Shower Door Sweep for a 1/2 Inch Gap
Quick answer
A 1/2 inch gap needs a 3/4 inch wipe: tall enough to overlap the opening by a quarter inch and keep flexing contact with the threshold. Before ordering, measure at the hinge end and the handle end. If the handle end is noticeably wider, the door has dropped on its hinges — tighten or adjust them first, because a taller wipe only masks sag temporarily.
1/2″ gap = 1/2″ · 0.500 in · 12.7 mm
Data reviewed:
What to measure before buying
- Glass thickness at the bare edge — pull back a section of the old seal first (1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, or 1/2″)
- Bottom gap from glass edge to threshold at the HINGE end, door closed
- Bottom gap at the HANDLE end, door closed — note any difference
- Door width along the bottom edge (for trimming the new seal)
- Where the water actually exits: under the door, off a bottom corner, or down a vertical edge
- Photo of the old seal's cross-section before removing it
- Gap with the door fully closed and latched — open-position readings run large on pivot doors
- Difference between hinge-end and handle-end gaps (over 1/8″ means adjust the hinges first)
Wipe height vs. gap size
| Measured gap | Recommended wipe | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8–3/8″ | 1/2″ wipe | The standard sweep size on frameless doors |
| 3/8–5/8″ | 3/4″ wipe | Pick this when the gap varies end to end |
| 5/8–7/8″ | 1″ wipe | Sold as "extra tall" — check the listing states wipe height |
| 7/8–1 1/8″ | 1 1/4″ wipe | Last resort; fix door height or add a threshold first |
Seal types that close a 1/2″ gap
Sweeps that cover a 1/2″ gap
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Frameless Shower Door Bottom Sweep with Drip Rail, 1/4 in Glass, 3/4 in Wipe, 36 in
- Glass
- 1/4″
- Gap
- 3/8–5/8″
- Length
- 36″
- Material
- Polycarbonate channel, PVC wipe
- Mount
- press-on
- Trim
- Cut to size
Channel is sized to the glass — verify thickness with a caliper. The 3/4 in wipe seals gaps of 3/8 in–5/8 in. Cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
Frameless Shower Door Bottom Sweep with Drip Rail, 5/16–3/8 in Glass, 3/4 in Wipe, 36 in
- Glass
- 5/16–3/8″
- Gap
- 3/8–5/8″
- Length
- 36″
- Material
- Polycarbonate channel, PVC wipe
- Mount
- press-on
- Trim
- Cut to size
Dual-size channel seats snug on 5/16 in and neutral on 3/8 in glass. The 3/4 in wipe seals gaps of 3/8 in–5/8 in. Cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
⚠ On 5/16 in glass press the channel on dry; lubricant makes dual-size channels creep.
Frameless Shower Door Bottom Sweep with Drip Rail, 3/8 in Glass, 3/4 in Wipe, 36 in
- Glass
- 3/8″
- Gap
- 3/8–5/8″
- Length
- 36″
- Material
- Polycarbonate channel, PVC wipe
- Mount
- press-on
- Trim
- Cut to size
Channel is sized to the glass — verify thickness with a caliper. The 3/4 in wipe seals gaps of 3/8 in–5/8 in. Cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
Frameless Shower Door Bottom Sweep with Drip Rail, 3/8 in Glass, 3/4 in Wipe, 48 in
- Glass
- 3/8″
- Gap
- 3/8–5/8″
- Length
- 48″
- Material
- Polycarbonate channel, PVC wipe
- Mount
- press-on
- Trim
- Cut to size
Channel is sized to the glass — verify thickness with a caliper. The 3/4 in wipe seals gaps of 3/8 in–5/8 in. Cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
Frameless Shower Door Bottom Sweep with Drip Rail, 1/2 in Glass, 3/4 in Wipe, 36 in
- Glass
- 1/2″
- Gap
- 3/8–5/8″
- Length
- 36″
- Material
- Polycarbonate channel, PVC wipe
- Mount
- press-on
- Trim
- Cut to size
Channel is sized to the glass — verify thickness with a caliper. The 3/4 in wipe seals gaps of 3/8 in–5/8 in. Cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
Frameless Shower Door Bottom Sweep with Drip Rail, 1/2 in Glass, 3/4 in Wipe, 48 in
- Glass
- 1/2″
- Gap
- 3/8–5/8″
- Length
- 48″
- Material
- Polycarbonate channel, PVC wipe
- Mount
- press-on
- Trim
- Cut to size
Channel is sized to the glass — verify thickness with a caliper. The 3/4 in wipe seals gaps of 3/8 in–5/8 in. Cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
Common buying mistakes
- Fitting a 1/2″ wipe to a 1/2″ gap — zero overlap means zero seal.
- Buying before checking hinges; half-inch gaps are often quarter-inch gaps plus sag.
- Using a soft economy wipe that folds backward under the door's swing at this height.
Frequently asked questions
What wipe height covers a 1/2 inch gap?
A 3/4 inch wipe. It overlaps the gap by about 1/4 inch, which is the flex a vinyl fin needs to stay pressed against the threshold as the door swings.
My gap used to be smaller — why did it grow?
Frameless doors sag as hinge set-screws loosen under the glass weight. Re-square the door per the hinge manufacturer's instructions, then re-measure; you may need a shorter wipe than you think.
Sweep with or without drip rail for a 1/2 inch gap?
With, in most cases. Larger gaps usually coincide with corner runoff leaks, and the angled rail on the outside face redirects that water back into the shower.