How to Prevent Doors From Slamming

When you have doors that are constantly slamming, it can be a bad situation for many reasons. You can damage the walls or the door itself and even put kids or pets in danger if they are in the way when the door decides to slam shut.

Fortunately, most of the tricks used to prevent this from happening are both super easy and very inexpensive, so you can take care of the problem faster than you might think.

These are not complicated techniques, and most of them can be completed using items you have around the house.

13 Tips to get rid of that slamming Noise

1. Auto-Close Door Hinges
2. Buy a Weather-Stripping Kit
3. Buy a Bumper for the Walls
4. Use a Plain Rubber Band
5. Install a Door Slam Stopper
6. Try Finger Pinch Guards
7. Use an Automatic Door Stopper
8. Install a Door Silencer
9. Use a Doorstop
10. Use Felt Pads on the Door
11. Use Door Stops on Your Screen Doors
12. Use a Basic Spring Door Stop
13. Miscellaneous Steps You Can Take

1. Auto-Close Door Hinges

These devices are easily attached and are often used in commercial entities such as restaurants and hotels.

They have a self-closing feature and they let the door swing in both directions, even allowing you to adjust them so that you can change the overall strength of the device. They come in all different sizes and materials, and they are generally very inexpensive.

You can even purchase them in packages of two or more in case you have more than one door you’d like to take care of, and they offer a very simple solution to a problem that may seem complicated.

2. Buy a Weather-Stripping Kit

Weather stripping has its own adhesive so all you have to do is measure the gap between the frame and the door, then cut the stripping that particular size and apply it. In most cases, you can apply the weather stripping yourself without the help of a professional, and it serves two very important purposes.

First, weather stripping can help make the door more soundproof when it opens and closes. Second, it does a great job of protecting the door and helping it last a much longer time. Depending on the type you purchase, these kits can cost as little as $9 to $10, so they are very much worth what you end up paying for them.

3. Buy a Bumper for the Walls

When the door slams shut, it is easy for this to result in a huge dent in the wall, which no homeowner wants. These are usually made out of rubber or plastic and they fit on the wall right where the doorknob meets the wall to protect it from becoming damaged.

They are ridiculously inexpensive and work great as long as you measure correctly so that the bumpers touch the doorknob whenever the door closes. Most of them are peel and stick and therefore easily applied, and many of them are clear so that their look is very subtle.

Inexpensive and extremely effective, you can easily purchase these types of bumpers for every door in your home without breaking the bank. They even come in packs of four or more to make it easier to get the same ones for all of your doors.

4. Use a Plain Rubber Band

Believe it or not, a wide, thick rubber band can do the trick when you’re looking for something that will keep the door from slamming into the wall. It’s so simple that you’ll assume it won’t work – but it does!

Simply open the door, take the rubber band and wrap one end around one of the door handles.

Then, wrap the other end around the other doorknob, making sure the rubber band is placed both above and below the latch on the side of the door. The rubber band essentially creates a bumper so that the door has a harder time being slammed shut, and it is definitely one of the least expensive ways to prevent a door from slamming.

In fact, you can buy rubber bands super cheap and in bulk if you visit an office supply store or even an industrial company that sells their products to commercial entities.

5. Install a Door Slam Stopper

These handy devices fit at the top of the door frame and prevent the door from being slammed.

The good news is that if you try to close the door slowly or at a normal speed, it closes just fine. On the other hand, if you try to slam the door shut quickly, the device stops the door from closing all the way and leaves about a two-inch gap in the doorway so that fingers can’t get smashed or harmed in any way.

The devices are usually attached with screws to the top of the door frame and are therefore very secure, and they are not just used for families with children but for anyone who wants to prevent the loud banging noises associated with a forcefully slammed door. They tend to be very inexpensive as well.

6. Try Finger Pinch Guards

Although made as a baby-proofing device, they are perfect because they leave a gap in the door when you try and shut it. Unlike the door slam stopper mentioned above, finger pinch guards never allow the door to close all the way.

They are semi-circular solid foam pieces that you attach by hand to several places on the side of the door, and they are sturdy enough to remain in place regardless of how rough you are opening and shutting the door.

Easy to install and super inexpensive, these are the perfect solution when you don’t want your door to slam shut suddenly but you’re not ready to install something that is permanent and/or difficult to remove later on when you no longer need it.

7. Use an Automatic Door Stopper

You’ve likely already seen these devices, especially in a commercial location. Automatic door stoppers are attached to both the top of the door and the top of the doorframe, and they work because they close the door automatically and very slowly.

If you buy one made out of aluminum or steel, they will last much longer than the ones made of plastic. The door closes very steadily, gently, and quietly, even if the person using the door is trying to slam it hard. Most automatic door stoppers are adjustable and come with detailed instruction manuals, so they are very simple to install even for a layperson.

There are many different models and sizes, and most of them can be installed properly in a matter of minutes. Their prices vary, so you can spend $30 or more than $100 for one of these door stoppers. Still, they are worth the money you spend on them because they work extremely well.

8. Install a Door Silencer

Priced at just around $15 and attached to a hole in the doorframe, this device looks very simple but can be a true life-saver if your door is making too much noise when it’s being opened.

They are usually a neutral color and made specifically for doors that are made of metal. If you want a quiet office but the doors in the building are preventing you from getting that, a door silencer might be just what you need. Small but powerful, once it’s installed, the stop will rest against the silencer, and they can be used for wooden doors as well as metal ones.

Door silencers are frequently used in schools and hospitals where silent doors are a must, and they are less expensive and easier to install than you think.

9. Use a Doorstop

This is one of the least expensive and easiest solutions to your door-slamming problems. You can use doorstops in both homes and businesses, and they come in all colors and designs.

They do keep your door open as long as you’re using them, but they can be removed quickly and easily whenever you need to stop using them.

The standard brown wedge-shaped doorstops can be found for under $10 for a pack of four, so these are not expensive devices. They also last a very long time because of how well they are made, and they are anti-slip and non-marking as well, which means when you remove them, you won’t find a bunch of unsightly scuffs or marks on your floor.

They truly are an inexpensive, simple way to prevent all types of doors from slamming in your home or your business.

10. Use Felt Pads on the Door

Here is a super-easy trick that works like a charm. Simply take several felt pads and install them on the top and bottom of the door, right where these two places meet the doorframe. If the pads are thick enough, they will actually slow down the process when you try to shut the door.

This means that the door will be closing too slowly to be slammed shut or to make any loud noises. If the pads start to wear out, which you’ll know as soon as the door slams faster and louder, simply replace them with new pads.

Felt pads are usually very inexpensive and easy to install, but the thicker ones will also last a while, so you can count on being able to use them for a very long time.

11. Use Door Stops on Your Screen Doors

This is a long piston-type door stop that attaches to the screen door on one end and to the doorframe on the other end.

They come in various colors and therefore will always match your door, and most people can install them correctly even if they aren’t tech-savvy. They cause the door to close very slowly and gently, and even if you try and push the door shut, the movement is still very slow. These are very common devices that usually cost less than $15, so they are very affordable for everyone.

They are made for screen doors and fit on the inside of the door, and there is usually a lever that allows you to keep the door open whenever you wish. Often found in front doors and doors that lead from the kitchen to the outdoors, they are very common for one main reason: they work.

12. Use a Basic Spring Door Stop

Basic spring-like door stops are screwed onto the wall and keep the door from damaging the wall every time someone opens it.

They are springy because this small amount of “give” prevents the door itself from becoming damaged should someone push it open too forcefully. These door stops protect both the door and the wall from damages, and they can be found in both homes and businesses all across the country.

They are usually in the $10 to $15 price range and are therefore affordable, and they work extremely well for all types of doors. You can even uninstall them should you need to, making them very versatile as well as very useful devices.

13. Miscellaneous Steps You Can Take

If you aren’t impressed by the products you have researched so far, you can also check on the condition of the door to make sure nothing is wrong with it. Sometimes, there are things wrong that cause the door to slam and make a lot of noise.

For starters, here is a list of things you can check on and do to remedy the situation:

• Check the doorknobs. Some doorknobs are louder than others, so if you replace your current doorknobs with ones that are specifically designed to be quieter, this can help reduce the inconvenience of a slamming door.
• Check the hinges. Make sure they are as tight as they need to be and aren’t worn out or uneven. If tightening them up doesn’t prevent the door from slamming, you may have to install a brand-new set of hinges.
• Use “do not slam the door” signs. If you’re in a commercial location, this is a good idea because it reminds people not to slam the door shut. It won’t work every single time because there will always be someone who slams the door anyway, but it can certainly help.