Best window insulation kits for drafty windows (2026)
CDC's winter list includes covering windows "with plastic from the inside," and the Department of Energy suggests closing curtains at night to cut the chill from cold windows. A shrink-film kit is the cheapest way to do the first: clear film on double-sided tape, tightened with a hair dryer. This page compares kits sold in the US on coverage, tape and fitting. We haven't used them ourselves; every figure is the maker's or the listing's.
By Tom Calder · Updated November 1, 2026 · 6 products, prices indicative
Our picks
3M 3-window kit
A small home with a few standard windows
Duck 10-window kit
Many windows on a budget, since you cut the film to fit
Frost King 3-pack
A few standard-size windows, no cutting from a roll
All 6 compared
| Kit | Type | Covers | Material | Fitting | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indoor shrink-film kit · 3 windows up to 3x5 ft (maker) · Heat-shrink film, 0.75 mil (maker) · Tape + hair dryer A small home with a few standard windows | Indoor shrink-film kit | 3 windows up to 3x5 ft (maker) | Heat-shrink film, 0.75 mil (maker) | Tape + hair dryer | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched 3M's three-window kit with film and its own mounting tape. 3M says it covers three 3 x 5 ft windows and goes on trim, not painted walls. It is a seasonal, remove-in-spring fix for drafty glass, not a replacement for sealing gaps. Best for A small home with a few standard windows Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if your windows are larger than 3 x 5 ft or you have many to cover. | |||||
Rolled shrink-film kit, cut to size · Up to 10 windows, 3x5 ft (listing) · Clear shrink film, 62x420 in · Tape + hair dryer Many windows on a budget, since you cut the film to fit | Rolled shrink-film kit, cut to size | Up to 10 windows, 3x5 ft (listing) | Clear shrink film, 62x420 in | Tape + hair dryer | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A roll of film and tape that you cut to your own window sizes, so it covers a whole house. Duck says up to 10 windows, with savings of up to 10% only when the home is already well sealed. Cutting from a roll takes more care than pre-sized sheets. Best for Many windows on a budget, since you cut the film to fit Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you only have one or two windows, or want pre-cut sheets. | |||||
Pre-cut shrink sheets, 3 pack · 3 standard windows, 42x62 in (maker) · 0.75 mil clear film (maker) · Tape + hair dryer A few standard-size windows, no cutting from a roll | Pre-cut shrink sheets, 3 pack | 3 standard windows, 42x62 in (maker) | 0.75 mil clear film (maker) | Tape + hair dryer | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Three pre-cut 42 x 62 in sheets, so no roll to wrestle. Frost King says it goes on metal, painted, varnished wood or vinyl-clad frames with the tape provided. If your windows are not close to that size you will be trimming anyway. Best for A few standard-size windows, no cutting from a roll Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if your windows are much larger than 42 x 62 in. | |||||
Indoor shrink-film kit · 2 windows up to 3x5 ft (listing) · Heat-shrink film (3M) · Tape + hair dryer One or two drafty windows, a trial before buying a big kit | Indoor shrink-film kit | 2 windows up to 3x5 ft (listing) | Heat-shrink film (3M) | Tape + hair dryer | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The smallest 3M kit: two windows of film plus tape. The listing says it is indoor-only and not for veneer paneling or lauan mahogany molding. Cheap way to see whether film helps a bad window. Best for One or two drafty windows, a trial before buying a big kit Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you have more than two windows to cover. | |||||
Patio door / large window kit · One 84x110 in sheet (maker) · 0.75 mil clear film (maker) · Tape + hair dryer A sliding glass door or very large window | Patio door / large window kit | One 84x110 in sheet (maker) | 0.75 mil clear film (maker) | Tape + hair dryer | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched One big 84 x 110 in sheet for a sliding door or large window, where standard kits are too small. Frost King says it shrinks with a hair dryer and attaches with the tape provided. You will need to measure first and a door you use daily will wear on the tape. Best for A sliding glass door or very large window Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you use that door every day and need it to open freely. | |||||
Heavy-duty rolled shrink film kit · Up to 10 standard windows (listing) · Thicker, puncture-resistant film (Duck) · Tape + hair dryer Homes with pets or children, or windows that get bumped | Heavy-duty rolled shrink film kit | Up to 10 standard windows (listing) | Thicker, puncture-resistant film (Duck) | Tape + hair dryer | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The heavier version of Duck's whole-house roll: Duck says the film is puncture-resistant and twice as thick as its standard film. You still cut it to size and shrink it with a hair dryer. It costs more than the standard roll. Best for Homes with pets or children, or windows that get bumped Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if your windows are out of reach of pets and kids, where standard film does fine. | |||||
ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedStates earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and can change at any time.
Before you buy
Measure every window, including the frame, and add a couple of inches.
Kits are sold by number of windows and total film area; patio door kits come in larger sheets.
Tape matters most.
The film is held by double-sided tape on the frame. Clean and dry the frame first; on painted or varnished wood, check whether the maker warns about peeling paint when the tape comes off.
Shrink with a hair dryer, not a heat gun, unless the maker says otherwise, and keep it moving.
Keep escape windows clear.
Don't seal windows you'd need to get out of in a fire.
Bigger fixes.
For drafts around sashes and doors, the DOE says weatherstripping is used to seal components that move, such as doors and operable windows; see our draft stoppers page.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Read our full methodology →
Related gear comparisons
Guides that go with this
How to winterize your home before cold weather: seal drafts, insulate, service the furnace and chimney, protec…
A plain-English winter storm checklist: watch vs warning, home prep, supplies, staying warm, shoveling and car…
Common questions
Do window insulation kits work?
They add a layer of still air between the film and the glass and stop drafts around the sash, which makes a room feel less chilly near the window. CDC lists covering windows with plastic from the inside among its winter home steps.
Will window film damage paint?
It can lift loose or fresh paint when the tape comes off in spring. Check the maker's instructions for painted and varnished frames and remove the tape slowly.
Can I open the window after?
No. The film seals the window until you take it off, so leave any window you'd use as an escape route uncovered.
What else stops a drafty window?
Weatherstripping where the sash moves, caulk where the frame meets the wall, and heavy curtains closed at night. The DOE suggests opening curtains on south-facing windows on sunny days and closing them at night.