Alternatives to a traditional door stop depend on your goal: keeping a door open or preventing it from hitting a wall. Useful options include:
To stop a door from slamming, you can quickly add adhesive felt pads or foam weatherstripping to the door frame to absorb impact. For temporary fixes, wrap a large rubber band around the doorknobs or slide a cut piece of a pool noodle over the top edge of the door.
Door stops are small but essential: they keep knobs and levers from punching holes in drywall—and protect cabinets, counters, and even toilets from door swings. Most homes need them on both interior and exterior doors.
To create a quick, weighted door stopper, sew a fabric tube, attach a ribbon handle, and fill it with dry rice or pebbles. This straightforward method keeps doors securely propped open without scratching your floors and adds a cozy, personalized touch to your home decor.
You can use several common household items as temporary door stops, such as a rolled-up towel or blanket, a heavy book, a wedge-shaped shoe, or a door snake/draft stopper. For a simple wedge, you can even wrap a few thick rubber bands around the end of a pencil or a small block of wood.
Roll up a thick sock and wedge it tightly between the door and the frame near the latch to create friction, making it harder to open. How do you make a homemade door lock? Use a belt, rope, or zip tie to secure the handle to a fixed object, or place a chair under the handle to prevent it from turning.
A door stop is hardware that controls how far a door can open. By setting a fixed angle—commonly 90° or 120°—it prevents the door from swinging freely and causing damage. Unlike quick fixes, a door stop hinge is intentional, durable, and designed to keep both the door and surrounding surfaces safe under daily use.
A "good" door stopper depends heavily on your specific needs, such as whether you want to prevent the door from hitting a wall, hold it open, or secure a room. The following top-rated options cater to different use cases:
Add a decorative door stop to prevent your doors from opening into cabinets and furniture. We have door stoppers that mount on the wall, floor or on the hinge pin. Classic designs and a variety of finishes mean you'll find a door stop that protects and looks good.
Roll up an empty plastic water bottle until it fits well in the gap between your door and the floor. This will keep your door wide open for you to enter and exit as needed. Cardboard Stop: Fold up some cardboard and shove it under the door to keep the door open. Now your door will stay propped open.
A penny – wedging pennies between the door and the frame can be very effective in preventing a door from opening. However, if it's done properly the only way to get out is to remove the door from its hinges!
An anti slam device is designed to prevent doors from closing too quickly or forcefully. Most come in the form of soft-close hinges or adjustable hydraulic closers that control the speed and pressure of the swing. These reduce noise, protect the frame, and lower the risk of damage or injury.
Physical intimidation. Slamming doors, destroying property, or standing too close can all be early signs of physical abuse.
A Magnetic Door Stop securely holds doors with its strong magnet, combining functionality and aesthetics. The installation is generally user-friendly.
Tighten or Replace Loose Hinges: If the hinges are loose, the door may not be swinging correctly. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws or replace them if they're worn out. This can help prevent the door from moving too freely.
A door jammer (sometimes called a door security bar or portable door lock) is a physical security device designed to reinforce doors and prevent unauthorized entry. It acts as an effective barricade against intruders, kick-ins, or forced openings.
A doorstop (also door stopper, door stop, door wedge, door check) is a device that holds a door open or closed, or that limits its swing.
People wrap foil around doorknobs as a viral DIY alarm and visual deterrent. The theory is that if an intruder tries to turn the handle from the outside, the crinkling noise will wake you, or the ripped foil will let you know someone attempted to enter while you were asleep.
A sock on a doorknob is a traditional signal—mostly used by college students or roommates—that the person inside the room is having sex and needs privacy. It acts as a makeshift "do not disturb" sign to prevent roommates from walking in.
The following are quick, temporary solutions that can help you get a good night's sleep without worrying about your safety.
Ring-compatible door locks fall into two main categories: Z-Wave locks that pair directly with your Ring Alarm system, and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth locks that sync via the Ring App or Amazon Sidewalk. They allow you to remotely lock/unlock your door, manage user codes, and arm/disarm your security system.
A smart lock is an electronic, internet-connected door lock that replaces traditional mechanical keys with keyless entry methods like smartphone apps, biometric fingerprints, and digital keypads. It allows you to remotely control access to your home, grant temporary virtual keys, and track entry logs in real-time.