8 Types of Shower Door Seals: A Complete Guide

Shower door seals are an essential part of a shower door as they’re designed to keep water in the shower, preventing it from leaking out onto the floor. Our guide will walk you through eight types of shower door seals: Bottom seals, side sweeps, glass to glass, jamb seals, bulb seals, F-shaped or fin seals, magnetic seals, and drip rail seals. The one you need will depend on the door shape, the seal’s location, and whether it’s magnetized or not. 

1. Bottom Seals

This is the most common type of shower door seal because, regardless of the style, the bottom of the shower needs to be sealed to prevent water from seeping or splashing out. The shape of the bottom seal will depend on the type of shower door. Bottom seals are essential for preventing leaks because you don’t want to add the cost of fixing water damage to the cost of installing a glass shower door.

Appearance

Bottom seals can vary in appearance depending on the shower door. Most bottom shower seals have an extended sweep to cover the gap between the door and the shower.

Location

Bottom seals are located on the bottom of the door.

Best for: Preventing water from escaping under the door

2. Side Sweeps

If the type of shower door you have has hinges where the door meets the wall, water can leak out around the hinges. A side sweep shower door seal prevents this from happening. Though they are essential for keeping the shower leak free, they can be more difficult to install than other styles of shower door seals.

Appearance 

Side sweep seals vary in appearance. 

Location

Side sweeps are located on the side of the shower door where the hinges are.

Best for: Hinged glass shower doors

3. Glass to Glass

Glass to glass shower door seals are located where two glass shower doors meet. They run the full height of the door to keep water from leaking out between the doors. These seals also protect the doors from banging against each other and cracking or shattering.

Appearance

Glass to glass shower door seals are typically F-shaped or fin seals. The piece that extends from the channels serves to close the gap between the doors to prevent water from escaping.

Location

The best location for glass to glass seals are between glass shower doors.

Best for: Showers with two glass doors

4. Jamb Seals

Jamb seals attach to the edge of the glass door to seal it when it meets another glass door or the wall. They come in various shapes and styles that fit the shower enclosure’s needs. 

Appearance

Like bottom, glass-to-glass, and side sweep seals, the appearance of jamb seals varies and can include bulb seals and fin seals.

Location

Jamb seals are located on the edge of the door.

Best for: Vertical edges of glass shower doors

5. Bulb Seals

Bulb seals are installed on the shower door jamb to seal the place where two shower doors meet. They can also be installed on the bottom of the door or as a side seal where the shower door meets the wall.

Appearance

Bulb seals have a channel for the door on one side and the opposite side features a rounded “bubble” that facilitates a softer close.

Location

Bulb seals can be installed on the side or bottom edge of the door. 

Best for: Creating a seal where two doors meet or where a door meets a wall

6. F-Shaped or Fin Seals

A fin seal has a channel that fits onto the shower door and an extended piece that covers where it meets another shower door to close the gap between the two doors.

Appearance

Fin seals feature a channel and a long “fin” that extends from the channel to cover any gap between the shower door and adjacent surface. 

Location

This seal is best where two doors meet.

Best for: Creating a tight seal between two doors.

7. Magnetic Seals

Magnetic seals include magnets embedded into the material. This allows you to install them on shower doors so that they form a strong seal when they’re closed and the magnetic force is activated.

Appearance

Magnets can be embedded into different types of seals, so the appearance depends on the style you choose. The magnets will likely be visible.

Location

You can install magnetic shower door seals on the shower door jamb, the bottom, and the sides.

Best for: Ensuring the door is tightly sealed

8. Drip Rail Seals

Meant for use on the bottom of the shower door, a drip rail seal not only seals the door against leaks, but it also includes a slanted piece that directs water away from the door. 

Appearance

Drip rail seals look more complicated than other types but only because they feature an extended side.

Location

Drip rail seals are installed on the bottom of the shower door.

Best for: Moving water away from the bottom of the shower door

How Do I Choose the Right Shower Door Seal?

Choosing the right shower door seal can mean the difference between a stress-free shower and a flooded bathroom. Factors to consider when you choose a shower door seal include:

• Glass thickness

• Shower door shape—straight or curved

• Frame or frameless

• Magnetic or nonmagnetic

• Location—jamb or bottom

• The current seal that you’re replacing

If the seal that you’ve had worked well but just got worn out, you can replace it with the same style. If you weren’t happy with the performance of the original seal, you can choose a different type of shower door seal that you think will work better. A shower installer near you can also help you make the decision.