
The full four-way distinction between sweeps, bottom seals, thresholds and stoppers is laid out in door sweep vs door bottom seal. If you have not read that and you are not certain a threshold is what you need, read it first — it will save you a return.
Three measurements before you buy
- 1The opening width. Measure between the jambs at floor level. Thresholds come in 36 in and 3 ft nominal lengths and are cut down.
- 2The gap under the closed door, at the latch side, middle and hinge side. Take the largest, as always.
- 3The clearance you can afford to lose. This is the one people skip. A threshold adds height. Subtract its published height from your door gap — if the answer is negative or close to zero, the door will bind and you will be planing it.
- 4Check the existing sill while you are down there. Press a screwdriver into the wood at the ends. If it goes in, the sill is rotten and you want the oak-cored replacement rather than a strip over the top of it.
Match the part to your gap
Measure at the widest point. Then read across. If your measurement sits on a boundary, take the larger band — a seal that is slightly too big compresses, and one that is too small does nothing at all.
| Your gap | Part type | Our pick | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gap changed as the house settled | Adjustable aluminum threshold |  M-D Building Adjustable Aluminum and Hardwood Threshold, 36 inThe insert raises and lowers on screws, so you tune the seal after the door is hung and again next year. | $39.19 · CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Sill rotted, split or removed | Adjustable aluminum over an oak sill |  Frost King TAOC36SP Adjustable Aluminum and Oak Sill Threshold, 36 inPublished 3' L x 5-5/8" W x 1-3/8" H. A genuine sill replacement rather than a cover strip. | $39.99 · CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Walking route, trip hazard matters | Low-profile aluminum |  Frost King CS514/36 Fluted Aluminum Saddle Threshold, 5 x 1/4 x 36 inPublishes a 1/4 in height, so the low-profile claim is checkable. Less height added at the doorway, and less gap closed. | $32.98 · CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Under 1/2 in and the sill is sound | Not a threshold at all |  Frost King A79WHA Premium Aluminum and Reinforced Rubber Door Sweep, 2 x 36 in, WhiteFit a sweep instead. A threshold is a bigger, permanent job and this gap does not need one. | CHECK PRICE |
Adjustable or fixed
| Adjustable | Fixed / low profile | |
|---|---|---|
| How it seals | Vinyl insert raises on screws to meet the door | The extrusion is the height it is |
| Suits | A house that has moved, or a door that has dropped | A known, stable gap on an accessible route |
| Adjust later? | Yes, with a screwdriver | No |
| Height added | More | Less |
| Wear part | The vinyl insert, replaceable | The whole extrusion |
If the door and floor are old, adjustable is worth the extra height almost every time — houses keep moving, and a fixed threshold that was right in October can be wrong by spring. If the doorway is a walking route and the gap is modest, low profile is the safer call.
Quick picks
Ranked for fit, not for hype. Tap a row to jump to the full write-up, or go straight to the listing.
| # | Product | Best for | Gap range | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M-D Building Adjustable Aluminum and Hardwood Threshold, 36 inThe adjustable one: the top section raises and lowers on screws, so you tune the seal after the door is hung instead of hoping. | A gap that needs dialing in | Adjustable height, so it covers a range rather than one figure | $39.19 · CHECK ON AMAZON |
| 2 | Frost King TAOC36SP Adjustable Aluminum and Oak Sill Threshold, 36 inAluminum over an oak sill — the pick when the thing you are replacing is the sill itself, not just the seal. | Replacing a rotted wooden sill | Not published — the current listing states the 36 in model and its finish, not a section | $39.99 · CHECK ON AMAZON |
| 3 | Frost King CS514/36 Fluted Aluminum Saddle Threshold, 5 x 1/4 x 36 inA quarter-inch-tall saddle for the case where a tall threshold would be something to catch your foot on — and the rare one that publishes the height that claim depends on. | Keeping the trip hazard down | Published 5 in W x 1/4 in H x 36 in L | $32.98 · CHECK ON AMAZON |
| 4 |  Frost King T35/36H Under-Door Threshold KitThe kit version, which ships with the fixings — worth knowing about because several thresholds in this category do not. | A kit rather than a bare extrusion | Under-door threshold kit for a standard 36 in door | $19.87 · CHECK ON AMAZON |
| 5 | Frost King A79WHA Premium Aluminum and Reinforced Rubber Door Sweep, 2 x 36 in, WhiteA screw-on aluminum carrier with a reinforced rubber blade — the version of this part that survives a winter of a storm door slamming into it. | Exterior doors, screw-mounted | Roughly 1/4 in to 3/4 in | CHECK PRICE |
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A gap that needs dialing in
M-D Building Adjustable Aluminum and Hardwood Threshold, 36 in
Published gap range
Adjustable height, so it covers a range rather than one figure
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The adjustable one: the top section raises and lowers on screws, so you tune the seal after the door is hung instead of hoping.
Where the number comes fromAn adjustable threshold is bought for exactly one reason: the closing surface can be raised or lowered after installation. M-D publishes the adjustability and a 36 in length. It does not publish the adjustment travel, so if your gap is unusually large, confirm the range before ordering rather than assuming it reaches.
- Published length
- 36 in
- Adjustable
- Yes — height set by screws
- Material
- Aluminum and hardwood
- Finish
- Silver
- Published adjustment travel
- Not stated on the listing
- Mounting
- Screwed to the floor across the door opening
What it does well
- Height adjusts after installation, which is the whole reason to buy this over a fixed threshold
- Hardwood top wears better underfoot than a vinyl insert and can be refinished
- 36 in covers a standard door with trim to spare
Where it fails
- You are drilling and screwing into the floor — a much bigger job than a sweep
- The listing publishes no adjustment travel, so the usable range is unstated
- Exposed hardwood on a weather face needs finishing and upkeep
Who this is forA door whose gap has changed as the house settled.
Replacing a rotted wooden sill
Frost King TAOC36SP Adjustable Aluminum and Oak Sill Threshold, 36 in
Published gap range
Not published — the current listing states the 36 in model and its finish, not a section
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Aluminum over an oak sill — the pick when the thing you are replacing is the sill itself, not just the seal.
Where the number comes fromFrost King publishes the full section — 3 ft long, 5-5/8 in wide, 1-3/8 in high. That height matters more than anything else here: a threshold changes the height the door closes onto, so a door that already clears its sill by very little may need planing after fitting one.
- Published length
- 36 in (model TAOC36SP)
- Published width
- Not stated on the current listing
- Published height
- Not stated on the current listing
- Material
- Aluminum and oak
- Adjustable
- Yes
- Mounting
- Screwed down across the opening, replacing the existing sill
What it does well
- A named Frost King model, so the profile can be matched and reordered
- Oak core makes it a genuine sill replacement rather than a cover strip
- Adjustable insert on top of a solid sill is the most complete version of this repair
Where it fails
- **Height is no longer published.** An adjustable sill threshold raises the closing surface, so measure your door's clearance before ordering rather than trusting the old figure
- Heaviest and most involved install of the thresholds here
- Oak needs finishing and maintenance where it is exposed to weather
Who this is forA door whose wooden sill has rotted, split or been removed during a floor replacement.
Keeping the trip hazard down
Frost King CS514/36 Fluted Aluminum Saddle Threshold, 5 x 1/4 x 36 in
Published gap range
Published 5 in W x 1/4 in H x 36 in L
#ad · how we are funded · price as of October 17, 2026
A quarter-inch-tall saddle for the case where a tall threshold would be something to catch your foot on — and the rare one that publishes the height that claim depends on.
Where the number comes fromHeight is the spec that matters on a threshold, because it is what raises the closing surface. This one publishes 1/4 in, which is genuinely low: it will not trip anyone and it will not close a large gap either. If your door has a big gap under it, a low saddle is the wrong tool and an adjustable threshold is the right one.
- Published width
- 5 in
- Published height
- 1/4 in
- Published length
- 36 in
- Face
- Fluted, for grip
- Model
- CS514/36
- Mounting
- Screwed to the floor across the opening
What it does well
- Publishes an actual height, so the low-profile claim can be checked rather than taken on trust
- A 5 in face covers a ragged floor edge better than a narrow saddle
- Fluted surface gives some grip underfoot, which a smooth mill finish does not
Where it fails
- A quarter inch of height closes very little gap — this is a trip-hazard and floor-edge part, not a draft fix on its own
- Not adjustable, so it has to be the right height on the day
- Bare aluminum shows scuffing at a busy doorway
Who this is forA walking route where a tall saddle would be a hazard.
A kit rather than a bare extrusion
Frost King T35/36H Under-Door Threshold Kit
Published gap range
Under-door threshold kit for a standard 36 in door
#ad · how we are funded · price as of October 17, 2026
The kit version, which ships with the fixings — worth knowing about because several thresholds in this category do not.
Where the number comes fromFrost King publishes this as an under-door threshold kit in the 36 in size. The retail listing confirms the kit and its 36 in size but publishes no section dimensions, so we quote none — check the listing before ordering.
- Format
- Kit
- Nominal size
- 36 in
- Model
- T35/36H
- Material
- Aluminum and vinyl
- Spec status
- Listing verified; no section dimensions published
- Mounting
- Screwed to the floor under the door
What it does well
- Kit format means the fixings are in the box
- Frost King's threshold range is widely stocked, so sizing help is easy to find
- Straightforward under-door fit on a standard opening
Where it fails
- We are not quoting dimensions we could not read off a live listing
- Vinyl seal, so the same cold-weather caveat as every vinyl insert
Who this is forSomeone who would rather buy the threshold and its fixings in one box.
Exterior doors, screw-mounted
Frost King A79WHA Premium Aluminum and Reinforced Rubber Door Sweep, 2 x 36 in, White
Published gap range
Roughly 1/4 in to 3/4 in
#ad · how we are funded · price as of October 17, 2026
A screw-on aluminum carrier with a reinforced rubber blade — the version of this part that survives a winter of a storm door slamming into it.
Where the number comes fromFrost King does not publish a numeric working range for this sweep. The 2-inch face and the rubber blade's projection put it in the quarter-inch-to-three-quarter-inch band once mounted; the blade must touch the threshold under light compression, not bend flat. Measure before you buy.
- Carrier
- Aluminum
- Blade
- Reinforced rubber
- Published size
- 2" x 36"
- Mounting
- Screws (supplied)
- Maker's claim
- Lifetime guarantee on weathersealing ability
- Mounting
- Screws through the door face, above the threshold
What it does well
- Screws, not adhesive — nothing to peel off in July
- Cuts down with a hacksaw for a narrower door
- The rubber blade is replaceable in practice; the carrier is what lasts
Where it fails
- You are drilling into the door face — renters should look at an adhesive or slide-on option
- No published gap range, so measuring first is not optional
- The matte white profile vanishes on white trim and stands out on a stained or dark door
Who this is forAn exterior door you own, with a gap you can see daylight through and a threshold that is basically flat.
What we would skip, and why
Nobody in this category ever declines to recommend something. That is what makes universal praise worth ignoring. Here is what we would not buy.
A threshold, when a sweep would do
This is the most expensive mistake on this page and we would rather talk you out of it. A threshold means drilling the floor, changing the height the door closes onto, and often planing the door afterwards. If your sill is sound and your gap is under about half an inch, a door sweep does the same job in twenty minutes and can be undone.
A tall threshold on an accessible route
A 1-3/8 in saddle across a doorway people walk through every day is something to catch a foot on, and it matters a great deal more if anyone in the house uses a walker or a wheelchair. Where the route matters, take the low-profile option and accept that it closes less gap.
Fitting a threshold without checking door clearance first
A threshold raises the surface the door closes onto. Fit a 1-3/8 in sill under a door with a 1 in gap and the door will not close at all — you are then planing the bottom of an exterior door, outdoors, having already screwed the threshold down. Measure the clearance before you buy, not after.
How we picked
- Read the published section — width, length and, critically, height — off each manufacturer's own listing.
- Treat height as the governing spec, because a threshold changes the height the door closes onto.
- Separate adjustable from fixed, since adjustability is what lets the seal survive a house that moves.
- Rank on fit for the opening and the door's existing clearance, then on whether the sill itself needs replacing.
- Say plainly when the reader should buy a sweep instead and not a threshold at all.
We have not tested these products and we do not claim to have. The full method, including what we refuse to claim, is on how we pick.
Complete the kit
The parts that decide whether the seal you just bought actually holds. Skip these and you will be doing the job again in March.
Medium frame gaps
Frost King EPDM Rubber Self-Stick Weatherseal Tape, D-Section, 5/16 in x 1/4 in x 17 ft
EPDM in a hollow D — the profile that keeps sealing at minus ten where foam tape has already gone hard.
Removing old weatherstrip adhesive
Goo Gone Pro-Power Adhesive Remover Spray, 16 fl oz, with Scraper
The step everybody skips: the new tape will not stick to the residue the old tape left behind.
Deep gaps before caulking
Frost King C21CP-C Caulk Saver Backer Rod, 3/8 in x 350 ft
Backer rod: the foam you push into a deep gap so the caulk over it is a seal rather than a bottomless hole.
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Fitting one without regretting it
- 1Dry-fit before you drill anything. Cut to length, set it in place, and close the door onto it. This is when you find out about clearance, not after.
- 2Check the floor under it is sound. A threshold screwed to rotten decking will move, and a moving threshold seals nothing.
- 3Bed it on sealant. The joint between the threshold and the floor is itself an air and water path — backer rod and caulk if the gap under it is deep.
- 4Screw down, then set the adjustable insert so the door just compresses it. Not crushed — compressed.
- 5Close and latch the door twenty times. If it binds anywhere, drop the insert rather than forcing it.
- 6Seal the ends where the threshold meets the jambs. Those two corners are the last leak and everybody forgets them.
Once the threshold is in and sealed, the sides and head of the frame are a separate job with a separate part — weather stripping for doors. On most doors the frame perimeter adds up to more open area than the bottom ever did.
Questions people actually ask
- Do I need a door threshold or a door sweep?
- A sweep if the sill under the door is sound and the gap is under about half an inch — it is cheaper, faster and reversible. A threshold if the sill has rotted or been removed, or if the gap is too large for a sweep to reach.
- What is an adjustable door threshold?
- One whose vinyl insert raises and lowers on screws, so you can tune the seal after the door is hung and correct it later as the house moves. Fixed thresholds have to be the right height on the day.
- Will fitting a threshold stop my door closing?
- It can, and this is the main risk. A threshold raises the surface the door closes onto, so subtract its published height from your measured door gap before buying. If the result is near zero the door will bind and need planing.
- How do I know if my door sill is rotten?
- Press a screwdriver into the wood at both ends and in the middle. If it sinks in, the sill is gone and you want a threshold with its own sill rather than a strip laid over failing timber.
- Do thresholds need sealing underneath?
- Yes. The joint between the threshold and the floor is its own air and water path. Bed it on sealant, and caulk the two ends where it meets the jambs — those corners are the leak everyone leaves open.
Sources
- Frost King — saddle threshold range
- Frost King — adjustable aluminum and oak sill threshold product page
Every specification on this page traces to a published manufacturer or retailer listing. Where a maker publishes no working gap range, we say so rather than estimating one.
Read next
Door sweep, bottom seal or threshold: which part are you actually buying?
Four parts sit at the bottom of a door. A table that tells you which one yours takes.
The best door sweeps, sorted by the gap they actually close
Six sweeps placed by the gap they close, from a slim vinyl blade to a brush for uneven floors.
How to measure a door gap properly
The index-card method, the three-point rule, and how to read your number against a published seal size.
The best Pemko thresholds, and how to read the model number before you buy
The commercial tier, specified properly. Which profile fits, and when a cheaper threshold wins.