Shower Door Bottom Sweep
Quick answer
A bottom sweep is a plastic extrusion that presses onto the bottom edge of a frameless shower door: a U-shaped channel grips the glass and a flexible vinyl wipe hangs down to close the gap to the threshold. Two measurements decide the fit — the channel must match your glass thickness exactly, and the wipe should be 1/8–1/4 inch taller than your measured gap.
Data reviewed:
What it is
The sweep is the workhorse seal on frameless doors. The rigid channel (polycarbonate or PVC) friction-fits the glass with no adhesive, while the soft co-extruded wipe flexes against the curb as the door swings. Variants add an angled drip rail on the outer face, a second short splash fin on the inner face, or an extra-tall wipe for oversized gaps.
Use it when
- Water passes under the door and the old wipe is worn, hardened, or missing
- The bottom gap measures between 1/8 and 3/4 inch (1 inch with extra-tall versions)
- The bottom glass edge is exposed — not captured inside a framed door's metal rail
What to measure
- Glass thickness at the bare edge: 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, or 1/2 inch
- Gap from glass edge to threshold, door closed, at both ends
- Door width along the bottom edge for trimming
Full walkthroughs: glass thickness · bottom gap.
Sizes in our reviewed catalog
| Glass range | Gap range | Lengths |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4″ | 1/16–5/8″ | 30″, 36″ |
| 5/16–3/8″ | 1/8–5/8″ | 36″ |
| 3/8″ | 1/16–1 1/8″ | 30″, 32″, 36″, 48″, 72″ |
| 1/2″ | 1/8–1 1/8″ | 36″, 48″ |
Strengths
- Tool-free press-on installation
- Cheap and available in every glass size
- Wipe heights from 1/4″ to 1 1/4″ cover almost any gap
Limits
- Wipe wears and hardens over years of contact
- Wrong wipe height causes drag or no seal
- Does nothing for water running down the glass face (that is the drip rail's job)
Bottom sweep options
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Frameless Shower Door Bottom Sweep with Drip Rail, 1/4 in Glass, 1/2 in Wipe, 36 in
- Glass
- 1/4″
- Gap
- 1/8–3/8″
- 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 1/2 in wipe seals gaps of 1/8 in–3/8 in. Cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
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, 1/2 in Wipe, 36 in
- Glass
- 5/16–3/8″
- Gap
- 1/8–3/8″
- 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 1/2 in wipe seals gaps of 1/8 in–3/8 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, 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, 1/2 in Wipe, 32 in
- Glass
- 3/8″
- Gap
- 1/8–3/8″
- Length
- 32″
- Material
- Polycarbonate channel, PVC wipe
- Mount
- press-on
- Trim
- Cut to size
Channel is sized to the glass — verify thickness with a caliper. The 1/2 in wipe seals gaps of 1/8 in–3/8 in. Cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
Frameless Shower Door Bottom Sweep with Drip Rail, 3/8 in Glass, 1/2 in Wipe, 36 in
- Glass
- 3/8″
- Gap
- 1/8–3/8″
- 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 1/2 in wipe seals gaps of 1/8 in–3/8 in. Cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
Frameless Shower Door Bottom Sweep with Drip Rail, 3/8 in Glass, 1/2 in Wipe, 48 in
- Glass
- 3/8″
- Gap
- 1/8–3/8″
- 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 1/2 in wipe seals gaps of 1/8 in–3/8 in. Cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do bottom sweeps need adhesive?
No. The channel friction-fits the glass edge. If a sweep needs glue to stay on, the channel size does not match the glass thickness.
Which way does the wipe face?
The wipe angles into the shower on most profiles, and any drip-rail fin faces the outside (bathroom side) of the glass. Check the old sweep's orientation before removing it.
How do I cut a bottom sweep to length?
Measure the door width, mark the sweep at width minus 1/16 inch, and cut with a fine-tooth hacksaw or miter shears. Cut channel-side up so the rigid section guides the blade.