A mattress is one of the most important—and often one of the priciest—purchases most people make for their bedrooms, and the right mattress is worth the investment, because quality shut-eye and better health starts with a good foundation. With a huge range of types and price points, though, choosing the right one often requires starting the search with options from the best mattress brands. 

What is the best mattress to buy? It’s a tough question to answer, as each person’s needs and preferences are different. Good mattresses are supportive, comfortable, and durable, to lull sleepers into a cozy yet cradled rest night after night. Some people need extra support, while others seek out mattresses that aren’t hot, or focus on natural materials. The mattress brands listed below carry a variety of mattress types at different price points to complete the bedroom and help sleepers achieve a restful night. Learning about these well-regarded brands should help shoppers choose the right mattress with the confidence that they support their products and have earned their reputation for quality materials and excellent customer support.

1. Saatva

Price Range: $$ to $$$

Top Products: Saatva Classic Mattress (from $1,399 at Saatva) and Saatva Latex Hybrid Mattress (from $1,699 at Saatva)

For hotel-quality comfort at home, consider a mattress from Saatva, which carries luxury mattresses made from premium materials like organic cotton, CertiPUR-US certified memory foam, and eco-friendly materials. Each Saatva mattress is handcrafted to order in the U.S. using consciously sourced materials. The various mattress styles are engineered for a pain-free sleep with a dedicated lumbar support zone to help with optimal alignment. 

To increase this luxurious feeling, most Saatva mattress styles also include a pillow-top design to add softness without sacrificing support. The company’s penchant for high-quality materials is evident across its range of mattress types, bedding, and bed frames, such as with the Saatva Classic Mattress, which is available in sizes from twin to split california king, firmness ranging from plush soft to firm, and two different height options, including 11.5 inches and 14.5 inches. The options give customers a wide variety of customizations to create the right base for comfortable slumber. 

Shop Saatva mattresses at::

• Saatva Mattresses
• Amazon

2. DreamCloud

Price Range: $$ to $$$

Top Products: DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress (from $449 at DreamCloud) and DreamCloud Premier (from $649 at DreamCloud)

DreamCloud offers premium hybrid mattresses at a reasonable price. The company’s three mattress styles blend a variety of mattress technologies, featuring three material layers to help the user sleep deeply. The supportive coil system offers a bit of bounce and enhanced edge support, layers of high-density gel memory foam provide a cool but cozy sleep, and then there’s the plush, cashmere-blend Euro top. These attributes combine the best of latex, memory foam, and coil mattresses into a hybrid that works well for many sleepers. 

The DreamCloud Premier Mattress features contouring quilted gel memory foam, supportive quilted foam, therapeutic gel-infused memory foam, individually-wrapped coils, and a base layer for stability. DreamCloud offers one of the longest trial periods in the industry: A 365-night trial gives the user a full year to decide if the mattress is the right fit. Free delivery and returns make trying one of their mattresses risk-free. And for those looking to outfit the entire bedroom with plush fixings, DreamCloud also carries bed bases, bedding, and pillows. 

Shop DreamCloud mattresses at

• DreamCloud 
• US Mattress

3. Casper

Price Range: $$ to $$$$

Top Products: Casper The One Mattress (from $599 at Casper) and Casper Sleep Element Mattress (from $335 at Amazon) 

Casper prides itself on providing supportive, cooling mattresses designed for a revitalizing sleep. The brand sells several mattress types, with affordable configurations made of breathable, perforated foam or pricier hybrid mattresses with supportive inner layers. The Casper Sleep Element Mattress is a top option with breathable open-cell foam layers that help to improve airflow through the mattress, keeping users cool and relaxed while sleeping.

What started with the Casper Original has expanded into four mattress styles, from the affordable, basic Element mattress to the extra-supportive Wave Hybrid. Each of Casper’s mattresses includes a supportive design and a perforated AirScape foam layer to help the user stay cool while sleeping. The reasonable price point is appealing to a range of consumers, and the 100-day trial period is also an excellent draw. 

Shop Casper mattresses at:

• Casper
• Amazon
• Wayfair

4. Nectar Sleep

Price Range: $$ to $$$

Top Products: Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress (from $549 at Nectar Sleep) and Nectar Classic Hybrid Mattress (from $499 at Nectar Sleep) 

Nectar Sleep offers premium mattresses at competitive prices. Founded in 2016, the company has offices in New York, San Francisco, London, and Tel Aviv. The company provides all-foam, multilayered mattresses that boast plush comfort, comfortable support, and surface cooling. The four mattress styles feature an adaptive, contoured memory-foam layer to relieve common pressure points behind the shoulders, hips, and legs.

A quality option for just about any bedroom is the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress that has a foundation base to minimize motion transfer, a memory foam core for pressure relief and support, all topped with a cooling cover to keep sleepers comfortable during warm nights. This option adds motion suppression and extra cooling over the Classic model, but customers can upgrade to the Luxe or Ultra models to benefit from increased luxury. The company also offers a Hybrid option in all four levels. Nectar Sleep sells mattresses, bedroom furniture, bedding, and dog beds online and in 2,000 retail stores across the U.S. As a prominent brand in the bed-in-a-box industry, Nectar Sleep exceeds expectations when it comes to guarantees, offering a 365-night trial period, forever warranty, free shipping, and free returns. 

Shop Nectar Sleep mattresses at: 

• Nectar Sleep
• Amazon

5. Purple

Price Range: $$ to $$$

Top Products: Purple Restore Hybrid Mattress (from $1,699 at Purple) and Purple Mattress (from $799 at Purple) 

Purple’s origin story dates back to 1989 when founding brothers Terry and Tony Pearce worked to develop a cushioning fluid to prevent wheelchair pressure sores. Their process set off a chain reaction, eventually leading to the development of their Hyper-Elastic Polymer. While a range of industries—from medical beds to shoe insoles—incorporated this ground-breaking polymer, the brothers were interested in creating something new, and the Purple mattress was born. 

Purple incorporates the Pearce brothers’ invention into every mattress to create the ultimate no-pressure bed, such as the Purple Restore Hybrid Mattress, which features two inches of GelFlex® Grid and edge-to-edge coils to improve support and cradle the sleeper’s pressure points for improved sleep comfort. Each Purple mattress features the brand’s “Purple Grid’’ technology: a waffle-pattern topper made of hyperelastic polymer that is more responsive and sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam. Purple’s product repertoire includes adult and child mattresses, bed frames, pillows, seat cushions, bedding, and pet beds, to bring a cozy sleep to every member of the family.

Shop Purple mattresses at:

• Purple
• Raymour & Flanigan

6. Tuft & Needle

Price Range: $ to $$$

Top Products: Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress (from $636 at Tuft & Needle) and Tuft & Needle Original Adaptive Foam Mattress (from $796 at Amazon) 

Tuft & Needle was created to simplify the mattress-buying process, as one of the first companies to shift the user experience online and away from overwhelming viewing rooms and salespeople. To accomplish that goal, Tuft & Needle delivers high-quality mattresses right to the front door for free, without any sales gimmicks. Tuft & Needle Mint mattresses use layers of T&N Flex, Release, and Adaptive foam for comfort, support, and pressure relief to help guarantee a restful sleep. 

The company sells three types of mattresses: two foam options (Original and Mint) and one hybrid style. Each mattress style features Tuft & Needle’s proprietary Adaptive Foam, a unique type of foam that provides pressure relief and support without sinking or retaining too much body heat. As mentioned above, the Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress is an upgrade from the Tuft & Needle Original, featuring multiple layers of Adaptive Foam, a heat-regulating top, reinforced edge support, and reduced motion transfer to suit two sleepers.

If a Tuft & Needle mattress isn’t the right fit, return the mattress within the 100-day trial period for a full refund and free removal to a charity of the user’s choice. 

Shop Tuft & Needle mattresses at:

• Tuft & Needle 
• Amazon
• Target

7. Leesa

Price Range: $ to $$$

Top Products: Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress (from $944 at Leesa) and Leesa Original Mattress (from $609 at Leesa) 

Leesa creates stylish and comfortable mattresses with the community in mind. Beyond using recycled and natural materials in its mattresses, the brand also works with local partners to donate one mattress to a family in need for every 10 mattresses sold. Based in Virginia, Leesa’s products are manufactured in the U.S. and ship for free from its online store. Leesa mattresses are available for testing in some West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Macy’s stores. Don’t fret if there isn’t a retailer nearby; each mattress comes with a 100-day risk-free trial period to make sure it’s the right choice. 

Leesa mattresses are available in a variety of styles to suit every sleeper. The company manufactures all foam mattresses and foam-and-spring hybrids, like the Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress. This choice features a breathable cover, a ventilated foam layer, a memory foam recovery layer, and a responsive support layer to help keep pressure points supported throughout the night. Each style includes the brand’s premium breathable foam, a soft and stylish outer cover, and a range of other comfort features depending on the mattress style. 

Shop Leesa mattresses at:

• Leesa 
• Walmart

8. Nolah

Price Range: $$ to $$$

Top Products: Nolah Signature 12-Inch Mattress (from $844 at Nolah) and Nolah Evolution 15-Inch Mattress (from $974 at Nolah) 

Each of Nolah’s U.S.-manufactured mattresses features the company’s breathable and durable multilayer-foam design. For ultimate comfort, the mattresses include a high-density foam base, a supportive and high-resilience foam layer, and a top layer of cooling Nolah AirFoam. The AirFoam is a temperature-neutral foam without the heat-trapping chemicals found in some other memory-foam mattresses. Unlike many other popular mattresses on the market, this unique design excludes memory foam, with the intention of providing cooler sleep, better pressure relief, and improved durability. 

Nolah carries three mattress options, ranging in height and price points, but each mattress style comes with a variety of customization choices. The Nolah Evolution 15-Inch Mattress can be customized in both size and firmness while maintaining the high-quality design that supports the curves of the body for natural spinal alignment. The mattresses cater to side and back sleepers to offer better support at key pressure points like the hips, shoulders, and back. Free shipping, free returns, and a 120-night trial period provide ample time to decide if a Nolah mattress is the right choice.

Shop Nolah mattresses at:

• Nolah
• Wayfair 

9. Brooklyn Bedding

Price Range: $ to $$$

Top Products: Brooklyn Signature Hybrid Mattress (from $465.50 at Brooklyn Bedding) and Brooklyn Chill Memory Foam Mattress (from $191.80 at Brooklyn Bedding)

For those who prefer the more responsive appeal of a hybrid mattress, consider a model from Brooklyn Bedding. The brand designs and manufactures its bedding at a facility in Arizona. Most sales take place online, but customers can visit showroom and partner locations in select cities across the U.S. Even with its affordable price, the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid Mattress is a high-quality product made with several layers to improve sleep, including a moisture-wicking quilted top, transition foam, and eight-inch individually encased coils that help to support pressure points and retain the natural position of the spine. 

Along with bedding, pillows, and bed bases, Brooklyn Bedding carries multiple hybrid mattress options that range in firmness, materials, and price points to cater to different sleepers. Many of the company’s mattress styles provide the option to choose a firmness level and mix a supportive coil system with hyper-responsive, variable foam to create a balanced mattress. Free shipping and returns plus a 120-night trial period make it risk-free to try a mattress.

Shop Brooklyn Bedding mattresses at:

• Brooklyn Bedding
• Walmart

10. WinkBeds

Price Range: $$ to $$$

Top Products: The WinkBed (from $849 at WinkBeds) and WinkBeds GravityLux (from $899 at WinkBeds) 

WinkBeds prides itself on making handmade luxury hybrid mattresses designed for a more restful sleep. Beyond the brand’s focus on craftsmanship, WinkBeds aims to design mattresses that prevent and relieve back pain. The various styles offer decompressing spine support and advanced pressure-point relief to support the spine, hips, and shoulders. Plus, a cooler sleeping surface offers an optimal snoozing temperature for a restful night. 

Available in three firmness options, the WinkBeds GravityLux Mattress is a great choice for side, back, and side-back combo sleepers, as well as couples who are looking for a balance between motion isolation, pressure relief, and responsiveness for the ideal sleep. Purchase a WinkBeds mattress from the online store (with free shipping, free returns, and a 120-night trial) or via a handful of partner showrooms in the U.S. 

Shop WinkBeds mattresses at:

• WinkBeds
• The Back Store

11. Layla Sleep

Price Range: $$ to $$$

Top Products: Layla Memory Foam Mattress (from $599 at Layla Sleep) and Layla Sleep Hybrid Foam Mattress (from $1,099 at Layla Sleep) 

Can’t decide between a soft or a firm mattress? Have the best of both worlds with a Layla Sleep mattress. Layla Sleep offers flippable foam mattresses that feature a firm side and a soft side so sleepers can pick their ideal sleeping surface without needing to swap out the mattress. One of Layla’s top products is the flippable Layla Sleep Hybrid Foam Mattress, which features an advanced coil system for zero motion transfer and tri-zone airflow layers to absorb and transfer the shock between the comfort layer and the spring system.

The company manufactures a coil-foam hybrid and full-foam option. Both styles include copper-infused memory foam, which Layla Sleep claims has cooling and antimicrobial properties for a more pleasant rest. Layla Sleep offers mattresses, bed frames, pillows, and bedding directly to consumers and supports its mattresses with a 120-night trial period with a money-back guarantee and no return fees. And for anyone who doesn’t love their choice, the company donates returned mattresses to charity rather than having customers ship them back. 

Shop Layla Sleep mattresses at:

• Layla Sleep
• Walmart

12. Avocado Mattress

Price Range: $$ to $$$$

Top Products: Avocado Green Mattress (from $1,189 at Avocado) and Avocado Vegan Mattress (from $1,189 at Avocado) 

For the environmentally conscious shopper, a mattress can be a difficult purchase. Factors like mattress waste, materials, and treatment chemicals are important to consider. Handmade in California, Avocado Mattresses are 100 percent certified organic so buyers can be confident in the origins of the materials. Beyond a focus on eco-friendly materials, the company also pays mind to its supply chain, offering transparency for multiple steps—from the source of its latex to where it hand-manufactures its mattresses in Los Angeles. 

The Avocado Green Mattress is made with exclusively organic materials to help give environmentally-conscious individuals peace of mind when they are making their purchases. Avocado also offers mattresses in a variety of sizes and firmness options, making it a good choice for front, side, and back sleepers. While all the brands on this list provide safe mattress options, Avocado Mattress takes care to omit chemicals that may concern health- and eco-conscious consumers.

Shop Avocado mattresses at:

• Avocado Mattress
• Raymour and Flanigan

13. Cocoon by Sealy

Price Range: $$ to $$$

Top Products: The Chill Memory Foam Mattress (from $399 at Cocoon by Sealy) and The Chill Hybrid Mattress (from 539 at Cocoon by Sealy) 

Cocoon by Sealy is Sealy’s mattress-in-a-box brand, blending Sealy’s years of mattress expertise with a direct-to-consumer model. The brand was created with the goal of manufacturing a shippable mattress with a simpler shopping process. Cocoon by Sealy mattresses feature a resilient and high-density memory-foam top that cradles the sleeper’s body without collapsing. The company’s two mattress options include a hybrid mattress that includes coils and memory foam along with The Chill Memory Foam Mattress, which is exclusively constructed from memory foam. Cocoon by Sealy backs up its products with a 100-night free trial, so buyers can feel confident about their mattress investment.

Both mattress styles have undergone years of testing and in-house development, and are manufactured in the U.S. to ensure they measure up to Sealy’s quality and durability standards. 

Shop Cocoon by Sealy mattresses at:

• Cocoon by Sealy
• Walmart

14. Serta

Price Range: $$ to $$$

Top Products: Serta Perfect Sleeper Pro Mattress (from $1,274 at Serta) and Serta Perfect Sleeper 14-Inch Ultra Plush Hybrid Mattress (from $725 at Wayfair)

Serta’s first mattress—The Perfect Sleeper—was released in 1931, though it would still be another two years until the company changed its name to Serta. In the more than 90 years that have followed, Serta has become a household name and a top choice for many shoppers searching for the best brand of mattress. 

The Serta Perfect Sleeper Pro Mattress continues the long tradition of offering high-quality rest for weary individuals with a five-zoned design to help improve spinal alignment, responsive coils for better pressure point support, and an advanced cooling system for enhanced comfort. 

Serta strives to meet the highest quality and safety standards when manufacturing their mattresses. All of the foam used in their mattresses is CertiPUR-US certified. The company is also working to decrease their carbon footprint by incorporating sustainable resources and minimizing the use of chemicals in their production.

Shop Serta mattresses at:

• Serta
• Wayfair
• Mattress Firm

15. Tempur-Pedic

Price Range: $$ to $$$$

Top Products: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-LUXEbreeze° 13-Inch Soft Mattress (from $4,799.00 at Mattress Firm) and Tempur-Pedic Proadapt 12-Inch Firm Mattress (from $2,799 at Mattress Firm) 

The special viscoelastic foam, also called Tempur material, used to make Tempur-Pedic mattresses provides just the right amount of support to alleviate pressure and keep individuals comfortable as they sleep. 

Don’t skip the Tempur-Pedic Proadapt 12-Inch Firm Mattress, which is designed to alleviate aches, stiffness, pain, and sleep apnea by providing consistent support across the entire bed. Meanwhile, the hypoallergenic composition prevents dust mites from taking up residence in the mattress, making this product ideal for allergy-prone sleepers.

Tempur-Pedic is currently working towards creating zero-landfill waste and achieving carbon neutrality for their facilities. The company offers both all-foam and hybrid mattresses. The mattresses are delivered in a box, and can be ready to use within minutes of unrolling and setting up. In addition to mattresses, Tempur-Pedic also sells pillows, mattress toppers, bed bases, sheet sets, blankets, and more.

Shop Tempur-Pedic mattresses at:

• Tempur-Pedic
• Mattress Firm
• Wayfair

How We Chose the Best Mattress Brands

What is the best mattress brand? The answer will depend on the needs and budget of the customer. With so many good mattress brands serving the varied sleeping preferences and space constraints of sleepers, it can be challenging to choose the best brands among them. To select this list of the top brands, we gave preference to brands that offer firm, soft, and hybrid options in various sizes from reputable sellers. We looked carefully at brands offering eco-friendly options, as well as those with specialized foam formulas that help keep sleepers cool and supported throughout a night’s rest. Popular brands that offer children’s mattresses, mattresses in a box delivery, and other unique features like the double-sided hybrid mattress were also given consideration for a spot on the list of the best mattress brands.

The post The 15 Best Mattress Brands of 2025  appeared first on Bob Vila.

Exceptional closet organization and storage is all well and good, but without proper lighting, the simple task of finding an article of clothing can become a major inconvenience. 

Ross Kesterson, a general contractor and VP of Restore Pros in Northeast Georgia, says, “Lighting can take a closet (or any space) to the next level—if done properly. There are ways to backlight a space to make it more intimate and upscale.” He also explains that overhead lighting can be chosen to make sure that you see the clothing color correctly. “Have you ever gotten ready and then went outside and the colors look terrible together? Well, lighting can make or break those situations!” he says.

After reviewing dozens of brands and styles, our favorite closet lighting option is the Lithonia Lighting LED Flush Mount Closet Light. It’s easy to install, features Energy-Star-certified lightbulbs, and has motion-sensing capabilities. Read below for insights on a few select tested models and a list of the best closet lighting options organized by category.

1. BEST OVERALL: Lithonia Lighting LED Flush Mount Closet Light
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Brilliant Evolution Wireless LED Puck Light 3-Pack
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3. UPGRADE PICK: Willa Arlo Interiors Theodora 4 Flush Mount Light
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4. BEST STRIP: LepoTec Wireless Rechargeable Under Cabinet Lights
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5. BEST RECESSED: Sunco 4-Inch Recessed LED Retrofit Lighting
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6. BEST TRACK: Globe Electric 6-Light S-Shape Track Lighting
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7. BEST DIMMABLE: Light Blue USA LED Flush Mount Dimmable Ceiling Light
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8. BEST WIRELESS: Mcgor Rechargeable LED Under Cabinet Lights 
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9. BEST MOTION SENSOR: Youtob Motion Sensor LED Ceiling Light
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10. BEST PLUG-IN: Govee RGB 32.8-Foot LED Strip Lights
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Our Top Picks

Whether shoppers want hardwired lights or decorative stick-on strip lighting, we have them covered with these top cloest lighting choices.

Best Overall

Lithonia Lighting LED Flush Mount Closet Light

See It

What We Like

• Boasts an Energy Star certification
• Offers 50,000 hours of use
• Includes mounting hardware and a clear installation guide 

What We Don’t Like

• Possible issues with the motion sensor’s responsiveness 
• The integrated motion sensor cannot be disabled

Specs 

• Type: Motion sensor 
• Bulb type: LED 
• Brightness: 925 lumens 
• Wireless: No

Made from durable painted steel, this LED flush-mount light by Lithonia is easy to install and low on power consumption. Its LED bulbs are Energy Star certified and emit 4000 kelvins of cool-ish white at 925 lumens. Buyers can expect a long lifespan of about 50,000 hours to help reduce their carbon footprint even further.

We like that this closet light has a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor that turns on the second it detects movement and automatically switches off after 30 seconds of inactivity. Included with the light are mounting hardware and an easy-to-understand installation guide for DIYers; it’s available in three lengths, with or without a pull-chain switch.

Get the Lithonia Lighting closet lighting at Amazon and The Home Depot. 

Best Bang for the Buck

Brilliant Evolution Wireless LED Puck Light 3-Pack

See It

What We Like

• Includes 3 closet lighting units
• Suited for illuminating small closets or compact areas
• Long battery life 

What We Don’t Like

• Front-focused beam design not ideal for angled application
• AA batteries necessary for operation (not included)

Specs 

• Type: Wireless 
• Bulb type: LED 
• Brightness: 55 lumens 
• Wireless: Yes

Brilliant Evolution’s wireless LED puck lights are easy to install and won’t break. This three-pack of lights does not require any hardwiring or hardware. The adhesive on the backs of the lights is designed to stick to walls and other home surfaces. AA batteries power the lights and last for about 100 hours before they need to be replaced, which is longer than most other wireless puck lights.

These LED lights have a push-button on/off switch and a warm-white glow of 55 lumens at 3000 kelvins. Though these lights have ease of installation and wireless construction going for them, the lights’ beam is front focused, and it doesn’t work well when angled. These work best in a smaller walk-in closet or wardrobe.

Get the Brilliant Evolution closet lighting at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.

Upgrade Pick

Willa Arlo Interiors Theodora 4 Flush Mount Light

See It

What We Like

• Combines K9 crystal with a drum-shaped metal frame 
• Resilient against rust, corrosion, and fading
• Compatible with dimmer switches

What We Don’t Like

• Bulbs and dimmer switch not included

Specs 

• Type: Flush mount
• Bulb type: N/A
• Brightness: N/A
• Wireless: No

Closet lighting tends to be largely functional, but in bigger walk-in closets, a statement light fixture can completely change the aesthetic of the space. This crystal flush-mount ceiling light from Wayfair is sure to bring a touch of elegance to the closet with its sparkling finish and classic drum-shaped design. It’s made using K9 transparent crystal, which refracts light for a stunning visual effect. 

This fixture is compatible with dimmer switches and requires four E12 bulbs, which are not included in the package. It requires hard wiring, so it’s best for closets that are already equipped with the necessary electrical capabilities. 

Get the Willa Arlo closet lighting at Wayfair. 

Best Strip

LepoTec Wireless Rechargeable Under Cabinet Lights

See It

What We Like

• Features side-emission design for bright lighting without glare
• Versatile installation options 
• Two energy-efficient modes 

What We Don’t Like

• May require frequent recharging

Specs 

• Type: Strip
• Bulb type: LED
• Brightness: 350 lumens
• Wireless: Yes

This two-pack of strip lights from LepoTec features 54 tiny LED lights and uses a unique system with side-emitting bulbs that refract light through a reflector to create bright illumination of up to 350 lumens per fixture, all while casting a soft and gentle light. It’s wireless, featuring a USB rechargeable battery, so it doesn’t require hardwiring. 

The light has three operational modes: always on, off, and motion sensor. The motion sensor can detect movement within a 10-foot/120-degree range and turns off after 20 seconds of no activity. The 2,500 milliamp hour (mAh) rechargeable battery lasts for about 3 hours in “on” mode and 2 to 4 weeks when used in “sensor” mode, depending on how often you use your closet. 

What our tester says: Michelle Larson, a Bob Vila staff writer and product tester, notes in the Best Under-Cabinet Lighting that “dual-attachment options make the LepoTec highly portable and easy to remove for charging. I was able to take mine down and have it fully charged via USB in under an hour.”

Get the LepoTec closet lighting at Amazon, Wayfair, or LepoTec.

Best Recessed

Sunco 4-Inch Recessed LED Retrofit Lighting

See It

What We Like

• Offers adjustable brightness levels 
• Baffle trim diffuses light, creating a softer effect
• Energy Star certification ensures reduced energy consumption 
• Over 35,000 hours of use per light 

What We Don’t Like

• Higher price point than other options

Specs 

• Type: Recessed 
• Bulb type: LED
• Brightness: 660 lumens
• Wireless: No 

Sunco’s 10-pack of recessed LED downlights is one of the best closet lighting systems for a larger walk-in closet that requires more than one light fixture. These LEDs have a baffle trim that diffuses light and creates a softer and more pleasant viewing experience. Their 90-degree flood beams can illuminate wide areas. 

These 10-watt Energy Star LED lights are equivalent to 60-watt incandescents and shine with a 3000 kelvin warm-white tone. These Suncos are also dimmable, have a lifespan of about 35,000 hours, and come with a 7-year warranty.

Get the Sunco closet lighting at Amazon or Sunco.

Best Track

Globe Electric 6-Light S-Shape Track Lighting

See It

What We Like

• Dimmer switch compatibility 
• Multiple sizes available 
• Comes with all required mounting hardware 

What We Don’t Like

• Size may be too large for smaller closets

Specs 

• Type: Track 
• Bulb type: N/A
• Brightness: N/A
• Wireless: No 

An excellent choice for walk-in closets, Globe Electric’s track lighting is an upscale system that illuminates a wardrobe with style. It features six light bulbs that can be adjusted in any direction, which gives buyers more flexibility than most closet lights. This fixture uses six 50-watt MR16 light bulbs that are not included but are easy enough to find at a hardware store.

The track lighting system is compatible with Globe Electric’s dimmer switch (sold separately). Though it requires hardwiring, the fixture comes with all necessary mounting hardware. It’s available with three, four, or six track heads.

Get the Globe Electric closet lighting at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Best Dimmable

Light Blue USA LED Flush Mount Dimmable Ceiling Light

See It

What We Like

• Can be used with a dimmer switch 
• Offers multiple finishes and lighting tones
• Highly energy efficient

What We Don’t Like

• Installation requires hardwiring

Specs 

• Type: Flush mount
• Bulb type: LED 
• Brightness: 1,200 lumens 
• Wireless: No 

Light Blue USA’s dimmable LED ceiling light works well in larger walk-in closets, and its minimalist brushed-nickel exterior looks great with almost any style of décor. The fixture is available in three lighting tone options (warm, cool, or daylight) to suit various preferences. It uses 15-watt LED light bulbs, which are long lasting and energy efficient. This fixture requires a hardwire installation and can be paired with an LED dimmer switch.

Get the Light Blue USA closet lighting at Amazon or Walmart.

Best Wireless

Mcgor Rechargeable LED Under Cabinet Lights

See It

What We Like

• Features motion sensor for automatic lighting 
• Dimmable with 5 brightness levels 
• Installs via strong built-in magnets or adhesive plate

What We Don’t Like

• May not be bright enough for some spaces
• Frequent recharging may be necessary

Specs 

• Type: Strip
• Bulb type: LED 
• Brightness: 180 lumens 
• Wireless: Yes

This two-pack of motion sensor strip lights can detect movement in extremely low-light conditions and offers an always-on mode for more prolonged tasks. What sets these strip lights apart from many others on the market is that they’re dimmable, with five brightness levels available for optimal versatility. 

These lights are USB-C rechargeable, equipped with an 1800mAh battery that lasts for 6 hours in always-on mode at full brightness or 7 to 30 days in motion-sensor mode. It’s important to note, however, that a USB wall adapter is not included. Users have a couple of options for installation, since the lights come with built-in magnets or adhesive metal plates that are more suitable for nonmetal surfaces. This makes the lights easy to remove and reattach for recharging. 

What our tester says: Michelle Larson, a Bob Vila staff writer and product tester, notes in the Best Under-Cabinet Lighting, “Something about this two-pack of lights makes them look a little sleeker than the rest. When tested side by side with other motion-sensing lights, these MCGOR lights reacted the quickest and most consistently.”

Get the Mcgor closet lighting at Amazon.

Best Motion Sensor

Youtob Motion Sensor LED Ceiling Light

See It

What We Like

• Motion sensor has a 16-foot detection range
• 3 distinct lighting modes
• Priced affordably, offering great value for its features

What We Don’t Like

• Non-dimmable design limits lighting flexibility
• Requires professional hardwiring for installation

Specs 

• Type: Motion sensor 
• Bulb type: LED 
• Brightness: 1,500 lumens 
• Wireless: No 

Youtob’s motion-sensing LED ceiling light is a great option for those seeking a bright 1,500-lumen LED that turns on automatically when needed. Its motion sensor can detect movement up to 16 feet away and switches off after 30 or 180 seconds of inactivity. It has two modes, daylight mode and night mode, so users can choose if they’d like the lights to turn on during the day and night, or only at night. The tone of the light can be changed to 3000, 4000, or 5000 kelvins with the push of a button.

Though this LED light needs to be hardwired, Youtob has made the installation fairly painless. The light comes with the required mounting hardware, a mounting bracket, and an installation guide to make the process quick and easy. Youtob offers an 18-month money-back guarantee if consumers have any problems with its product.

Get the Youtob closet lighting at Amazon or Walmart.

Best Plug-in

Govee RGB 32.8-Foot LED Strip Lights

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What We Like

• Installs via a strong adhesive backing
• Dozens of light color choices, including natural lighting
• Integrates with the Govee app for easy control

What We Don’t Like

• Removal may damage to the wall

Specs 

• Type: Strip
• Bulb type: LED 
• Brightness: Not specified
• Wireless: Corded electric

Those looking for a simple, reliable way to illuminate their closets without hardwiring a fixture may want to check out these Govee strip lights. Compatible with Google Home and Alexa, these strip lights contain 300 LEDs and several natural lighting modes to brighten a space. A simple voice command can turn them on and change their colors and brightness level.

These closet lights are installed using a self-adhesive backing and supplied clips. Once attached to the wall or ceiling, simply plug them in and connect them to the Govee app. They also have some fun extra features, such as music sync, which enables the lights to “dance” along with any chosen song. 

What our tester says: Stacey L. Nash, a Bob Vila staff writer and product tester, notes in the Best LED Light Strips, “I was impressed by how well these programmable LED lights connected to the app for choosing scheduling and lighting options, including manual preferences or preset colors based on seasons, moods, holidays, or special occasions.”

Get the Govee closet lighting at Amazon.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Chose the Best Closet Lighting

We researched the most sought-after lighting options in their respective categories and discovered that the best options are determined by their type, brightness, ease of installation, and other special features included by top brands. While we took the aesthetics of the light fixture into consideration, Kesterson recommends making functionality the top priority: “If it doesn’t function, it doesn’t matter if it’s pretty.”

While searching for the best closet lighting ideas available, the most popular types among users were the motion-sensing, recessed, wireless, strip, and track lighting with LED bulbs. Our top picks come with 55 to 1,500 lumens of light, and select picks include automatic shutoff, remote controls, or multiple finishes and light tones. 

While some of these closet lighting ideas require hardwiring, many can be recharged or rely on batteries for power. Plus, those that are battery-powered or rechargeable offer up to 50,000 hours of use. 

What to Consider When Choosing Closet Lighting

Closet organization is a great first step to a well-functioning closet, but the right type of light is a necessity. Important things to consider while shopping for the best closet lighting are the closet’s layout and square footage, personal style, and the type of light to cast in the space. The closet lights’ color temperature and brightness, for example, can affect how clothing looks.

Type

The most common types of lighting used in closets are strip lighting, recessed lighting, and track lighting. Each option has a different type of light bulb and different types of mounts. Of these different types, some have a motion sensor for automatic turn-on or are wireless and battery-powered for easy installation.

Strip Lighting 

Strip lights are flexible cords or strips of tiny LED lights that are usually attached to a wall or other surface with a strong adhesive backing. There is no hardwiring required for strip lighting—just plug them in and use them. These lights are great for lighting up small, dark spaces because the strip is so compact. Many strip lights come with remote controls that allow users to change the color and pattern of the lights, creating a more varied illumination for those seeking to liven up their closet space.

Recessed Lighting 

Recessed lighting fits inside a cutout in the ceiling and sits flush with drywall once the lighting is hardwired and installed. These lights are usually round and measure from 3 to 12 inches in diameter. When using recessed fixtures to illuminate a wardrobe, buyers will usually get better coverage by installing a series of small recessed lights rather than a couple of big ones. 

As is the case with any electrical fixtures installed in a closet, follow good fire-safety precautions and install recessed lights only if a clearance of at least 6 inches between the lights and clothing (or other items stored in the closet) can be maintained.

Track Lighting 

With a track lighting system, individual light bulbs are mounted on a metal bar, or track. What’s nice about track lights is users can swivel the light bulbs and spotlight specific areas of their closet. Track lighting works best for walk-in closets because larger closets usually have enough ceiling clearance to avoid a fire hazard. These lights are also relatively easy to install because they require just one hardwiring point, rather than multiple points (as with recessed lighting).

Motion Sensor Lighting

Motion sensor lights are designed to turn on automatically when they detect movement within their sensor range. There are two common types of motion sensors: active ultrasound and PIR, which uses ultrasonic waves to detect movement. PIR relies on changes in infrared energy, or body heat, to detect motion and trigger the light. Motion sensor closet lighting is convenient because it doesn’t require a light switch.

Wireless Lighting

It isn’t always possible or feasible to cut into ceilings and walls to install new closet lighting. Wireless closet lighting is a terrific option in these situations because it doesn’t require electrical hardwiring. Instead, wireless lights are battery-powered, usually with AA or AAA batteries. Some wireless lights are even rechargeable. 

To recharge a wireless light, plug it into a standard USB port or phone charger using the accompanying charging cable. Wireless lights are usually mounted onto surfaces with magnetic strips or strong adhesives made for walls. Most wireless lights will run for 3 to 5 hours of continuous use, or 1 to 2 months of sporadic use. 

Closet Space and Features 

Not all types of closet lighting can be used in all closets. As with any electrical wiring or device, fire safety is critical. Many wired lighting fixtures require a minimum clearance of 6 to 12 inches between a light source and a surface. Most municipalities follow National Electric Code guidelines, which stipulate that closet lights should be recessed, or surface mounted without exposed bulbs, unless the closet is a walk-in space. 

In other words, the size and layout of the closet has everything to do with the kind of lighting that can be used in the space. It’s always best to contact a local municipality to see what the exact building codes are in a particular area.

Material 

The materials that closet lighting is made of is another important consideration and will vary depending on the type of lighting. For example, frames for track lighting are usually made of metal. These frames, or tracks, come in a variety of finishes to match different décor styles. Recessed lights, on the other hand, are often framed in rings of white plastic resin or silver metal.

Fluorescent vs. LED 

When researching the best closet lighting, shoppers may come across the terms “fluorescent” and “LED” and wonder, what is the difference? 

• Fluorescent lighting is a gas-discharge lamp that requires an electrical charge to start up. It may produce a buzzing sound with age. Fluorescent bulbs have been a reliable source of bright light for years and are more efficient than incandescent bulbs. 
• Light-emitting diodes, or LED lighting, is solely electrical. Compared with fluorescent lights, LED lighting is brighter, has a longer lifespan, turns on faster, and does not require the careful handling that mercury-based fluorescent lights do. LED lighting is also more energy efficient because it uses less wattage to produce equal or brighter light than a fluorescent or incandescent bulb of higher wattage. LED lights are typically the top choice for closet lighting.

Brightness and Color Temperature 

The brightness and color temperature of new closet lighting are essential shopping considerations because they dictate how well a bulb illuminates the space. Watts, the amount of energy a bulb uses, and lumens, which measure brightness, are two important measurements to be aware of. 

A small 30- to 80-square-foot space is best illuminated with an LED closet light system of 7 to 15 watts, or 500 to 1,000 lumens of light. (A 15-watt LED bulb is about as bright as a 25-watt fluorescent bulb or a 75-watt incandescent bulb. All three produce about 800 lumens of light, but the LED consumes the least energy.) Larger closets may require additional light fixtures or higher-wattage bulbs. 

The color temperature, or tone, of a light bulb is measured in kelvins. A lower rating of 2000 to 4000 kelvins produces a warm yellowish tone; cooler white tones are found in the 4500 to 6000-plus kelvins range. Warmer lights are softer and easier on the eyes, but cool-toned lighting may help users distinguish clothing colors more easily.

Aesthetic 

A closet lighting’s design aesthetic is probably more exciting to shop for than the bulb tone. Though most closet lights are trimmed in simple white tones so they’ll blend in with drywall, other light fixtures are available in black, silver, bronze, or other trim colors. 

Shoppers may also want to take their home’s design or style into account when selecting closet lighting and go with an industrial, vintage, or contemporary modern fixture to match the home’s décor. Of course, the fixtures that are best for a particular closet depend on its size. Shoppers have more flexibility to choose a bigger or more ornate closet light if their closet is a walk-in rather than a standard 6-foot-long by 4-foot-wide storage area.

Wired vs. Wireless

Whether consumers select a hardwired or wireless closet light depends on their closet’s attributes and their willingness to put time and expense into a closet-light installation. Installing a new hardwired light usually involves cutting and splicing wires, cutting out drywall, and drilling and mounting hardware to fit a fixture. These tasks require electrical expertise and are best done by a professional electrician. If buyers plan to install their new closet lights themselves, they will want to turn off all electrical power sources and follow safety guidelines.

If there’s a need for a closet light that’s easier to install, consider a plug-in electric light or a battery-powered wireless light. Most wireless lights run off AA or AAA batteries that last for a couple of months. Some wireless lights these days have rechargeable batteries, so users don’t have to worry about purchasing new ones every time the light’s battery dies. Most rechargeable batteries can be juiced up using a simple USB charger. 

FAQs 

Finding the best closet lighting requires a lot of attention to detail. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about closet lighting.

Why Trust Bob Vila

Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.

Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.

The post This DIY Lighting Solution is Perfect for Closets and Other Dark Spaces appeared first on Bob Vila.

Whether you’re looking to convert your garage into a second living space or simply make it more comfortable for work, play, or just hanging out without freezing, a garage door insulation kit can help. Insulation itself won’t make a garage warm and toasty, but it will help retain heat. Adding this layer of insulation helps prevent heat from escaping and blocks cold air from entering the garage.

We carefully evaluated popular garage door insulation kits and tested those that made our shortlist for features like ease of insulation and how significantly they affected the temperature on the inside of the garage door. Our top recommendation is the Reach Barrier 3009 Garage Door Insulation Kit thanks to its very simple installation and impressive noise-dampening capabilities. Keep reading to discover what we learned while performing hands-on testing on our lineup of the best garage door insulation kits.

1. BEST OVERALL: Reach Barrier 3009 Garage Door Insulation Kit
   ↓ Jump to Review
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: US Energy Products Double Bubble Reflective Foil 
   ↓ Jump to Review
3. UPGRADE PICK: US Energy Products Nasatek 2-Car Foam Insulation Kit
   ↓ Jump to Review
4. BEST REFLECTIVE: US Energy Products Nasatek 1-Car Reflective Insulation Kit
   ↓ Jump to Review
5. BEST EASY INSTALL: Matador Garage Door Insulation
   ↓ Jump to Review

Product Comparison

	Type	Size	Installation Kit
Reach Barrier 3009 Garage Door Insulation Kit	Radiant barrier	Eight panels, each 4 feet long by 2 feet wide
US Energy Products Double Bubble Reflective Foil	Radiant barrier	10 feet long by 4 feet wide
US Energy Products Nasatek 2-Car Foam Insulation Kit	Radiant barrier	Four rolls, each 18 feet long by 2 feet wide (ours came in 9-foot-long rolls)
US Energy Products Nasatek 1-Car Reflective Insulation Kit	Foam	Eight panels, each roughly 9 feet long by 2 feet wide
Matador Garage Door Insulation	Rigid foam	Eight panels, each 54 inches long by 20.25 inches wide (ours was closer to 21 inches)	(shouldn’t need one)

Our Top Picks

We chose the top-rated products below for their quality, price, and ease of installation to help find the best garage door insulation kit for any garage door. And, to ensure we’re only suggesting the best garage door insulation kits, we performed hands-on testing with the following products. 

Note: Each of these products effectively retained heat on the garage side of the door. Our test garage was 2-bay, and we left one door uninsulated to serve as a “control door.” An hour after insulation, we took readings with an infrared thermometer, and each showed a difference of 8 to 10 degrees warmer on the insulated side.

Best Overall

Reach Barrier 3009 Garage Door Insulation Kit

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Our Ratings: Ease of Installation 5/5; Performance 5/5; Sound Mitigation 5/5; Value 5/5

Product Specs 

• Type: Radiant barrier
• Size: Eight panels, each 4 feet long by 2 feet wide
• Installation kit: Yes

What We Like

• Immediately reduced on noise
• Simple installation
• Made the garage noticeably comfier

What We Don’t Like

• 4-foot strips were not long enough

The Reach Barrier 3009 is ideal for helping to keep a garage warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It uses reflective aluminum on the front and back, with a laminated bubble layer sandwiched between the layers to create an effective boundary between the garage and the fluctuating temperature outdoors. The kit comes with eight precut panels that measure 4 feet long by 2 feet wide—a size suitable for most standard single-car garage doors.

We noticed an immediate decline in the sound transfer through the door, and the temperature measurements on the insulated side were higher than on the uninsulated side. Our only complaint was that the 4-foot strips were not long enough for our 9-foot test door, which would mean we’d either have to live with bare spots or patch them with scrap cutoffs. 

What our tester says: Some garage door insulation kits can be a hassle to install, but this one makes installation easy. “All that’s required is to clean the door, attach the adhesive squares, and stick the panels in place. During testing, I found that the Reach Barrier was as easy to install as claimed: I simply placed a few of the adhesive squares along the perimeter of each section and pressed the insulation into place.” —Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Reach Barrier garage door insulation kit at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Best Bang for the Buck

US Energy Products Double Bubble Reflective Foil

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Our Ratings: Ease of Installation 3/5; Performance 4/5; Sound Mitigation 5/5; Value 5/5

Product Specs 

• Type: Radiant barrier
• Size: 10 feet long by 4 feet wide
• Installation kit: No

What We Like

• Thicker than other radiant barriers
• Blocks sound well
• Minimal weight offers plenty of installation options

What We Don’t Like

• Not specifically designed for garages
• Doesn’t come with installation kit

Reduce your heating bill and save money with this affordable Double Bubble Reflective Foil insulation. It has an R-value of 4, and according to the manufacturer, it reflects 97 percent of radiant heat. The insulation comes in a 10-foot-long by 4-foot-wide roll that cuts easily to the proper size with a utility knife or scissors. 

This insulation kit for garage doors features two layers of polyethylene air bubbles to help reduce the transmission of heat through the air layer. This is sandwiched between a reflective film of aluminum polyester designed to reflect radiant heat away from the garage door and back into the open garage space. The insulation is lightweight yet durable enough to be installed with tacks, staples, or nails if necessary.

Testing the product was rather tricky. First, this isn’t a garage-door–specific kit, so we needed to cut the sheet into strips. Even then, we didn’t have enough to cover an entire door. We needed to use our own double-sided tape to hang it as well; because it’s so lightweight, though, that really wasn’t an issue. However, we did find that this reflective foil insulation did a good job of keeping out unwanted noise, and it measured warmer than the uninsulated door (at least in the areas where we were able to install it). The doubled layers were thicker than the other radiant barriers as well.

Get the US Energy Products double bubble garage door insulation at Amazon.

Upgrade Pick

US Energy Products Nasatek 2-Car Foam Insulation Kit

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Our Ratings: Ease of Installation 5/5; Performance 4/5; Sound Mitigation 4.5/5; Value 5/5

Product Specs 

• Type: Radiant barrier
• Size: Four rolls, each 18 feet long by 2 feet wide (ours came in 9-foot-long rolls)
• Installation kit: Yes

What We Like

• Best installation kit and instructions in the test
• Nice workable lengths 
• Blocked sound and temperature transfer

What We Don’t Like

• Strips weren’t cut squarely from the factory

For garages with two doors, a standard garage door insulation kit won’t provide the necessary amount of insulation. This Nasatek 2-car garage door insulation kit comes with four rolls of 18-foot-long by 2-foot-wide foam core insulation. This kit also includes a utility knife to cut the insulation to the right size, a squeegee to help prepare the garage door for installation, and heavy-duty double-sided tape used to attach the insulation.

The premium-priced reflective white foam core has an R-value of 8, which can reduce the temperature inside the garage by 30 degrees in hot summer weather. Installing the insulation is simple using the double-sided tape, though the kit also comes with an instruction booklet.

Like the other barriers, it did a good job of blocking sound, and the insulated door measured warmer than the uninsulated door. If we had a complaint, it would be that the ends of the strips weren’t cut squarely, which made the installation look a little sloppy.

What our tester says: “In regard to installation gear and instructions, this kit was by far the most complete and best quality. It came with plenty of tape, a few razor knives, and squeegees for ensuring the tape and the insulation were attached correctly. Also, the rolls came in 9-foot lengths as opposed to the 18-foot lengths described, so they were very easy to work with.” —Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the US Energy Products 2-car garage door insulation kit at Amazon.

Best Reflective

US Energy Products Nasatek 1-Car Reflective Insulation Kit

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Our Ratings: Ease of Installation 5/5; Performance 4/5; Sound Mitigation 5/5; Value 4/5

Product Specs 

• Type: Foam
• Size: Eight panels, each roughly 9 feet long by 2 feet wide
• Installation kit: Yes

What We Like

• Effectively retains warmth while keeping noise out
• Installation kit includes high-quality tape
• Choice of surfaces when installing

What We Don’t Like

• The white surface was a bit too much

Garage owners who’d prefer to use lightweight, reflective insulation for garage doors should check out this kit from US Energy products. This radiant barrier kit features a layer of foam sandwiched between a white layer and a reflective layer, offering a clean look with the benefit of a radiant surface. 

The kit comes as a set of eight precut panels for 9-foot doors. It also comes with the double-sided tape required for hanging it (which is quite easy). 

During the test, this kit also proved to be effective at keeping noise, as well as the cold air, at bay while working in the garage. The kit was very easy to install, and the double-sided tape was effective enough to hold this lightweight foam up through multiple up-and-down cycles with the garage door. We liked that there were two options for the surface (the directions even state that there is no “right side”) since we weren’t really into the white.

Get the US Energy Products 1-car garage door insulation kit at Amazon.

Best Easy Install

Matador Garage Door Insulation

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Our Ratings: Ease of Installation 5/5; Performance 4/5; Sound Mitigation 5/5; Value 4/5

Product Specs 

• Type: Rigid foam
• Size: Eight panels, each 54 inches long by 20.25 inches wide (ours was closer to 21 inches)
• Installation kit: No (shouldn’t require one)

What We Like

• Minimal weight gave us hanging options
• Effective sound and temperature transfer control
• Thick, dense foam, but it’s easy to cut

What We Don’t Like

• Only really works for garage doors with rails

Anyone who wants to insulate a garage door but is uncomfortable using adhesives or fasteners should check out this easy -to-install garage door insulation kit from Matador. The kit comes with eight polystyrene laminate panels that can be cut to the perfect size for any garage door panels. Each piece of polystyrene laminate measures 54 inches long by 20.25 inches wide by 1.25 inches thick and has an R-value of 4.8. 

With this insulation kit, tape, glue, pins, or any other adhesives or fasteners aren’t necessary. After cutting everything to size, carefully slot them in between the horizontal and vertical rails on the garage door. The insulation also has a bright white and easily washable surface to keep the garage looking great.

In full disclosure, these panels didn’t work with our garage door since we didn’t have the rails to slide them between. However, since they’re lightweight, we were able to tape them in place with the extra adhesive and tape from the other kits. Once we did, we were very impressed with the noise reduction and temperature difference between doors. The foam is thick and dense, but it’s easy enough to cut for custom-fitted panels (though doing so does make a mess). 

Get the Matador garage door insulation at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Tested the Best Garage Door Insulation Kits

While installing garage door insulation is generally simple, testing these products is difficult. First, we needed to understand that garage door insulation will not keep a space toasty warm; it’s not that type of insulation. As our test garage contained two bays, though, we left one door uninsulated while we installed the kits on the other. This gave us a reasonable “control” subject to test the doors against.

First, we installed each kit according to the instructions (some didn’t come with any). We used double-sided tape and adhesive squares to hold each strip in place. Then, we trimmed all the sheets to size with a razor knife. We then opened and closed the door several times to ensure the product had adhered properly. 

Finally, we took note of the apparent noise transfer and temperature transfer through the garage door. It’s difficult to say which product was more effective since the temperatures and sun’s position change throughout the day. However, each product appeared to be effective at reducing heat loss. We checked the insulated door against the uninsulated door and recorded the temperature readings.

What to Consider When Choosing a Garage Door Insulation Kit

Finding the best garage door insulation kit for a home isn’t difficult once you decide which type of insulation you’d prefer. Even so, there are still a few things to consider. Here are some important points to keep in mind while shopping for a garage door insulation kit. 

Types of Garage Door Insulation Kits

Garage door insulation kits can come in many types, including radiant barrier, fiberglass, foam, and cellulose. And, because the garage is one of the places that could most benefit from better insulation, it’s worth getting familiar with the various types.

Radiant Barrier

Radiant barriers are usually inexpensive and are made of highly reflective materials such as aluminum. This type of garage door insulation kit is used to block the radiant heat energy instead of absorbing it like fiberglass insulation. It typically features one or two layers of reflective material to create a heat barrier in addition to an “air space” layer that can be made of bubble wrap. This air space layer creates a pocket that reduces both conductive and convective heat flow (spreading and containing heat) to help keep the garage warm.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is commonly used to insulate homes, so it only makes sense that it can have the same effect on a garage door. This thick, fibrous material has a high R-value, meaning it’s a great material to insulate a garage, attic, ceilings, walls, and floors. (R-value is determined by the thickness and the density of a material. The higher the R-value, the better the material will insulate.) The only downside of fiberglass is that it’s messy to work with. 

Foam

Foam garage door insulation can be split into two categories: spray foam and rigid foam, which is also known as foam core.

• Spray foam is exactly what it sounds like: a foamy substance that sprays onto a garage door. It’s cheap and easy, but it’s not the best option for garage doors. 
• Rigid foam, or foam core, is made from Styrofoam. It’s lightweight, user-friendly, and affordable. There are three types of rigid foam used for garage door insulation, including expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), and polyisocyanurate (polyiso). 

Cellulose

Cellulose is a low-thermal product that’s made entirely from organic material like plant fibers, cotton, or wood. This type of insulation can also use recycled materials such as old newspapers, cardboard, office paper, and other paper products. Cellulose also contains a fire-resistant borate treatment to help protect the home from fire.

Cellulose must be sprayed onto the garage door panels in the same way as spray foam insulation, and it provides a highly effective method of retaining the garage heat. Unfortunately, cellulose is also the most expensive garage door insulation kit type, so it may not be an option for DIYers on a budget.

Compatibility

When selecting a garage door insulation kit, ensure that it’s compatible with the garage door. For instance, some insulation kits require metal channels along the garage door support frame to securely install the insulation. 

Before purchasing a garage door insulation kit, look into its installation instructions and requirements to avoid accidentally buying a kit that’s for a different size or type of garage door. 

Size

The size of the garage door itself, along with the size of each individual panel, is also an important consideration. While many insulation kits come with panels that can be customized to fit any garage door, it’s better to find a product that comes close to the size required to save money and reduce waste. 

For those who go with spray foam or cellulose, measure the space beforehand to ensure there’s enough spray insulation to properly insulate the entire door. Some insulation kits are designed to move with the door, while others only insulate the individual panels, allowing movement at the garage door seams.

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of a garage door insulation kit can be estimated using two measurements: U-factor and R-value.

• U-factor and U-value are interchangeable terms used to describe the measurement of the thermal efficiency of a garage door and the rate of heat transfer, with ratings ranging from 0 to 1. These measurements are given in decimal form only and operate on a reverse scale from R-value. What this means is that the lower the U-factor, the more efficient the insulation. For example, a U-factor of 0.05 is more efficient than a U-factor of 0.10.
• R-value measures the rate of heat loss and thermal efficiency of the garage door insulation material, but it doesn’t measure the thermal efficiency of the door itself. This rating is frequently used by manufacturers and is measured on a scale that begins at 0 and typically ranges up to 16.

Weight

When thinking about adding insulation to a door, remember that doing so will also add weight. If the weight of the insulation is too great, then it can affect the operation of both automatic and manual garage doors. The best way to avoid this issue is to use lightweight insulation that will not overburden or hinder the garage door.

Fiberglass and rigid foam are easy to install and don’t often cause weight issues, though radiant barriers are much lighter. Spray foam and cellulose can quickly become heavy if the layers of insulation are too thick. Always use these insulation sprays carefully to avoid over-spraying the garage door.

Adhesive

Garage door insulation kits can be attached to a door in a variety of ways; some use clips and tape, while others just require tucking the insulation into the framework of the panels. Adhesives, however, can make the installation process easier and can be used with any type of garage door.

Adhesives may connect pins to the door, providing a secure base to attach the insulation panels, or they may be used to secure the insulation directly to the door without the need for additional fasteners. This type of installation method is one of the easiest, but adhesives are also difficult to remove. Even so, they’re still not as difficult to remove as spray foam.

Ease of Installation

The installation process is relatively easy regardless of the type of insulation chosen; however, spray insulation should be used only for those who are confident in their ability to moderately spray expanding foam on a vertical surface. Some insulation works well with metal doors because it can be slotted into the frame on the door without needing to be attached, glued, or fastened to anything. 

From this basic install, the difficulty increases to include adhesives that can either fasten directly to the garage door or affix with retaining pins to the garage door. The retaining pins pierce the insulation and secure it with a retaining cap. It’s also possible to use spray foam or spray cellulose, which is very easy to apply but can be difficult to create an even layering across an entire door without blocking the flexible garage door seams.

The Advantages of Insulating a Garage Door

Having a garage attached to a home or as a detached building on a property offers a secure location to store vehicles, tools, sports gear, and yard equipment. But keeping it warm can be difficult. Whether heating the garage via the home’s heating system or pulling out the old electric heater from time to time, there’s no doubt that insulating garage doors can help save money. This simple upgrade helps keep heat in and cold out, reducing the amount of electricity or gas it takes to warm a garage.

Adding insulation to a garage door also increases the weight and support of the garage door panels so that they become more durable. This update to the garage door also makes it quieter, reducing the transmission of sound through the door and the vibration of the door panels. Garage door insulation installation helps protect vehicles, tools, and other items from freezing temperatures and frigid winds so that the car will start in the morning.

• Adding garage door insulation can reduce electric bills (saving money).
• Insulation makes garage doors quieter and more durable to operate.
• With insulated garage doors, vehicles (and pipes) will be better protected against frigid temperatures.

FAQs 

Meet the Tester

Tom Scalisi is a freelance writer specializing in the home design, construction, tools, and automotive industries. He has been involved in the trades for over 15 years as both a contractor and a commercial building mechanic. His work has been featured on This Old House, Family Handyman, and Forbes. He also owns and operates a pest control blog RiddaBugs.com. As a lover of all things tools, construction, and DIY, he’s always looking for new tools and techniques while also sharing his knowledge with the DIY world. 

Additional research provided by Timothy Dale. 

The post This Simple DIY Upgrade Keeps Your Garage Comfortable and Warm appeared first on Bob Vila.

A good fireplace grate is the unsung hero of any wood-burning fireplace. The best fireplace grates keep logs off of the floor of the hearth, which improves airflow and results in a fire that burns longer and hotter. Also, grates not only make a fireplace look better—they also keep logs in place, ensuring the fire stays in the fireplace.

While integral to an efficient fireplace, most grates are shockingly simple. Most are just cast iron or steel rods bent and welded together. However, it’s still important to find a quality grate. Whether you opt for a solid chimney grate, a cast-iron fireplace grate, or even a wood stove grate, with proper care a good fireplace grate can last a lifetime, or at the very least, decades. We rounded up a selection of the best grates available and tested them to find out which we could recommend. 

Our favorite was the Amagabeli Wrought-Iron Fireplace Log Grate, mostly because of its solid construction, ample clearance, and angled bars that hold logs in place perfectly. But we also tested several other grates that performed well, each offering distinct advantages over the others. If you’re looking to find information on the best fireplace grates available, this is the guide for you.

1. BEST OVERALL: Amagabeli Wrought-Iron Fireplace Log Grate
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Pleasant Hearth Solid Steel Fireplace Grate
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3. UPGRADE PICK: Grate Wall of Fire 21-Inch M-5 Fireplace Grate
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4. BEST ROUND: Amagabeli Round Wrought-Iron Fire Grate
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5. BEST LARGE: SteelFreak 36-Inch Heavy Duty Steel Fireplace Grate
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6. BEST FOR OUTDOORS: InnFinest 23-Inch Fireplace Log Grate
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Our Top Picks

Our list includes fireplace grates that are maneuverable, durable, and thoughtfully designed. These models suit a broad range of fireplace sizes to make any fireplace ready for chilly months. 

Best Overall

Amagabeli Wrought-Iron Fireplace Log Grate

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What We Like

• Solid, heavy-duty construction
• All sizes offer ample clearance beneath the crossbar
• Angled bars hold logs firmly in place

What We Don’t Like

• Heavy build makes transporting it difficult

Specs

• Material Wrought iron
• Available widths 17, 21, 24, and 30 inches
• Weight 20 pounds (24-inch model)

Our Ratings: Construction 5/5; Efficiency 5/5; Overall Look 5/5; Price 4/5 

With a simple design and a durable wrought-iron construction, this V-shaped grate from Amagabeli has six solid steel bars and is a good choice for a grate for a fireplace. Weighing a little more than 20 pounds, the grate that we tested measures 24 inches long by 12.5 inches wide by 7.5 inches high, making it fit most hearths. It also comes in 17-inch and 30-inch options for smaller or larger fireplaces. The angled bars prevent the logs from rolling off, directing them instead toward the center of the grate to feed the fire. The grate’s 4-inch legs provide plenty of air circulation to promote a good burn. An enamel coating on this Amagabeli fireplace grate protects the bars from corrosion, making it suitable for outdoor use, too.

We tested this grate in a number of ways. After building and lighting the fire, we observed how long the fire burned, how much the burning logs moved (if at all), and how the grate looked after the fire. The Amagabeli grate performed excellently, both in terms of how long it kept the fire burning and how little the logs moved while the fire burned. And after the fire died down and we wiped down the soot a little, the enamel on the grate also looked great.

What our tester says: “I loved the look and how easy it was to load the Amagabeli Fireplace grate. For being so simple, I was surprised how efficient it was at keeping the fire burning.” —Mike Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Amagabeli wrought-iron fireplace grate at Amazon.

Best Bang for the Buck

Pleasant Hearth Solid Steel Fireplace Grate

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What We Like

• One of the lighter grates we tested
• Helped maintain the second-hottest fire
• Angled rods kept logs mostly in place

What We Don’t Like

• Ember retainer can get clogged, restricting airflow

Specs

• Material Steel
• Available widths 18, 21, 24, 30, and 36 inches (we tested the 24-inch model)
• Weight 16 pounds

Our Ratings: Construction 4/5; Efficiency 4/5; Overall Look 4/5; Price 4/5 

Considering its low price, the Pleasant Hearth fireplace grate is one of the better buys we found. However, it does have its drawbacks.The Pleasant Hearth grate has a thinner construction than others we tested, using .5-inch bars instead of larger .75-inch bars, and the difference in the overall look is noticeable. However, the smaller bars do make for a lighter, more easily transportable final product. It’s a nice choice for a small fireplace grate.

The Pleasant Hearth grate holds wood well and keeps a hot fire. We did notice some log movement during our testing; While none of the logs fell completely off of the grate, there was some movement. If logs were piled too high or were unstable, there could potentially be a problem. Another drawback was the ember retainer at the bottom. This device successfully retained coals and prevented them from falling to the hearth floor, but this inadvertently choked the airflow, causing the fire to burn out faster than it might have otherwise. Despite these issues, the Pleasant Hearth grate is a really solid choice for the money.

Get the Pleasant Hearth fireplace grate at Amazon, Lowe’s (30-inch only), Ace Hardware (21-inch only), or The Home Depot.

Upgrade Pick

Grate Wall of Fire 21-Inch M-5 Fireplace Grate

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What We Like

• Highly efficient; keeps fire burning for long periods
• Has a unique, appealing design
• Can handle more logs than traditionally shaped grates

What We Don’t Like

• Unique benefits come at a higher cost

Specs

• Material Steel alloy
• Available widths 21 inches
• Weight 30 pounds

Our Ratings: Construction 5/5; Efficiency 5/5; Overall Look 5/5; Price 3/5 

Offering a different take on the fireplace grate, this vertical fireplace grate from Grate Wall of Fire features the unique design of most self-feeding fireplace grates. The grate fits at the back of the hearth and pins a stack of logs between it and the fireplace’s back wall, making it an ideal firewood grate. This configuration forces the logs at the top of the stack to fall into the flames as the logs at the bottom burn and crumble.

Because of this setup, we discovered when testing that we could fit a lot more wood in a fire with this grate than any other. Because of its ability to hold the most fuel, the Grate Wall had the longest burning time of any other grate we tested. Overall, this is a very heavy-duty fireplace grate. 

In addition to eliminating the need for any tending, this vertical fireplace configuration burns more efficiently, creating more heat and leaving fewer unburned pieces. Since the grate forces that logs to be positioned at the back of wood-burning fireplaces, there’s less opportunity for smoke to escape into the room. It can also act as a fireplace rack for wood. This vertical fireplace grate doesn’t resemble a standard fireplace grate, so those who prefer a classic fireplace look may not like it. Another downside is the price. 

What our tester says: “Though this grate is expensive, its high-quality construction means that a customer would likely only ever have to buy it once. Still, it’s pricey for sure.”—Mike Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Grate Wall of Fire fireplace grate at Amazon or Grate Wall of Fire.

Best Round

Amagabeli Round Wrought-Iron Fire Grate

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What We Like

• Can also be used outside in round firepits
• Rods and legs are strong, durable
• 3.5-inch clearance promotes plenty of airflow

What We Don’t Like

• Can sink into ground without solid support beneath

Specs

• Material Wrought iron and steel
• Available widths 12, 16, 20, 24, 27, 32, 36, and 40 inches
• Clearance 3.3 inches

Our Ratings: Construction 4/5; Efficiency 4/5; Overall Look 4/5; Price 4/5 

This round fireplace grate from Amagabeli offers a different take on the typical rectangular fireplace grate. The grate is shaped like a wheel, and its 12 metal 0.7-inch-thick bars look like spokes extending from the center of the grate. The bars are angled upward to contain burning logs, preventing them from rolling off. This design makes it easy to start a fire that produces an ample amount of heat.

Four large legs elevate the grate 3.3 inches off the ground, allowing for plenty of airflow under the burning logs. Because its steel bars are protected by weather-resistant enamel paint, it works great for outdoor fire pits.

We tested this grate outside and were thrilled with the results. The grate holds wood off the ground and keeps the air flowing to create a hot fire that lasts hours. The only thing we didn’t like was that when loaded with wood, the weight caused the grate to sink into the ground. Overall, it’s a nice choice for an outdoor fireplace grate.

Get the Amagabeli round fireplace grate at Amazon or Amagabeli.

More Great Options

We got to test a few of the best fireplace grates, but there are several others on the market that might meet your needs. Here are a few others that we’ve come across that have the components we expect to find in quality products, and based on their great reviews, we hope to test them ourselves someday.

Best Large

SteelFreak 36-Inch Heavy Duty Steel Fireplace Grate

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What We Like

• Wide design allows for maximum capacity of logs
• Solid .375-inch bars and tempered construction
• 6.5-inch height allows for maximum air circulation
• Wide size variety offered to fit any hearth

What We Don’t Like

• Very pricey compared to similar fireplace grates
• Some users report limited longevity

Specs

• Material Steel
• Available widths 21, 24, 27, 30, and 33 inches
• Weight 23 pounds

Whether it’s Christmas, a chilly night, or a time of celebration, this SteelFreak fireplace grate is a great choice for anyone looking to burn wood in a hearth. Measuring 36 inches in length, this heavy-duty all-steel grate is extra wide and can hold several longer fireplace logs, providing maximum capacity inside a fireplace or a larger fire. 

Made in the United States, this SteelFreak fireplace grate is constructed with locally sourced materials and has a tempered design to avoid warping and wear and tear over time. Plus, the .375-inch-thick bars provide added durability, providing owners a lifelong fireplace grate for open wood-burning fireplaces.

Get the SteelFreak fireplace grate at Amazon or SteelFreak.

Best for Outdoors

InnFinest 23-Inch Fireplace Log Grate

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What We Like

• Hexagonal design is suitable for holding several logs
• Angled bars prevent logs from falling out
• Tall construction allows for maximum airflow
• Comes fully assembled and ready to use

What We Don’t Like

• Heavier and pricier than other fireplace grates

Specs

• Material Solid steel
• Available widths 18 inches, 23 inches
• Weight 22 pounds

Steel bars with a hexagonal design and large size make this fireplace grate from InnFinest work well for outdoor fireplaces. It consists of eight 0.75-inch-thick bars in a V formation to prevent logs and debris from falling out of the grates. At 23 inches long by 15 inches wide, it can support a large load of logs, such as those typically found in an outdoor fireplace.

Each of these durable grate’s angled bars ensures the wood stays in the fireplace while also helping to keep the fire going by directing logs toward the center. A little more than 8.5 inches tall, it has plenty of airflow to promote a good burn. Plus, this model comes fully assembled and ready to use. 

Get the InnFinest fireplace grate at Amazon.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Chose and Tested the Best Fireplace Grates

We considered several factors when choosing the best fireplace grates, including quality of construction, design, weight, and size. We chose only grates constructed from a single piece of forged iron or steel. With regard to design, we featured grates with at least 3 inches of clearance from the hearth floor to ensure ample airflow. We also favored grates with curved tines that secured the logs while also helping feed them to the flames. 

We tested the grates by building fires on them and burning. After we loaded them to capacity with logs and lit them, we timed how long it was until the fire burned out completely. We also used a high-temperature digital thermometer to test how hot the fires burned. Our final test included doing a visual inspection of the grate after the fire burned and the grate had cooled.

What to Consider When Choosing a Fireplace Grate

Before buying a fireplace grate, shoppers will want to understand the difference between each type and learn how size, shape, and material affect performance. All of these factors play an important role in selecting the best fireplace grate for a home. Here is a closer look at all of these factors and features along with other important characteristics to help shoppers find the right fireplace grates.

Types of Fireplace Grates

There are three types of fireplace grates: bar, basket, and vertical. Bar varieties have parallel steel bars that are welded to four legs and elevate the logs a few inches off of the hearth. Basket fireplace grates are typically made from a single piece of cast iron. While they’re typically more expensive, they can also hold much more wood securely. Vertical fireplace grates hold a bundle of logs in a 90-degree angle, pinning them against the rear of the hearth and dropping a fresh one down onto the embers as older ones burn, limiting the amount of smoke that can escape.

Size

A fireplace grate must fit inside the firebox of the fireplace. While a grate that’s too large won’t fit, a grate that’s too small won’t be able to hold enough logs to maximize the fireplace’s potential.

Fireboxes don’t come in standard sizes, so measure the firebox of a fireplace and pay attention to the dimensions of the grate when shopping. You’ll want to measure the height, width, and depth of the firebox to ensure a proper fit. 

You should also measure the width in both the front and the back, as fireplaces typically taper from the front of the firebox to the back. A fireplace log grate shouldn’t fit in the box like a glove; instead, it needs about 3 inches of clearance between it and the fireplace on all sides.

Shape

Most fireplace grates have bars that curve upward on the front and back. This curved design is intentional, and it serves two purposes: It prevents logs from rolling off while also directing unburned ones toward the embers in the middle of the grate. As the logs burn in the fireplace, gravity guides them to the middle of the hearth, helping them burn more efficiently without the need to push the logs back into place with a poker. Most fireplace grates also taper from the front to the back to match the typical shape of a hearth for a better fit.

Material

Steel and cast-iron grates are suitable options for a fireplace. Cast-iron grates are typically made from one solid piece of metal. By contrast, steel-bar grates are usually made from multiple pieces of extruded square tubes that are welded together.

Because of their single-piece construction, cast-iron grates are more durable than steel varieties, and they have excellent heat-retention properties. Cast-iron fireplace grates are also considerably heavier and more expensive than steel fireplace grates. Steel fireplace grates are cheaper but won’t last as long. Some models have an enamel coating that makes them suitable for use in outdoor fireplaces and fire pits.

Legs and Bars

Structurally, fireplace grates consist of bars that cradle the logs and legs that support the bars, elevating them off the base of the hearth. Most grates consist of six or seven bars. The more bars, the more securely the fireplace grate can support the wood. These bars are typically curved to keep logs at the center of the grate while also preventing them from shifting and rolling out of the hearth. Most fireplace grates have four legs to support the bars. The legs elevate the logs about 3 to 4 inches off the floor of the hearth, allowing for ventilation, which promotes a good burn. 

Mesh Bottom

Some fireplace grates have a steel mesh or grille-like bottom. This feature prevents small pieces of burning wood from falling through the grate and landing on the hearth. Because the mesh catches much of the ash the fire produces, it makes the fireplace grate much easier to clean.

Fireplace grates that have a mesh bottom help keep a fire together, promoting a more robust, hotter burn. How the mesh is patterned typically depends on the metal used (typically steel or cast-iron varieties) to make the fireplace grate and whether the grate itself will be used to burn coal or wood.

The Advantages of Owning a Fireplace Grate

A fireplace grate for a wood-burning fireplace offers several advantages. Airflow is key to achieving a good burn in a wood-burning fireplace. Grates facilitate airflow by raising the wood off the hearth by 3 to 4 inches, allowing oxygen to circulate below the logs. 

Designed to endure for many years, lifetime fireplace grates reduce the amount of tending needed to keep the fire burning while also making it safer. The curved tines of a grate push the logs toward the burning embers, so the user doesn’t have to do it manually. The bars also help contain shifting logs, reducing the risk that a burning log can roll into the room. 

• Grates create airflow to promote an efficient burn.
• Grates self-feed the fire, reducing the need for tending.
• Grates hold the logs in place, reducing the risk of a fire hazard.

Tips for Buying and Using Fireplace Grates

A fireplace log grate isn’t simply about improving the aesthetics and performance of a fireplace; it’s also about safety. Fireplace grates help keep the logs and the fire contained, reducing the chances that an ember or burning log can escape the firebox. A fireplace grate should fit the firebox well and have about 3 inches of buffer on all sides.

Fireplace grates must be moved periodically to sweep up the ash that accumulates underneath. Shoppers should purchase a grate that’s light enough to lift and maneuver in and out of the hearth’s firebox. 

To load a fireplace grate properly, place two timbers on the grate followed by tinder and kindling. Additional logs can then be placed on top of the tinder and kindling. A fireplace grate should never be overloaded, as too much wood could cause logs to roll off and into the room.

• Purchase a fireplace grate that fits the hearth. 
• Make sure the fireplace grate is light enough to move for cleanup. 
• Load the grate properly.

FAQs

Our guide tried to address every question or concern shoppers may have about buying the best fireplace grate. Often, some shoppers may still be left wondering whether a cast-iron grate is better than a steel one, or they may have additional maintenance-related questions. Here are answers to the most common questions about fireplace grates.pers may have about buying the best fireplace grate. Often, some shoppers may still be left wondering whether a cast-iron grate is better than a steel one, or they may have additional maintenance-related questions. Here are answers to the most common questions about fireplace grates.

Meet the Tester

Mike Larson is a professional journalist and DIYer in Pittsburgh. With three fireplaces in his 100-year-old house, fireplace grates are often in use. As a product tester, he likes to use a method and criteria that reveal the value of the product as a whole in a way that helps other DIYers and craftspeople.

Additional research provided by Tony Carrick.

The post Increase Your Fireplace’s Efficiency With This Simple Upgrade appeared first on Bob Vila.

Even the highest-rated windows present an opportunity for air to infiltrate the home, but thermal curtains offer an extra layer of insulation that can help make a home more energy efficient. But with so many kinds available, selecting energy-efficient yet stylish curtains can be a challenge. We tested all of the curtains below for several days, noting their ability to insulate, block light, and hold up to general wear and tear.  

After testing, we found Best Home Fashion Thermal Blackout Curtains to be best at insulating, while also blocking light and being easy to clean. 

We also spoke with an HVAC pro and design expert to get their take what on thermal curtains can do and how to select the right ones for the walls in your home. This guide reviews the results of our tests and the most important features to consider so you can choose from the best thermal curtains available. 

1. BEST OVERALL: Best Home Fashion Wide Basic Thermal Blackout Curtain
2. RUNNER-UP: Nicetown Triple-Weave Noise-Reducing Thermal Curtain 
3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Deconovo Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtain
4. UPGRADE PICK: Bodulf Cross-Linen Thermal Blackout Curtains
5. BEST PATTERNED: HLC.ME Paris Paisley Blackout Grommet Curtain Panels
6. BEST TEXTURED: Abihail Burlap Weave Thermal Extreme Blackout Curtain 
7. BEST COLOR SELECTION: BGment Thermal Blackout Curtains for Bedroom
8. BEST NOISE REDUCTION: House of Hampton Dora Max Blackout Curtain Panel
9. BEST VELVET: Dreaming Casa Darkening Thermal Velvet Curtains
10. BEST FOR OUTDOORS: Nicetown Triple-Weave Outdoor Blackout Curtains 
11. BEST FOR KIDS: H.Versailtex Blackout Star Thermal Curtains for Kids

Our Top Picks

With so many different types of thermal curtains on the market, making a decision on which to buy can be challenging. The following list breaks down some of the best options in various categories. Each of the curtains on this list was tested for at least 5 days, with their thermal-control, light-blocking, and noise-control abilities at the forefront of the testing process.

Best Overall

Best Home Fashion Wide Basic Thermal Blackout Curtain

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Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 54 to 132 inches long by 40 to 100 inches wide
• Material: Polyester
• Number of colors: Numerous; varies by size and retailer

What We Like

• Excellent light blocking
• Multiple colors in deep, rich hues
• Machine-washable fabric for easy upkeep

What We Don’t Like

• Fabric creases can be difficult to remove
• Back of curtain displays the curtain color

With its high insulating and light-blocking qualities, this thermal curtain from Best Home Fashion adds an extra layer of insulation to windows while contributing to the room’s aesthetics. It features triple-weave polyester construction that includes a layer of black yarn, keeping out up to 99 percent of light (the darker color choices are most effective) and 100 percent of ultraviolet (UV) rays, helping to keep the home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Each panel features attractive antique bronze grommets that are 1.6 inches in diameter. These panels come in lengths between 54 to 132 inches and widths from 40 to 100 inches. With dozens of colors available (options vary by size and retailer), there is sure to be an option that matches your home’s decor. These curtains are machine washable, making them easy to maintain.

The curtains did an excellent job of insulating and blocking light. We tested the extra-wide curtain panel in burgundy. The dark, rich color kept nearly all light out, and the thick fabric draped well. The only downside to these is that the curtain’s back is the same color as the front. Those who like uniform curtain colors from the exterior of their home will need a second neutral layer to face the street.

Get the Best Home Fashion thermal curtains at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Best Home Fashion.

Runner-Up

Nicetown Triple-Weave Noise-Reducing Thermal Curtain

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Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 40 to 120 inches long by 29 to 55 inches wide
• Material: Polyester blend
• Number of colors: Numerous; varies by size

What We Like

• Many sizes to choose from
• Good noise reduction
• Extensive color options

What We Don’t Like

• Colors can fade in constant, direct sunlight

This set of thermal curtains from Nicetown features insulating layers with a black yarn layer sandwiched between two microfiber layers. They provide protection against winter cold and summer heat while reducing noise and blocking up to 99 percent of sunlight.

These curtains feature 1.6-inch grommets, making them suitable for most standard curtain rods. A selection of over 30 solid colors makes them ideal for a variety of styles. And, with sizes ranging from 40 inches long by 29 inches wide to 120 inches long by 55 inches wide, they’ll fit virtually any window. Their machine-washable fabric makes them easy to clean, though getting wrinkles out can take some work.

During testing, we found the triple-layer design effective at hiding the inner black thread layer. However, we also found that the manufacturer’s claim of 99 percent light blocking was a bit of an exaggeration. While they did a good job of blocking out light and heat, we’d put the percentage closer to between 75 and 80. They also dampened some noise but were not entirely noise blocking.

Get the Nicetown noise-reducing thermal curtains at Amazon.

Best Bang for the Buck

Deconovo Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtain

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Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 45 to 108 inches long by 42 to 100 inches wide
• Material: Polyester
• Number of colors: Numerous; varies by size and retailer

What We Like

• Affordable compared to similar options
• Triple-layered for increased insulation and light blocking
• Machine-washable fabric

What We Don’t Like

• Cheaper materials may not last as long

Window treatments don’t have to be expensive, as these thermal curtains from Deconovo prove. These energy-saving insulated curtains feature three layers of fabric for maximum blackout and insulation quality, cutting those energy bills without demanding you invest a lot of money up front.

These curtains include standard 1.6-inch grommets and are available in 18 sizes, ranging from 45 to 108 inches long by 42 to 100 inches wide. With over 30 colors to choose from (selection varies by size and retailer), there are plenty of options to match home decor. Cleaning the Deconovo curtains is easy: Just throw them in the washing machine on a cold, gentle cycle.

The Deconovo curtains look similar to the other curtains tested—even those that cost a lot more. They block out 75 to 80 percent of light and a similar amount of heat. The fabric doesn’t have quite the heft of some of the other curtains on the list, but they’re a great option for those on a budget. Keep in mind that the price is for a single curtain only—double the price to purchase a pair.

Get the Deconovo thermal curtains at Amazon, Deconovo, or Walmart.

Upgrade Pick

Bodulf Cross-Linen Thermal Blackout Curtains

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Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 84 to 120 inches long by 50 inches wide
• Material: Polyester
• Number of colors: 8

What We Like

• High-quality material looks like linen
• Heavy material with excellent drape
• Excellent light blocking and noticeable thermal control

What We Don’t Like

• Comes in limited sizes
• Dry-clean only

Those who want an understated luxe look will appreciate the Bodulf cross-linen curtains, designed to look similar to expensive linen. Unlike traditional stiff polyester, the weight and thickness of these curtains allow them to drape beautifully—they even feel like high-end linen.

These curtains, sold as single panels, have a rod pocket, tabs, and a hook belt, offering a wide range of hanging options. Their white foam backing offers thermal control, lighting blocking, and sound absorption. Plus, the white backing creates a uniform window experience on the home’s exterior. Offered in only four sizes that range from 84 inches long by 50 inches wide to 120 inches long by 50 inches wide, these curtains might not fit every window. However, they come in multiple colors, ranging from neutrals to rich black or indigo, that are likely to please most.

During testing, the Bodulf curtains offered excellent light blocking and thermal control. They dampened some sound, but they didn’t bring it down as much as some of the thicker curtains. Of the curtains we tested, these stood out for their balance of performance and appearance. We didn’t love that they’re dry-clean only, but to maintain the curtain’s stunning appearance, it’s worth it.

What our tester says: “These curtains felt the most high-end of any that I tested. They draped beautifully,” —-Stacey L. Nash, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Bodulf thermal curtains at Wayfair.

Best Patterned

HLC.ME Paris Paisley Blackout Grommet Curtain Panels

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Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 54 to 96 inches long by 50 inches wide
• Material: Polyester
• Number of colors: 5

What We Like

• Attractive paisley-patterned design
• Great for saving on energy costs
• Filters 60 percent of light and dampens sound

What We Don’t Like

• Lighter colors tend to fade over time

With its diverse and rich collection of paisley patterns, the HLC.ME curtains add flair and visual interest. HLC.ME’s curtains use triple-weave polyester fabric to insulate windows, saving up to 30 percent on energy costs.

The HLC.ME curtains are machine washable and dryer-friendly on a low setting. The panels are all 50 inches wide and come in lengths ranging from 54 inches to 96 inches, allowing you to achieve looks ranging from tailored to elegant. Each set comes with two panels.

During testing, these curtains filtered out about 60 percent of light and a similar amount of sound. In artificial light, the muted colors almost look faded. When light shines through these curtains, the silver light-blocking panel gives the paisley pattern a silvery cast. They’re a great option if you love the pattern, but compared to the other options we tested, they’re not the most effective at controlling temperature or light.

Get the HLC.ME thermal curtains at Amazon, Walmart, or HLC.ME.

Best Textured

Abihail Burlap Weave Thermal Extreme Blackout Curtain

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The name of these curtains include the word “extreme,” which proved apt based on our testing.

Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 63 to 96 inches long by 52 inches wide
• Material: Polyester
• Number of colors: 4

What We Like

• Thick fabric and lining keep out nearly all light
• Noticeably regulates temperature and sound
• Machine-washable fabric with a detailed but subtle weave

What We Don’t Like

• May have a few loose threads upon opening
• Tend to wrinkle easily

Advertised as 100 percent light blocking, these curtains from Abihail lived up to their claim. They also did an excellent job maintaining the room temperature, and while they didn’t completely block out sound, there was a distinct dampening effect.

The Abihail curtains are only available in three sizes, ranging from 63 to 96 inches long by 52 inches wide, but if there’s a size to match your window, you won’t be disappointed. With a 1.5-inch-diameter grommet, they fit most standard curtain rods. The burlap weave texture of their polyester rayon blend adds to the richness and detail of a room without overwhelming your overall decor.

In addition to their performance, we also liked how easily these curtains washed. They arrived stiff, with noticeable wrinkles and a few loose threads that needed clipping. They relaxed somewhat after washing and drying, but they were still a bit stiff rather than drapey and had to be hung immediately to prevent new wrinkles from appearing.

Get the Abihail thermal curtains at Wayfair.

Best Color Selection

BGment Thermal Blackout Curtains for Bedroom

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Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 45 to 120 inches long by 38 to 70 inches wide
• Material: Polyester
• Number of colors: 30

What We Like

• Multiple sizes available with a great range of colors
• Simple, solid color choices work well in most homes
• Can be lightly ironed to eliminate wrinkles

What We Don’t Like

• No neutral backing fabric

With 30 colors to choose from, these thermal curtains from BGment have style options to suit most rooms. They feature a triple-weave design of polyester microfiber and black yarn to insulate in both the summer and winter while remaining soft to the touch. During testing, we found that those three layers also muffle outside noises while blocking between 80 and 95 percent of light, facilitating some sleeping in on the weekends.

Each panel uses 1.6-inch silver grommets, making them compatible with most standard rods. These curtains are easy to maintain, too. Simply throw them in the washing machine on the gentle cycle with cold water and tumble dry on low. BGment thermal curtains come in sizes ranging from 45 inches to 120 inches long by 38 to 70 inches wide, though all sizes may not be available in all colors. Each set includes two curtain panels.

The wide color selection includes bold, deep colors that hold up to sunlight. However, the curtains don’t have a neutral backing, so they’re the same color from the outside of the house as they are on the inside.

Get the BGment thermal curtains at Amazon or Walmart.

Best Noise Reduction

House of Hampton Dora Max Blackout Curtain Panel

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Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 84 to 108 inches long by 50 inches wide
• Material: Polyester
• Number of colors: 5

What We Like

• Easy to machine wash and dry
• Heavy, thick, luxurious fabric
• Excellent sound, light, and noise blocking

What We Don’t Like

• Comes in limited sizes

For homes where outside noise is an issue, these House of Hampton curtains are a classy solution. Thick and heavy, the polyester fabric blocks noise, light, and heat from the bedroom, and the Jacquard pattern adds a touch of velvet for extra texture. During testing, these curtains muffled sounds and acted as an effective barrier that kept the bedroom completely dark until light barely peaked over the top near the rod.

Available in a handful of pleasing solid colors, we tested these curtains in silver. They featured a champagne-colored foam backing that provided additional thermal, light, and noise blocking as well as the unified exterior look we prefer. However, keep in mind that backing color varies by curtain color—certain colors may not present a neutral exterior appearance, requiring a second liner curtain.

The House of Hampton curtains come in three sizes—84 to 108 inches long by 50 inches wide—and feature built-in grommets that fit up to a 1.25-inch rod. Those sizes will fit many standard windows but could limit placement in some homes. Despite the high-end look of these curtains, they’re easy to machine wash. Plus, machine washing quickly took out wrinkles during the testing process.

Get the House of Hampton thermal curtains at Wayfair.

Best Velvet

Dreaming Casa Darkening Thermal Velvet Curtains

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Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 63 to 102 inches long by 42 to 100 inches wide
• Material: Velvet
• Number of colors: 12

What We Like

• 12 luxurious, rich color options
• Beautiful, heavy fabric with excellent drape and texture
• Easy to clean for a velvet curtain

What We Don’t Like

• Holds wrinkles, which can be difficult to remove

The Dreaming Casa velvet curtains look luxurious, drape beautifully, and add an intriguing touch to any room. They’re not quite as thermally insulated as most other curtains on our list, but they still help maintain room temperature better than the average curtain. Constructed of a single layer of unlined velvet, their efficacy regarding temperature control was about 75 percent. They blocked a similar percentage of light (they’re considered light filtering rather than blocking), with darker colors blocking better than light colors.

Despite those things, we loved these velvet curtains in testing. They have a 2-inch rod pocket and tabs and come in 20 sizes, offering options that accommodate most window sizes. Their heavy velvet fabric brings texture to the room while reducing light. They come in 12 rich colors, ranging from deep black and coffee to lighter hues of rose red or green.

As much as we liked these curtains, we did have issues with wrinkles. We washed them in cold water, hung them to dry, and even steamed them, but the velvet held its wrinkles. Velvet can be ruined with ironing, so expect a bit of a crinkled look.

Get the Dreaming Casa thermal curtains at Amazon.

Best for Outdoors

Nicetown Triple-Weave Outdoor Blackout Curtains

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Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 72 to 120 inches long by 52 to 140 inches wide
• Material: Polyester
• Number of colors: 14

What We Like

• Triple-layer fabric provides shade, wind protection, and privacy
• Wide range of color choices
• Heavy, waterproof fabric and water-resistant grommets hold up to weather

What We Don’t Like

• Color can fade over time if left up continually

A summertime alfresco dinner stays cool and comfortable with thermal-insulated outdoor curtains. These multilayered backyard curtains from Nicetown provide cooling shade while also giving you privacy from the neighbors. They feature a layer of high-density black yarn sandwiched between two layers of polyester to protect you from the sun’s damaging rays while also blocking wind.

Outdoor curtains wouldn’t be much good if they couldn’t endure the elements. These curtains are waterproof and include rustproof grommets. And when they get dirty, you can throw them in the washing machine to freshen them up. Available in 14 color options and a wide variety of sizes, these curtains will suit various patio sizes and styles.

We tested the Nicetown outdoor curtains in the 108-inch length. The length alone adds heft, but the fabric also makes these curtain panels heavier, which is exactly what you want outdoors. They do an excellent job of controlling light and resisting water damage, as long as you don’t leave them outside during a downpour. They’re sold as single panels with some sizes available as a set—simply measure your space and order accordingly.

Get the Nicetown outdoor thermal curtains at Amazon.

Best for Kids

H.Versailtex Blackout Star Thermal Curtains for Kids

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Product Specs 

• Dimension options: 63 to 96 inches long by 40 to 52 inches wide
• Material: Polyester
• Number of colors: 5

What We Like

• Thick fabric blocks light, sound, and heat well
• Reflective stars create a whimsical, comforting environment
• Easy to clean and dry; washing also helps remove wrinkles

What We Don’t Like

• Limited sizes available
• Backing is not a neutral color

The fun and whimsy of a child’s room can spark their imagination, but it still needs to be conducive to a good night’s sleep. That’s where the H.Versailtex blackout curtains come into the picture. These star-themed curtains hint at a galaxy far, far away or a dreamy unicorn fantasy land, depending on the color. The light-blocking, heat-controlling, noise-reducing fabric also creates a dark, cool sleep environment.

Made of hypoallergenic polyester, these curtains are tough and functional but easy to keep clean. This is often a big factor in choosing kids’ curtains, which can take a beating from tiny hands. We washed them, which cleaned them and helped remove wrinkles—they looked as good as new. Testing also revealed the reflective nature of the silver stars. All it took was a night light to turn them into a gently sparkling window cover that was magical and comforting for the kids.

These curtains come in sizes that range from 63 to 96 inches long by 40 to 52 inches wide. There are only four sizes in total, which is a bit limiting. The other issue is they don’t have a neutral backing, which could make the house’s exterior look less uniform. However, for the price and performance, it’s hard to beat the H.Versailtex for a child’s room.

Get the H.Versailtex thermal curtains at Amazon.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Tested the Best Thermal Curtains

We installed all the curtains on our lists in bedrooms and evaluated each by an established set of guidelines. We tested their ability to block light, regulate temperature, and hold up to use and machine washing (if applicable). 

To test the curtains’ light-blocking abilities, we turned off daytime interior lights and scored how well the curtains prevented outdoor light from leaking in. To test thermal control, we compared room temperature several times daily with the curtains open versus closed. We also scored the curtains based on fabric quality, thickness, and drape, factors that influence how well the curtains wash and wear over time. We also washed the curtains according to the manufacturer’s instructions if applicable. 

What to Consider When Choosing Thermal Curtains

Although the fabric used to create thermal curtains is crucial to how well it insulates the windows in the home, you will also want to consider other factors, including size, noise reduction, and aesthetics.

Type

Thermal curtains are available as standard classic curtains as well as Roman shades, hobbled shades, balloon shades, and side-draw shades, to name a few. Thermal curtains consist of insulated padding sandwiched between material suspended by a curtain rod that prevents air from passing into the room from the window.

Side-drawn shades work best for large windows, French doors, and sliding-glass doors. Roman shades and hobbled shades open and close through this classic stacking style. Balloon shades function similarly but gather the fabric as they rise. Unlike conventional blinds, Roman and balloon shades feature thick padded material that works well for insulating.

Thermal curtains come in various sizes ranging in length from 45 to 132 inches and in width from 36 inches up to 52 inches. For the curtains to properly insulate, they should be large enough to cover the entire window casing.

Size

Beyond that, the size you want depends on the look you’re trying to achieve. For a traditional look, mount the curtain rod so that the curtain hangs from 6 inches above the top of the window frame to about 3 inches below the bottom. The curtains should also extend beyond either side of the window by 3 inches. For a more modern style, mount the rod as close to the ceiling as possible and allow the curtains to extend to about 1 inch above the floor or allow them to rest on the floor to create a puddled effect.

If you’re using blinds or shades, they must fit tightly inside the window casing to prevent air from leaking around the edges of the blinds.

Fabric

Like standard curtains, insulated curtains come in a wide variety of fabrics, including cotton, polyester, silk, microfiber, and even velvet. Polyester and microfiber are the most effective fabrics for thermal curtains, as they resist moisture, which can build up in the air trapped between the curtain and the windowpane.

Aesthetic

While insulated curtains may make you think of tacky window treatments found in cheap hotel rooms, they come in a wide variety of stylish colors and patterns. These curtains go beyond being functional, featuring attractive grommets and cuts that allow you to achieve traditional, modern, and classic looks.

We interviewed Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder of Arsight based in New York City, who gave us an insight on what to look for style-wise. “Go for textured and patterned drapes in bohemian space, while clean lines with neutral colors in a modern environment.” This expert advice can also be applied to regular curtains, so it’s a good tip to keep in mind when decorating a space.

Noise Reduction

The thick layers or multiple layers of material in an insulating curtain not only prevent heat loss in the home but also absorb sound waves. This works both ways, muting the sound of a neighbor’s barking dog or screaming children while also muffling loud music in the home. Thermal curtains can reduce the noise in the home by as much as 10 decibels.

Insulation

“In simple terms, thermal curtains help you keep the heat where you want it—inside or outside,” explains HVAC expert Jimmy Hiller, founder and president of Happy Hiller in Nashville, Tennessee. So how do thermal curtains achieve this?

They use multiple layers of material to insulate. The middle layer, which is the insulating layer, consists of a heat-resistant material such as foam, felt, thick cotton batting, or flannel. A thermal curtain should have at least two layers, although three is better. For maximum insulation in the summertime, they should also use blackout technology that eliminates up to 90 percent of light.

Whether talking about the insulation in a home’s walls or thermal curtains, insulation is measured using what’s known as R-value. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation qualities of the material. R-value generally ranges from 0, which is open air, to as high as 60, which is attic insulation. Windows also have an R-value. Single-pane windows have an R-value of 1, while Energy Star–rated windows typically have an R-value of 3. When properly installed, an insulated curtain can increase a window’s R-value to as high as 6.

Washing Machine vs. Dry-Clean Only

Some curtains are machine washable, making them easy to maintain. Many thermal curtains are even safe to dry in the dryer. Others require the trip to and expense of a dry cleaner. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning to avoid damaging thermal curtains.

The Advantages of Owning Thermal Curtains

There are a variety of benefits to owning thermal curtains. With their multiple layers of fabric, these curtains provide an extra layer of insulation for windows, saving money on utility bills.

The same triple-layer design that keeps cold air out and warm air in, or vice versa in the summertime, also does an excellent job of dampening outdoor noise, creating a more peaceful environment inside the home.

Thermal curtains do a great job of filtering out light. Darker-color curtains will actually block all sunlight, allowing you to sleep in on those sunny Sunday mornings. This dense material also provides maximum privacy for bedrooms.

• Thermal curtains insulate windows, saving energy.
• They do an excellent job of blocking sunlight.
• They dampen outside noise.
• Thermal curtains provide maximum privacy.

FAQs

Meet the Tester

Stacey L. Nash is a writer and product tester specializing in all things home and garden. Her reviews combine her professional research experience and her practical experience living on 12 acres of land with four kids and a DIY husband. She reviews everything from kitchen tools to cleaning products to bedding.

Additional research provided by Tony Carrick.

The post We Tested the Best Thermal Curtains for Easy Energy Efficiency appeared first on Bob Vila.

Another holiday season is gone, and you’re lugging the artificial Christmas tree back up to the attic. Again, you wonder, what if you could carry the tree without getting poked, or even roll it to storage? The best Christmas tree bags let you do just that: store the tree with ease.

These handy Christmas tree containers keep everything together, protect the tree (and you when you’re moving it), and come with handles and/or wheels for easier transportation. They come in a wide range of sizes and a few different styles. Plus, most are water resistant and tear-proof to get that tree through many more Christmas seasons. Our guide can help you with the decision-making process, as can our list of the top Christmas tree storage bags on the market.

1. BEST OVERALL: Zober Large Christmas Tree Storage Bag
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Handy Laundry Christmas Tree Storage Bag
3. BEST PREMIUM PICK: Santa’s Bags XXL Rolling Duffle Bag Tree Storage
4. BEST WATERPROOF: Sagler 1 Christmas Tree Bag
5. BEST UPRIGHT: Tiny Tim Totes Upright Christmas Tree Storage Bag
6. BEST EXTRA LARGE: TreeKeeper Giant Rolling Tree Storage Bag
7. BEST WHEELED: Primode Rolling Tree Storage Bag

How We Chose the Best Christmas Tree Bags

We dug into the different Christmas tree bag options, from size to type. Materials played a big role in our choices. Most people need a storage bag that resists both tearing and water, and that comes down to materials. The durability of the handles and seams also factored in when we considered materials. We also considered the quality of the closures. After all, a zipper that pops the first time it’s used won’t protect the tree much.

When it comes to types, models that lay flat are more popular. Most of our picks come from this category. However, we included an upright bag and a Christmas tree box because of the many ways trees can be stored. All in all, we considered over 50 Christmas tree storage bags before selecting the models on the list.

Our Top Picks

The Christmas tree bags on our list come from several brands that produce bags in various sizes and shapes. These models performed reliably well with reviewers and stood out for their quality. Before deciding, don’t forget to measure the Christmas tree to make sure the bag has enough volume.

Best Overall

Zober Large Christmas Tree Storage Bag

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Pros

• Strong, durable zipper is easy to close around a bulky tree
• Reinforced stitching on handles to prevent tearing while carrying

Cons

• Lack of rigid support system, which can make storage more difficult

Product Specs 

• Size: 65 by 15 by 30 inches
• Material: Polyethylene plastic
• Handle number: 3

The Large Christmas Tree Storage Bag by Zober has a simple but effective design. It’s made of durable polyethylene plastic, which resists water, does not tear easily, and keeps out dust mites. It’s large enough to store a 9-foot Christmas tree.

Three handles—two on the top and one on the side—feature reinforced stitching to prevent tearing. This model comes in three colors: gray, green, and red. Gray blends into the background, while red or green make sure it’s easy to find the tree. A durable zip closure keeps bugs and pests out. Finally, in case the user forgets what’s in this giant bag, it has a labeling slot. However, this model doesn’t hold its shape, which can make the bag difficult to move.

Get the Zober Large Christmas tree bag on Amazon.

Best Bang for the Buck

Handy Laundry Christmas Tree Storage Bag

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Pros

• Contrasting piping that reinforces the edge seams and adds strength
• Affordable price for such a large storage bag

Cons

• Handles are not reinforced and may not hold a heavy 9-foot tree

Product Specs 

• Size: 65 by 15 by 30 inches
• Material: Heavy-duty tarp
• Handle Number: 3

The Christmas Tree Storage Bag by Handy Laundry measures 65 by 15 by 30 inches and holds trees up to 9 feet long. It’s made of heavy-duty tarp, which provides protection against water, dust, and insects. The three handles—two on the sides and one on the end—help when it’s time to put the tree away or haul it out.

Contrasting piping at the seams reinforces the structure and adds strength. And, with the red and green colors, there’s no way the user will forget what’s in this bag. The downside of a model in this size is that it can be very heavy when holding a 9-foot tree, and the handles aren’t reinforced.

Get the Handy Laundry Christmas tree bag on Amazon.

Best Premium Pick

Santa’s Bags XXL Rolling Duffle Bag Tree Storage

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Pros

• Expandable design holds either a 12-foot tree or extra decorations with a smaller tree
• 5 carrying handles and 4 rolling casters make it easier to move
• Unzips on 3 sides to simplify loading and unloading

Cons

• Expensive compared to other Christmas tree storage bags

Product Specs 

• Size: 22 by 22 by 72 inches
• Material: Polyester canvas
• Handle Number: 5

The XXL Rolling Duffle Bag Tree Storage by Santa’s Bags has a little of everything, including extra storage space. The 22- by 22- by 72-inch bag includes an expandable pocket. The expansion lets it hold a 12-foot tree or extra decorations if storing a smaller tree. Made of polyester canvas, it resists water, dust, and insects.

The opening unzips on three sides, completely exposing the interior of the bag for easier loading and unloading. Four rolling casters allow for 360 degrees of movement through the house and into storage. This large bag also has five handles, providing ways for several people to help navigate it. Finally, in case it’s possible to forget what’s in this giant red bag, it has a label pocket.

Get the Santa’s Bags Christmas tree bag at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Overstock.

Best Waterproof

Sagler 1 Christmas Tree Bag

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Pros

• Durable, waterproof canvas keeps out dust, bugs, and moisture
• Reinforced handles help carry and pull the bag without risk of tearing
• Extra storage pocket holds tree skirt or other small items

Cons

• May not fit fuller trees; meant to hold disassembled trees

Product Specs 

• Size: 50 by 20 by 15
• Material: Canvas
• Handle Number: 4

The Christmas Tree Bag by Sagler 1 features a heavy-duty canvas that’s waterproof and keeps out dust and bugs. This sturdy design includes four reinforced handles, two top handles, and a handle on each end to help carry and pull the bag. It measures 50 by 20 by 15 inches and is designed to hold disassembled trees up to 8 feet tall.

Something this bag offers that most models don’t is an extra storage pocket on the side. Keep the light timer or the tree skirt here with the tree, which will make it easier to set everything up the next season. This model folds down to a small, flat size for simple storage while the tree is in action. Finally, this bag also has a label pocket, so the user won’t forget what’s hiding inside the bag. While it’s advertised as fitting an 8-foot tree, that means 8 feet of tree after it’s taken apart. Depending on the fullness of the tree, this bag may not provide enough room for a bushy tree of that size.

Get the Sagler 1 Christmas tree bag on Amazon.

Best Upright

Tiny Tim Totes Upright Christmas Tree Storage Bag

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Pros

• Doesn’t require disassembling the tree, which simplifies setup and takedown
• Near full-length zipper makes loading and unloading easier
• Compression straps hold branches in to make storage easier

Cons

• Cinch at the bottom cannot completely close

The Tiny Tim Totes Upright Christmas Tree Canvas Storage Bag unzips down one entire side and slides over the top of a 6-foot, fully-assembled Christmas tree. A cinch cord tightens at the bottom, leaving the tree stand visible and able to support the tree in storage. That cord also helps keep out pests, water, and dust.

Three compression straps hold branches in and create a smaller, more compact tree for storage. While this isn’t an air-tight storage option, it’s made of a durable, waterproof canvas. Reviewers like that the tree is already assembled when the next season rolls around.

Get the Tiny Tim Totes Christmas tree bag on Amazon or at The Home Depot.

Best Extra Large

TreeKeeper Giant Rolling Tree Storage Bag

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Pros

• Features ample interior space, compartment for delicate items, and compression straps
• 11 reinforced handles and sturdy interior framework
• Oversized wheels make moving this large bag easier

Cons

• Expensive compared to other Christmas tree bags

Product Specs 

• Size: 24 by 30 by 60 inches
• Material: Canvas
• Handle Number: 11

The Giant Rolling Tree Storage by TreeKeeper can hold up to a 15-foot Christmas tree. To do that, it has a heavy-duty frame to add strength and structure to the bag. That frame is self-standing and keeps the bag level when it’s set on the ground.

On the interior, there’s a smaller, separate compartment to hold more delicate items like the top of the tree or a wreath. Compression straps in the interior also keep things in place and maximize the use of space. Oversized wheels fit the oversized load this bag can hold. Eleven reinforced straps—five on each side and one on the end—provide plenty of handholds for lots of helpers. The downside with this model is the price.

Get the TreeKeeper Christmas tree bag at Amazon, The Home Depot, Joann, or Williams-Sonoma.

Best Wheeled

Primode Rolling Tree Storage Bag

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Pros

• 4 handles and 3 wheels for easier rolling
• Interior compression straps stabilize the load

Cons

• Wheels may scratch delicate hardwood floors

Product Specs 

• Size: 25 by 20 by 60 inches
• Material: Tear-proof polyester
• Handle Number: 4

The Primode Rolling Tree Storage Bag adds an extra wheel to a one-sided wheel design to keep things rolling with heavy trees. Sometimes, heavier storage bags can sag in the middle. The third wheel on this model keeps the bag mobile, despite any sagging in the middle. Interior compression straps hold everything in place, creating a sturdier load.

Two top handles and two handles at each end provide anchors to carry and pull the bag when fully loaded. A single storage pocket on the side creates some extra space. This model comes in three colors: red, green, and black. Be careful in homes with hardwood floors, as these wheels may leave scratches.

Get the Primode Christmas tree bag on Amazon.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Christmas Tree Bag

Christmas tree bags are fairly simple in design, but there are some variations in materials, sizes, and a few other extra features. However, make sure to measure the tree, and keep in mind where and how the tree will be stored.

Material

Christmas tree bags are typically made of vinyl/plastic-like materials or canvas. Vinyl/plastic is usually waterproof or, at the very least, water resistant. Look for plastic materials specifically designed to resist tears, because standard plastics may puncture. Plastic and vinyl also have the benefit of being lightweight.

Polyester or cotton canvas is the other material usually used for these bags. Oxford cotton is the highest quality, and is waterproof and tear resistant. However, it’s much heavier than plastic or polyester canvas. Durability-wise, wiry limbs are less likely to puncture either type of canvas, but moving around these heavier bags requires more muscle power.

Size

Be sure to measure the tree. Christmas tree bags are designed to fit trees of specific heights, though most only fit that height when the tree is disassembled. Storage bags typically fit trees from 6 to 15 feet tall. Taller, larger bags cost more and are heavier, but often feature mobility features like wheels and extra carrying handles.

Height isn’t the only size issue to consider. Some of the best artificial Christmas trees are relatively bushy. Measure the width of the branches when they’re collapsed and prepped for storage to make sure the bag has the volume for the whole tree.

Handles

Handles are what set Christmas tree bags apart from storing the tree in its original box. The bag should have at least two shoulder handles on the top. These handles are designed for one person to carry the tree. One person might be able to carry a smaller tree with the carrying handles alone.

Bags with extra handles make it easier to carry large trees, like those over 9 feet. End handles and extra handles on each side enable several people to share the work. Extra handles are especially helpful when climbing stairs or hoisting a tree into an attic.

Wheels

There might be some achy backs out there just thinking about carrying a Christmas tree to the garage. Christmas tree bags with wheels assume some of the hard work. They’re more common on extra-large bags that lay flat for storage than smaller bags or upright models.

Take note of the number of wheels, where they are located on the bag, and whether they’re single or multidirectional. Bags with four wheels on casters can roll in any direction but aren’t the best for stairs. Bags with two to four wheels on a single side let the user roll heavy trees through the house without risking back injury. This type of design also works better for climbing stairs.

Upright or Flat Storage

Upright or lying flat: that’s an important choice with Christmas tree bags. What kind of storage space is available? Upright storage can save floor space, and makes it easy to set up and take down the Christmas tree. With these bags, the bag goes over the tree as it’s standing, covering the stand and all. It’s like a big cover that lets the user carry the tree out while it’s still put together.

Flat storage allows the tree to sit on a shelf or against a wall on its long or short side. It may take more work to put the tree inside a flat storage bag, but these models often save space. Models with a rigid framework may allow stacking on top of the tree.

Box vs. Bag

When it comes to Christmas tree storage, a storage box and a storage bag aren’t all that different. A box, of course, has rigid sides, whereas a bag does not. However, in shape and size, they are nearly identical because they have to store the same kind of item. Boxes typically have handles and wheels, though not carrying handles.

For those who want to stack other items on top of the Christmas tree, a tree storage box provides a firm surface. Bags are more pliable and adaptable to the given storage space.

FAQs

Holiday decoration storage can feel like a game of “Tetris.” Christmas tree storage bags get you ahead of that game. If you’re still not sure what type of bag you want or need, below are answers to some of the most common questions to get you started.

Q. Can I store my Christmas tree upright?

You can store your Christmas tree upright. Upright Christmas tree storage bags usually slide over the tree from the top, leaving the tree stand exposed. They typically have several straps that wrap around the tree to stabilize the branches.

Q. Where should I put my Christmas tree bag?

A garage, attic, or basement are often the easiest places to store a Christmas tree bag.

Q. Can I store something else in my Christmas tree bag?

If there’s room in the Christmas tree bag, many other items can be stored there with the tree. Buy a bag that’s a bit bigger than the tree to leave extra room for other decorations.

The post Store Your Artificial Christmas Tree With One of the Best Christmas Tree Bags appeared first on Bob Vila.