Shower Door Bottom Seals, Sweeps & Drip Rails
A bottom seal (also called a shower door sweep or bottom wipe) closes the gap between the bottom edge of a glass shower door and the curb or threshold. It is the most common seal to wear out, and a worn one is the number-one reason water ends up on the bathroom floor.
Most frameless bottom seals pressure fit onto the bottom edge of the glass. A drip rail version adds an angled lip on the outside that turns water back into the shower before it reaches the gap. Pick the seal that matches your glass thickness, then compare the suggested gap to the space under your closed door.
How to choose
- Match the glass thickness first: 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" or 1/2". The seal will not stay on the wrong thickness.
- Measure the gap under the closed door. A 7/16" gap is the most common for sweeps with twin wipes; tighter gaps (about 1/4") suit a dual-durometer or bulb sweep.
- Choose a drip rail if water runs down the outside of the door and drips past the seal.
- Doors on rise-and-fall hinges lift slightly when opened; a soft bulb bottom wipe works best there.
- Sliding doors need a sweep made for that slider system. Framed doors with a slot use a slide-in sweep instead (see Framed Door Sweeps).
Most commonBottom Wipe with Drip Rail for 1/2" Glass
Most commonBottom Wipe with Drip Rail for 3/8" Glass
Most commonBottom Wipe with Drip Rail, Cambridge & Crescent Sliders (3/8")
Bottom Bulb Wipe with Drip Rail for 3/8" Glass
Bottom Rail with Replaceable Wipe for 1/2" Glass
Bottom Rail with Replaceable Wipe for 3/8" Glass
Bottom Rail with Replaceable Wipe for 5/16" Glass
Bottom Wipe with Drip Rail for 1/4" Glass
Bottom Wipe with Drip Rail for 5/16" Glass
Bottom Wipe with Drip Rail, Crescent Sliders (1/2")
Clear U-Channel with 1-1/4" Fin for 3/8" Glass
Clear U-Channel with 1-3/4" Fin for 1/2" Glass
Clear U-Channel with 1-3/4" Fin for 3/8" Glass
Clear U-Channel with 1-3/8" Fin for 1/2" Glass
One-Piece Bottom Rail for 1/2" Glass
One-Piece Bottom Rail for 3/8" Glass
Common questions
What is the most common shower door bottom seal?
For frameless swing doors with 3/8" glass, a clear bottom wipe with a 45° drip rail (part P990WS) is the most common choice. It pressure fits onto the bottom of the door and has two soft wipes that seal against the curb, with a suggested 7/16" gap.
How do I know which bottom seal fits my shower door?
Measure the thickness of the glass at its edge (most frameless doors are 3/8" or 1/2"), then measure the gap between the bottom of the closed door and the curb. Choose a seal made for your exact glass thickness whose suggested gap is close to yours.
Do shower door bottom seals need glue or tape?
No. Frameless bottom seals pressure fit onto the glass edge. Clean and dry the edge first so the seal seats fully.
How long is a replacement bottom seal and can I cut it?
Most come in a 95" length (some slider sweeps are 40"). Cut it to the width of your door with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
Why does my shower door still leak at the bottom with a new seal?
The usual causes are the wrong glass thickness (the seal sits loose), a gap larger than the seal can close, or water running down the outside of the door. A drip rail seal fixes the last one.
Not sure this is the right one?
Check your glass thickness, or let the Seal Finder match it for you.