How much does draught-proofing cost?

DIY draught-proofing is very affordable — self-adhesive foam tape costs £2–£5 per roll, brush strips cost £5–£15, a letterbox draught excluder is £5–£15, and a chimney draught excluder (like a Chimney Sheep) is £15–£30. Professional draught-proofing for a full house typically costs £200–£500, with individual window or door draught-proofing costing £50–£100 each. The Energy Saving Trust estimates you can save around £60 per year on energy bills by draught-proofing — meaning DIY options pay for themselves almost immediately.

Is draught-proofing worth it?

Yes — draught-proofing is one of the most cost-effective energy-saving measures. According to the Energy Saving Trust, draught-proofing windows and doors in a typical semi-detached gas-heated home saves around £60/year. DIY materials cost under £50 for a whole house, so you see a return within the first year. It also improves comfort by eliminating cold spots and draughts. It's the recommended first step before more expensive improvements like insulation or a new boiler, and it's something most people can do themselves.

What areas should I draught-proof first?

Priority areas in order of impact: 1) Gaps around windows and external doors — the biggest source of draughts in most homes. 2) Letterbox — use a letterbox draught excluder or brush plate. 3) Chimney (if not in use) — use a chimney balloon or sheep. 4) Floorboards — fill gaps between floorboards with filler or use rugs. 5) Loft hatch — fit compression strips around the frame. 6) Pipework holes — seal gaps where pipes or cables enter the house. 7) Keyholes — fit a keyhole cover plate. Do NOT draught-proof rooms with gas appliances (boilers, gas fires) — they need ventilation.

Can I get a grant for draught-proofing?

Draught-proofing may be available free or subsidised through: the ECO4 scheme (for households on certain benefits — your energy supplier provides the funding), local authority grants and home improvement schemes, the Warm Home Discount scheme (indirect — saves on energy bills), and in Scotland, Home Energy Scotland offers free advice and grants. Draught-proofing is often included as part of wider home energy efficiency packages rather than as a standalone grant. Check with your local council or energy supplier.

Draught-Proofing Costs UK — Savings, DIY Tips & Where to Start | PocketWise

Draught-proofing is the cheapest and easiest way to cut your energy bills. Here’s what to do and how much it costs.

At a Glance

Feature	Detail
What it is	Sealing gaps and cracks that let cold air in and warm air out
Average saving	~£60/year on energy bills (Energy Saving Trust)
DIY cost	Under £50 for a whole house
Professional cost	£200–£500 for a full house
Payback period	Under 1 year (DIY)
Difficulty	Easy — most draught-proofing is a simple DIY job
Safety warning	Do NOT draught-proof rooms with gas appliances — they need ventilation

Where Draughts Come From

Source	How much heat it loses	Priority
Windows	Up to 20% of heat loss	High
External doors	Significant — especially old or ill-fitting doors	High
Letterbox	Direct route for cold air	High
Chimney (unused)	Up to 40% of a room’s heat can escape	High
Floorboards	Gaps between boards let cold air in from below	Medium
Loft hatch	Warm air escapes into the loft	Medium
Pipework/cable holes	Small gaps around pipes entering the house	Medium
Skirting board gaps	Gaps between skirting and wall/floor	Low
Keyholes	Small but noticeable on windy days	Low

Costs — DIY

Item	What it does	Cost
Self-adhesive foam tape	Seals gaps around windows and doors	£2–£5 per roll
Rubber or silicone strip	More durable than foam for windows/doors	£5–£10 per strip
Brush strip (for bottom of doors)	Seals gap under doors while allowing them to open	£5–£15
Letterbox draught excluder	Covers the internal letterbox opening	£5–£15
Chimney balloon / Chimney Sheep	Blocks the chimney flue (when not in use)	£15–£30
Keyhole cover	Swivelling plate over the keyhole	£3–£8
Decorator’s caulk / filler	Seals gaps around window frames, skirting, floorboards	£3–£6 per tube
Self-adhesive compression strip (for loft hatch)	Seals the loft hatch	£5–£10
Expanding foam (for larger gaps around pipes)	Fills larger gaps where pipes or cables enter	£5–£8 per can

Total DIY Cost for a Typical 3-Bed Semi

Area	Materials cost
Windows (6)	£15–£30
External doors (2)	£10–£25
Letterbox	£5–£15
Chimney	£15–£30
Floorboards	£5–£10
Loft hatch	£5–£10
Pipe holes	£5–£8
Keyholes	£3–£8
Total	£60–£135

Costs — Professional

Service	Cost
Single window draught-proofing	£50–£80
Single door draught-proofing	£60–£100
Full house draught-proofing	£200–£500
Sash window specialist draught-proofing	£100–£200 per window

Energy Savings

Property type	Estimated annual saving
Detached house	£70–£90
Semi-detached house	£55–£65
Mid-terrace	£40–£55
Flat	£30–£50

Figures based on Energy Saving Trust estimates for a gas-heated home.

How to Draught-Proof: Room by Room

Windows

Method	Best for	How to
Self-adhesive foam strip	Casement windows	Stick around the frame where the window closes
Rubber/silicone strip	Casement windows (more durable)	Press into the groove around the frame
Brush strip (sash windows)	Sliding sash windows	Fit into the gap between sash and frame
Secondary glazing	All windows (extra insulation)	Fit a second pane inside — £40–£100/window

Doors

Method	Cost	How to
Brush strip (bottom)	£5–£15	Screw or stick to the bottom of the door
Foam/rubber strip (frame)	£2–£10	Stick around the door frame
Keyhole cover	£3–£8	Screw over the keyhole
Letterbox excluder	£5–£15	Fit brush or flap behind the letterbox

Chimney

Method	Cost	Notes
Chimney balloon	£15–£25	Inflate inside the chimney. Remove before lighting a fire
Chimney Sheep	£15–£30	Felted wool plug. Sits in the flue. Easy to remove
Chimney cap (permanent)	£50–£150	Professional fitting. For chimneys never used

Floors

Method	Cost	Notes
Filler between floorboards	£3–£6/tube	Use flexible filler — rigid filler will crack
Rugs	Varies	Quick fix for draughty floors
Underfloor insulation (more extensive)	£300–£1,000+	Professional job if access is available

Grants and Financial Help

Scheme	Detail
ECO4	Free draught-proofing for eligible households (certain benefits, EPC band D–G) — contact your energy supplier
Local authority schemes	Many councils offer free or subsidised draught-proofing — check your council’s website
Home Energy Scotland	Free advice and grants for Scottish households
Nest scheme (Wales)	Energy efficiency advice and potential free improvements
Warm Home Discount	Doesn’t directly fund draught-proofing but reduces bills by £150

Safety Warnings

Warning	Detail
Gas appliances	Do NOT draught-proof rooms with gas boilers, gas fires, or gas cookers — they need ventilation
Extractor fans	Do NOT block bathroom or kitchen extractor fans
Air bricks	Do NOT block air bricks in walls — they provide essential ventilation
Trickle vents	Do NOT seal the trickle vents on double-glazed windows
Condensation	Excessive sealing without adequate ventilation can cause damp and mould
Listed buildings	Check with your local authority before making changes to listed properties