The Best Insulated Dog Doors for Cold Weather
Not all dog doors are made equal! When thinking about installing a pet door, you’ll need to consider your yearly climate! If you experience harsh winters or tons of rains, you’ll want the most insulating, energy efficient dog door possible.
Insulated dog doors help keep you and your pet safe in extreme cold or heat. A common feature among these insulated pet doors is the dual flap design, an extra flap not only creates a barrier to keep out inclement weather but also keeps warm inside the pet door opening. Installing a door in this manner allows you to save energy, although only a single flap will only cost you much more than it would buy an insulated door.
What are the Best Insulated Dog Doors for Cold Weather?
Before even thinking about what the best dog door for extreme weather could be, the question has to be asked: what is so special about them? The very best cold weather dog doors will not only keep drafts out and heat in, but will also save you money in the long run. The less heat that escapes through the pet door, the more money you save on heating!
Magnetic Seal
These days, every dog door flap has a set of magnets embedded at the bottom. But maximum energy efficiency requires even stronger magnetic seal. The more magnets, the stronger the seal, and the less likely for the flap to let in cold air.
Low Temperature Tolerant Materials
A heavy duty, insulated flap protects your home from the elements. A lot of engineering can go into the material and design of a pet door. Most vinyl material will flex and shrink in the cold. The design of cold weather pet door flaps should counteract this!
Wind and Draft Resistant
If you think about it, a pet door is a hole right there in your door or wall! And if you’ve ever owned a pet door, you know that they can be the ultimate source of drafts in your home! The best pet doors for cold weather will be able to resist the strong winds and keep drafts out of the house! A flap with dog door weatherstripping is one way your dog door can be insulated against drafts.
Single and Double Flap
Double the flaps, double the insulation for extreme weather energy efficiency! Cold weather pet doors will sometimes have a double flap option. Double flap dog doors help conserve the heat inside and keep out drafts, making them the perfect pet door option for harsh climates. See our selection of sliding glass pet doors for more options.
What are the Best Dog Doors for Cold Weather?
As we said above, the features of the best dog doors for cold weather are their strong magnetic seals, the ability to keep out strong winds, and high tolerance against extreme temperature. With these in mind, here are the best dog doors for winter climates:
1. The Endura Flap
The best dog door for cold weather is the Endura Flap.
Separating it from the rest of the competition, the Endura Flap uses a polyolefin-based polymer flap system that doesn't fade, warp or crack the way standard vinyl flaps can. It can withstand cold climates as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit and still stay flexible!
The intense magnet strength of the Endura Flap means that the door will stay closed during high winds. In a wind tunnel experiment, the flap stayed shut against winds up to 40 mph! Endura offers a variety of installation options from wall entry doors to sliding door inserts. The high-quality Endura Thermo Panel 3e pops into patio door tracks in a matter of minutes, so it's a convenient option for renters. The sturdy aluminum frame is airtight for maximum insulation. All installation styles include a sturdy locking cover for security.
On top of the great numbers, the Endura Flap comes with a 15-year warranty and has a double flap option for maximum insulation in the harshest climates.
2. The Hale Double Flap
The next best is the Hale Double Flap.
With several magnets that keep the dual flaps closed and a fuzzy nylon weather stripping lining the edges of the flap, the Hale double flap offers great insulation for the value. Hale doors have the added benefits of a crystal clear and lighter-weight flap material to accommodate two pets of drastically different sizes (also good if your pooch is a little shy about pushing through a heavier flap). Your Great Dane and Dachshund can both use the same pet door! The wide range of flap sizes makes Hale a great choice if you are looking for a large dog door.
Hale offers custom door mounts and custom wall mounts that can fit to existing cut outs, allowing for ultimate flexibility based on your pet and home needs. The wall mount has a waterproof aluminum telescoping tunnel to avoid any water damage to the interior of your wall. Hale doors come with a 5-year warranty.
3. The Ideal Draft Stopper
The Ideal Draft Stopper Dog Door seals well at a great price.
With 8 magnets and a three-panel flap design, the Draft Stopper keeps winds up to 35 mph out of your home while still staying flexible for pets. The flap itself is made of hard polycarbonate, but has hinges in between to allow a swinging motion when your pet comes and goes. The Draft Stopper only comes in two sizes and doesn’t offer as much flexibility with installation as the other doors on this list, having no wall-kit or extra large sizes. Make sure to double check the size of your pet when considering any pet door!
4. The Ideal Ruff Weather
The Ideal Designer Series Ruff Weather Dog Door is an affordable option.
Also featuring a double flap, the Ruff Weather door provides improved insulation while still being lightweight for pets of all sizes to use. With weather stripping on the plastic frame, the door is great for keeping drafts out of the house and comes at a modest price. The Ruff Weather, unlike the Draft Stopper, has a small size and two larger sizes that allow for more options for extra small or extra large pets.
Other Considerations
Remember that there are lots of other things to consider when buying a pet door, such as if you can add weatherstripping to your door to add insulation value! You can meet all of your needs and still get a winter proof dog door!
Size
Size is super important to keep in mind. Be sure to measure your pet correctly and pick the right door for your pet! Have a small dog or cat that likes to play in the snow? No problem! Take a look at your through walls, through windows, and even through a sliding glass door!
Whichever door is right for you, remember that every climate, every home, and every pet is different, so every pet door situation is different. Choose the right pet door for you! Check out our collection of dog doors for windows to browse more options. Or see all our pet door collections to browse installation options for your new pet door.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cold Weather Dog Doors
Do dog doors let in cold weather?
Dog doors made with high-quality materials will not let cold air inside your home. The Endura Flap pet door withstands extreme cold to keep your home cozy.
How do doggie doors work in winter?
The Endura Double Flap Wall Mount Dog Door is a great winter dog door. The space between the two flaps creates an insulating barrier to keep wind, rain, and snow out of your home during the winter months.
What is the most energy efficient dog door?
The most energy efficient dog door is the Endura Flap Pet Door. It is excellent for severe weather protection with the high-quality flap and excellent magnetic resistance.
What is the safest doggie door?
The safest doggie door is the Endura Flap Pet Door. The flap is flexible for your pets to use comfortably and safely, yet sturdy enough to keep bad weather out of your home.
Do dog doors let in cold air?
High-quality pet doors will not let cold air in. The Endura Flap pet door is the best cold weather dog door.
What is the best pet door on the market?
The best pet door on the market is the Endura Flap Pet Door. It has excellent weather resistance in extreme climates and will keep your home insulated year-round.
What is the best way to insulate a dog door?
The best way to insulate a dog door is to use all the provided weatherstripping and materials included with your door. A high-quality pet door will not require additional insulation measures.
What is the most energy efficient dog door?
The most energy efficient dog door is the Endura Flap Pet Door. It comes in a variety of installation models and sizes to fit the needs of you and your pet.
Copy Editor
DOG PERSON🐶
Pets: I'm a lover of German Shorthair Pointers and Hound dogs. If they are big and pretend to be lap dogs, I'll fall for them in an instant!
Fun stuff: I've got the hair of a golden retriever!
Hi Rebekah,
Love their names, so cute! The Endura Flap is definitely the sturdiest non-rigid flap option available. Please feel free to contact us at customerservice@petdoors.com or 1-800-826-2871 and we can discuss further to determine the best pet door for your Frenchies.
Happy holidays!
Hi Misty!
The best pet door option for extreme weather is the Endura Flap. The smaller flap sizes would be very challenging for a person to use and all Endura Flaps come with a secure locking cover to block access when needed. One option for additional security is to install this Watchdog Security Cover: https://www.petdoors.com/products/watchdog-security.
You may also want to consider an electronic pet door that will only open for your pet (either by scanning for their unique microchip or a special collar key provided with the pet door). You can see our selection of electronic pet doors here: https://www.petdoors.com/collections/electronic-automatic-microchip.
Typically, electronic pet doors are less insulating than manual flaps like the Endura Flap. But if you live in a more mild climate they are an excellent choice for security. Please feel free to reach out to customerservice@petdoors.com to discuss some options!
Happy holidays!
Hi,
I was wondering how sturdy these are. I have a pair of French bulldogs (Jack & Pee Dinky) and I originally installed the petsafe extreme weather dog door. With in a few days the goobers had ripped off one of the flaps. Would they be able to do this with the endura?
What is your best option for extreme weather, anti-burglar?
Hi J,
Unfortunately, most pet doors cannot guarantee that your cat won’t get in and out through it. We have electronic pet doors (https://www.petdoors.com/collections/electronic-automatic-microchip) that can be programmed for specific pets via microchip or collar key tag so you would be able to program it to only recognize your dog and not your cat.
However, there are cases where cats will slip out of the opening when other pets are using it pet door.
If you have any other questions, please contact us at customerservice@petdoors.com or give us a call at (805) 781-7700. Thanks!
I’m looking for an automatic pet door that will let the dog in and out, but not the cats, suitable for cold weather. Any suggestions?
Hi Penny,
Our best insulating pet doors are the Endura Flap https://www.petdoors.com/products/endura-flap-wall and the Hale https://www.petdoors.com/products/hale-wall . Please make sure the reference the size chart through each link to ensure the right size for your pet.
We also have a list of installers that you can find through this link: https://www.petdoors.com/pages/pet-door-installation
Please feel free to contact us at customerservice@petdoors.com with any additional questions you may have!
We’re looking for a doggie door to put in our wall and need one that can withstand high winds and extreme heat. We also are inquiring about an installer
Great Tips! When I got my windows and doors installed I just directly hired the services of Trust Build Windows and Doors because I was worried about the cold. The windows and doors they installed were great!
Hi Renee,
Great question! Since your fur babies are estimated to be around 25" tall from top of shoulder to floor when they are full grown, you would need to find a pet door that can accommodate that size (top of opening should be at least 1" above the dog’s shoulder/back, and stepover height should be no more than 1/3 of your dog’s height). If you want an electronic door that works by sensing a collar key, the High Tech would probably be your best bet for larger pets: https://www.petdoors.com/collections/high-tech
There are door mounts, wall mounts, and sliding glass door panels, depending on your installation location.
If you have any more questions about sizing or selection, please feel free to contact us at customerservice@petdoors.com
Thanks!
I have two 11 month old German shorthaired pointers. They are the most amazing doggies, but they are constantly ringing the bells for me to open the door for them. They would prefer the door remain open so they can sit in the doorway and just watch the outdoors. We would like to get an in wall mount dog door, preferably one that has an effect control collar to keep other critters out. Do they make them like that? We do get a lot of wind where we are located. What would you recommend as the best door for my 2 fur babies?
Hi Pauletta!
We typically recommend that the stepover height (bottom of the pet door opening) is no more than 1/3 of the pet’s height (in your case, 5"), and that the top of the flap opening is at least 1" taller than your pet. The Medium Endura Flap wall mount is 14" for the double flap option and 15" for the single flap option. If you mount the pet door so that the bottom of the pet door frame meets the floor, the opening will be about 3" off the ground and 17" to 18" tall.
Please contact us at customerservice@petdoors.com with any further questions!
I have Skye Terriers and is difficult for me to choose a size of door that will work for them. They are twice as long as they are tall , though they only weigh 28 lbs. They are 15 inches tall and 31 inches long . I was leaning toward a medium. But I didn’t want them to be afraid, It will be installed in a wall. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated—new construction ..Thank you
Hi there!
We’re so glad you love your pet door! We definitely understand that some dogs (like Benny!) need the taller sizes, and don’t necessarily fit in standard doggie doors. That’s why we offer custom dog doors! When you’re ready for a taller door, feel free to send us an email at customerservice@petdoors.com. We would be happy to help you find something tall enough for Benny! We love talking dog doors!
Hi Shereen!
It can be difficult to give you the best advice without more information, and we want to make sure you get the right replacement parts on the first try! Sometimes you don’t need an entirely new flap, it depends on the situation. Please send us an email at customerservice@petdoors.com and include a picture or two of your flap (preferably showing the issue, if possible). With a picture, we can help identify exactly what you need so you don’t waste money on more replacement parts. We look forward to hearing from you!
Happy new year!
Hi Robert,
Good question! In short, yes! Though a few details may be helpful in selecting the right door for your home. The Endura flap is the most insulating dog door, so it’s really the best for those “cold colds” and “hot hots.” If you’re located somewhere with more extreme temperatures, the Endura Flap will save you money on heating and cooling your home. The Endura gets it’s insulating power from the thick material and dual-walled nature of the flap, but also with a tight seal. So if your cat is more timid, or has never used a cat door before, your cat may have a little trouble at first (and need some training). You can easily train your cat by propping the flap open for a while if necessary, or removing magnets temporarily to make it easier to push through.
Other than the Endura Flap, these other doors listed will also work for your cat. They do not have the insulation value of the Endura, but if you’re not overly concerned about keeping heat or cold air in your home and more extreme elements out, then these doors can be a good alternative. The Hale and Ideal Ruff Weather both come in pretty small sizes, while the Ideal Draft Stopper comes in sizes a little bigger. In the end, it’s all down to your situation and your preference!
Let us know if we can be of any help, we love talking pet doors!
We bought your tallest door with double flaps for our greyhound “Benny”. Love the door and it’s insulating properties. I just wish you made a little taller door. We live in Oregon and the wind dies not effect the door.
We need to replace our Endurance Flap Door extra large single flap. On a very windy day this flap will push open. Do we need a new magnet as well?
Thanks for your help.
Shereen
Can a cat use these doors? Seem a bit heavy