Best Garage Door Insulation Kits – Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

During those months when the temperature is at one of two extremes, you will often do anything you can to get comfortable.

If it’s the middle of winter, many homeowners will often crank up the heat just so they can spend a day indoors comfortably. Conversely, the summer months often force people to turn up their air conditioners in the hopes that the cool air they produce will be able to ward off the truly devastating effects of the climbing temperatures.

Of course, the cost of trying to get comfortable will often manifest itself in the form of higher energy bills. Your body may have been kept comfortable, but your mind will have to bear the stress of paying a larger than expected bill.

To prevent instances wherein you have to pay exorbitant amounts for your heating and cooling, it would be best to look into installing some insulation. Your garage door, in particular, is a prime spot for the installation of insulation.

In this combo reviews and buyer’s guide article, we will take a closer look at some of the best garage door insulation kits that are currently available and we will also discuss important topics that will help you better understand home insulation.

Best Garage Door Insulation Kit Comparison Table

Best Garage Door Insulation Kit Reviews

Matador Garage Door Insulation Kit – Easy Installation for Inexperienced Users

We’ll kick things off by taking a longer look at Matador’s Garage Door Insulation Kit. This is the kind of kit I would get if I wasn’t all that familiar with making home improvements.

The panels included in this kit have already been pre-scored. You can easily line them up on your door and proceed to the installation process.

That said, you should be careful when you are trying to make cuts. The Styrofoam material tends to go all over the place when you’re cutting and you can end up spending a lot of time just cleaning up in your garage and that’s obviously not ideal.

Once the panels have been installed, the cleanup process becomes significantly faster. If you notice the panels getting a bit dirty, grab a wash cloth and wipe them down. You should be able to bring back the bright white color of the panels within minutes.

The temperature regulation for this particular insulation kit is not great. It can keep the interior of your garage about six to 10 degrees warmer or colder depending on the time of the year, but that type of regulation can feel lacking. You also shouldn’t be surprised that the R-Value for this kit is only at 4.8.

For what it’s worth, this is a kit that also provides a good amount of noise reduction. That could come in really handy depending on the neighborhood you’re living in.

Considering the price tag attached to it, you can still get great value from this kit. In terms of performance though, there are definitely superior options out there.

Owens Corning Garage Door Insulation Kit – Provides Adequate Temperature and Noise Control

You’re likely not getting an insulation kit for your garage door because you want less outside noise coming into your home, but that would be a nice benefit, right? Just in case you do need better temperature and noise control, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to pick up the Garage Door Insulation kit from Owens Corning.

The temperature regulation provided by this particular insulation kit is indeed a step up over what you could get from the item listed above. However, the difference is not that significant. Furthermore, the temperature regulation offered by this kit is still lacking once you compare it to the other products that we will discuss in a bit.

So, What About Noise Control?

Weird as it may sound, noise reduction is where this insulation kit shines from my experience of using it. Once installed, you can easily notice the difference this item makes. As someone who appreciates having peace and quiet, that feature is nice to have.

Installation is a relatively straightforward process and you should be done with it in about an hour and a half even if you are inexperienced.

Cleaning up this insulation is also easy to do. You just need to grab a wash cloth and dip it in some soapy water before scrubbing. That should get rid of any stains pretty quickly.

US Energy Products Garage Door Insulation Kit – Standout Look Combined with Superior Performance

The Garage Door Insulation Kit from US Energy Products is different from the items we’ve already reviewed.

Arguably the biggest difference can be observed in the installation process. This time around, you’re not getting neat panels to place on your door. Instead, the insulation comes in the form of a roll that you will have to unravel and properly segment before you install it.

As you might have already guessed, the different way in which this example of insulation is designed also affects the installation process. To be more specific, you should expect the installation to be trickier when using this kit.

It doesn’t help that the double-sided tape the manufacturers included with this kit is not particularly effective. You’ll be better off using a different type of adhesive in your workshop or just pick one up while you’re shopping.

The installation process may also take more time, but I can tell you that it will be worth it especially once those harsh summer and winter months roll around.

This insulation kit features top-notch temperature control. The freezing or scorching temperatures outside will remain there. Inside your home, you will be able to remain very comfortable.

It’s also worth pointing out that this insulation kit gives your garage door a new look. Whether or not you will like that look is another matter altogether though.

You’re also getting noise control from this insulation kit, which is a nice bonus. The noise control is not as effective as the one provided by Owens Corning’s Insulation Kit, but it remains adequate.

IMP SmartGARAGE Insulation Kit – The Kit to Get to Combat the Summer Heat

Many people struggle with the cold of winter, but I’ve always had a tougher time dealing with the heat especially during those long summer days. Now imagine having to spend any bit of time in your garage during one of those days. Things will get uncomfortable in a hurry and you may even need to change your shirt after just a few minutes.

My dislike for the extreme summer heat is the leading reason why I like IMP’s SmartGARAGE Kit. This is the kind of insulation I want working in my garage during the summertime because it does such a great job of repelling the heat.

It manages to do that thanks to its aluminum covering. The heat just bounces off of it. Because of that aluminum covering, the heat does not get a chance to penetrate your garage door and your home will be kept nice and comfortable during the summer.

This insulation still works during the wintertime when you are trying to keep heat indoors, but it is clear that this item is best used during the summer. If you have some extra money, maybe you can purchase an extra insulation kit and just limit this item’s usage to the days when the weather is warm.

Installing this insulation kit will be a more time-consuming activity. You can do it on your own, but doing so may require about an hour or two hours of your time. You also need to be careful with your measurements before you proceed to cutting up the pieces of insulation you will need.

This item doesn’t offer much in the way of noise reduction, but I’m fine with that. I’m getting insulation mainly because I need better temperature regulation in my home and this item provides that.

Anco Garage Door Insulation Kit – Insulation That Will Be Useful Throughout the Year

The last item is ideal for keeping your garage and the rest of your home very comfortable during the warmest stretch of this year. This next item from Anco is better suited for all seasons.

It has an R-Value of 9 for a good reason. When it comes to regulating the temperature inside your home, this item will be incredibly helpful.

Regardless of the time of the year, you can start installing this insulation on your garage door and be confident that it will indeed provide the desired results.

Before you go and purchase this item though, you should know that one kit is only good enough to fit one standard-sized garage door. That’s kind of disappointing because many people have bigger garages.

Beyond that, you are paying top dollar for this item as well and you would assume that more material would be provided to you at that price point. That’s not a deal-breaker in my book, but I can easily see why some homeowners will shy away from this item and deem it a bad value proposition.

If you are looking for noise reduction together with temperature control, then you’re in luck because this kit does provide that. Also, because this kit can stay on your garage door all year, you can shield yourself from noisy neighbors during certain holidays.

ADO Products Garage Door Insulation Kit – Features Remarkable Durability

Insulation kits aren’t cheap. Ideally, the one you get for your home should be able to last for an extended period of time. Not all insulation kits offer that kind of durability though.

However, if you are prioritizing an insulation kit that can stand the test of time easily, it may be worth your time to look into the Garage Door Insulation Kit from ADO Products.

Some wear and tear on your insulation is expected after it’s been installed for a while, but with this kit on my garage door, it took a while for visible damage to show up. The material will continue to look like new for an extended period of time and as long as you remember to clean it on a regular basis, it will also not end up discolored.

Frustratingly though, it seems the durability of this insulation kit is limited to the materials used. The manufacturers opted to provide you with metal pins to use for the installation of this kit. They work fine in terms of getting the insulation attached to the garage door, but they tend to lose their grip earlier than expected.

With regards to performance, you won’t have much to complain about with this insulation kit. You should be able to notice the difference it makes on the temperature in your garage and your home even just a few hours after installing it.

If you value noise reduction in your insulation, this kit can still work for you.

Battic Door Garage Door Insulation Kit – Good Fit for Larger Garage Doors

It’s good to have a sizable garage to keep all your cars in and to leave them out of the streets, but there are also some issues with it. For instance, simply finding the right items that will be useful for upgrading your garage can be an ordeal unto itself.

If you’re on the market for an insulation kit that can fit your large garage though, we’ve got you covered. Battic Door’s Garage Door Insulation Kit is the kind of item that will prove valuable to homeowners with large garages.

This insulation kit can completely cover garage doors that are 18 feet tall and eight inches wide.

As you might have already guessed, all the extra material used in the creation of this insulation kit has made it more expensive. In my opinion, though, that’s a fair price to pay. It sure beats having to buy two insulation kits just to cover your garage door. Buying two kits can also turn out to be quite wasteful considering that you may not need all the components in the other set.

The performance of this insulation is good, although it does lag behind what some of the other kits reviewed in this article are able to offer. Temperature reduction is a specific area in which it is a notch below some of the kits we’ve already discussed.

Cellofoam Garage Door Insulation Kit – Easily Maintained Even in the Garage Setting

The next item we’ll be discussing on this list is the Garage Door Insulation Kit from Cellofoam. It’s an item that I personally liked most about how convenient it is.

When you’re installing something inside your garage, you expect it to inevitably be covered in dirt and possibly even some smog. That applies as well for insulation kits and considering they’re staying put for a while, you can count on them requiring cleanup very often.

The insulation kit from Cellofoam will still require frequent cleanup, but that will be a more manageable chore because of the way this item is made. Cleaning it up takes minutes and you only need the basic items for doing that. That faster cleanup is made possible by the high impact styrene laminate material that is used in the creation of this insulation.

This kit is also pretty durable and it’s remarkably easy to install on your garage door. The entire installation process should take about 30 to 45 minutes.

One more thing you should know about this insulation kit is that it is designed for smaller garage doors. You will absolutely need to purchase two of them if you have a larger garage door. When taking into account how much a single kit costs, you’ll be able to save more money getting a different item.

Reflectix Bubble Pack Insulation – For Those Seeking the Highest R-Value

R-Value is one of the first things you have to look for in any kind of insulation kit. If you’re prioritizing R-Value above everything else, then you’ll like the Bubble Pack Insulation from Reflectix.

The R-Value for this kit can climb all the way up to 14.3 assuming that you are optimizing it via installation. That kind of heat flow resistance is hugely beneficial and it will help you keep your garage comfortable even when the sun is blazing hot during the summer.

The difference is easily noticeable as well. It takes this insulation kit only minutes to make a significant impact on the temperature level in your garage.

It is worth noting that this item’s level of performance does fall off quite significantly once the winter season rolls around. That’s due in part to the way it’s constructed and the materials used for it. This kit specializes in reflecting radiant heat and if you’re still keen on getting it even knowing that, then you’ll be pleased with how it performs.

Also, even though we are evaluating these insulation kits based on how they work inside your garage, you should know that this item can be installed elsewhere in your home.

Regardless of where you decide to install this insulation kit, the process itself should prove easily manageable. It helps a lot that this item is very lightweight, so you can move it around with no problem whatsoever.

Reach Barrier Garage Door Insulation Kit – Insulation You Can Install and Leave Alone

The final item we’ll take a closer look at in this article is the Reach Barrier Garage Door Insulation Kit.

This is another kit that relies on deflecting radiant heat instead of absorbing it. You’ll be glad to know that it reflects radiant heat incredibly well. Once you have this installed on your garage door, you will be able to quickly observe the difference in the temperature.

It’s one of the best garage door insulation kits in terms of protecting your garage against the summer heat. Similar to some of the other reflecting kits though, it also becomes less effective during the winter time.

Unlike many of the other insulation kits currently available, you don’t need to do much to ensure that this insulation will remain in fine working condition inside your garage. After you get it installed, it requires minimal upkeep.

Of course, simply just getting it installed in the first place can be a frustrating undertaking. The manufacturers included some pieces of adhesive to help you install this insulation, but they don’t work that well.  You’ll be better off purchasing some adhesive at the store and using that. 

Still, I do appreciate the manufacturers pre-cutting the panels for this kit. That saves you valuable time and allows you to speed through the installation process if you already got some additional adhesive beforehand.

You’re also not getting a lot of noise reduction from this insulation because the material is somewhat thin. That’s not a big issue for me, but there are homeowners that want noise reduction in their insulation.

Lastly, this insulation kit is pretty affordable. For those looking to save some money, this kit is a sensible purchase.

Best Garage Door Insulation Kit Buyer’s Guide

Insulation is not an item people purchase frequently, which can make it more difficult to pinpoint which kits are better than the majority of the options available.

To help you with that, we’ll highlight some of the most important things you need to know about insulation and also explain why it’s a good idea to get a kit for your garage.

What Is R-Value?

Throughout this article, you’ve seen me talk about R-Value and it’s even one of the columns in the best garage door insulation kit comparison table above. But what exactly is R-Value and why does it matter if I’m shopping for insulation?

As noted by the FTC, R-Value simply refers to the level of resistance that insulation offers against heat flow. It’s a kind of measuring tool for the effectiveness of insulation.

You’ll notice that R-Value can differ significantly from one insulation kit to the next, so how then can you make sure that you’re picking the right item? Thankfully, that’s a pretty simple process.

If you want to understand how well one kit can insulate your home compared to another kit you’re looking at, take a closer look at their respective R-Values. In this case, a kit featuring higher R-Value is ideal.

Now, this is where I need to say that R-Value is not the only thing you should look at when you’re shopping for a new insulation kit. It’s definitely important, but to what degree changes depending on where you live.

Since R-Value hints at the insulation kit’s ability to combat heat flow, that particular stat is worth paying attention to more if you live somewhere cold. If you live somewhere with a warmer climate, the R-Value still matters, but a kit featuring a low rating should not be automatically removed from consideration.

It’s also worth pointing out that the ideal R-Value for an insulation kit that will be used in your garage can be significantly lower than what you would see in one that will be installed elsewhere inside the home.

In terms of ideal R-Value for the insulation kit that will be used for the garage, anything above four will be fine, but try to get one with a rating closer to 10 for increased and more lasting comfort.

Materials Used for Insulation

All kinds of materials are used to create insulation and they work in a variety of ways as well. Some materials are designed to absorb the heat while others work by deflecting it.

Listed below are some of the materials used most often to create insulation kits for garage doors.

Fiberglass

Don’t be surprised if you find plenty of insulation kits that make use of fiberglass when you go shopping. This has become the material of choice for many manufacturers and it’s hard to fault them considering its qualities.

It’s easy to create insulation kits with decent R-Values using fiberglass and we already know why that’s a good thing.

Furthermore, certain types of fiberglass insulation make use of recycled material, according to the Department of Energy. Many of the kits fashioned out of fiberglass are also affordable options.

Polystyrene

Another material manufacturers favor when it comes to creating insulation kits is polystyrene.

Polystyrene is a material that excels at absorbing heat, but that’s not the only reason why it works well as insulation. For instance, the fact that it is quite lightweight is useful because manufacturers can use it as the stuffing for insulation padding without making the item difficult to work with.

To get a higher R-Value when using polystyrene, the manufacturers of insulation kits need to pack on the layers. That’s easier to accomplish due to the lightweight nature of this material.

Polyethylene

Polyethylene is a versatile material used in a wide variety of applications, so it should really come as no surprise that it’s also found its way inside insulation kits.

Similar to polystyrene, polyethylene is lightweight. Large amounts of it can be packed into insulation. Insulation items that make use of more polyethylene are more capable of absorbing heat.

Polyethylene is also quite durable, so insulation kits made out of it can last for a long time inside people’s homes.

Other Materials Used in Insulation

Examples of other materials that are used in insulation include natural fibers. Cotton, hemp, straw, and sheep’s wool are some of the ones used the most. Working with these natural materials can be a bit trickier for manufacturers because they require additional attention. Sheep’s wool, in particular, has to be specially treated so it can resist mold and pests.

You will also find insulation kits that make use of outer coverings to deflect the heat. These outer coverings may be made out of materials such as aluminum or vinyl. Usually, these outer coverings are combined with foam to make the insulation even more effective.

Types of Insulation

Insulation does not vary just in terms of material makeup. Its form can change significantly as well. We again turn to the Department of Energy to learn more about the various forms home insulation can take on.

Panels and Rolls

It would be nearly impossible for you to go out shopping for insulation without finding kits that feature panels and rolls of insulation. Insulation kits that come in panels and rolls are the most commonly seen by far and understandably so.

The great thing about insulation kits that come in panels and rolls is that they are remarkably easy to install. You will typically only need some scissors and some adhesive to get the panels and rolls from the box to your garage door. Some manufacturers even go the extra step to make their items more convenient for their customers by pre-cutting the panels.

The only real issue with insulation panels and rolls is that they are sometimes difficult to alter specifically for the purposes of fitting them on garage doors or even other parts of your home for that matter. The ones you have to cut up can get really messy.

Aside from that minor issue though, you should have no issues using insulation panels and rolls.

Reflective Insulation

Items that provide reflective insulation are best suited for use during the summer time. They don’t let any significant amount of heat into your home and they also keep the temperature in your garage at a very comfortable level.

Reflective insulation items typically use materials like aluminum to repel the rays of the sun.

They’re not quite as helpful once the weather turns cold though. If you live in an area known for cold climate, I would suggest using a different type of insulation.

Radiant Barrier Insulation

You’ll be able to notice a big similarity between reflective insulation and radiant barrier insulation. That similarity is that they are both designed to ward off heat instead of absorbing it.

Obviously, because of the similarity in the way they work, they are also most useful and least effective in the same scenarios. This is another way of saying that you should probably look into purchasing type insulation other than radiant barriers or reflective items if you live somewhere with a climate that is typically on the cooler side.

Other Types of Insulation

Loose fill insulation materials are great to use if you’re trying to cover irregularly shaped parts of your home. They’re a bit unnecessary for garage doors, but they are great to use on curved spots.

Foamed-in-place insulation is something you’ll always want to have around because it’s so handy. If you notice holes in your wall or in your attic, you can use this type of insulation to ensure that heat loss will not be an issue for you during the winter time. Foamed-in-place insulation will also prevent too much warm air from seeping into your home.

Rigid insulation is usually not something you apply to your home on your own. It’s a type of insulation that offers wider coverage and it is best installed during home construction or renovation.

Why You Need to Insulate Your Garage

It may seem like installing insulation in your garage is a waste of money. After all, that’s not a part of the home that’s frequently occupied, meaning there’s no one there to enjoy the benefits of insulation.

Still, there are some good reasons why you should invest in garage insulation.

According to AutomatedDoor.net, insulating your garage is a good idea to consider if you have pipes going through there or if you use it as a storage space for tools and other items that are prone to rusting. Moisture can easily get trapped in the garage and without proper insulation, you’re leaving some valuable items and parts of your home exposed to potential damage.

Installing insulation in your garage is also worth it if you are planning to turn it into a more functional space, according to SFGate. Instead of building a separate workshop, you can just handle all your projects inside your garage and all you need to do beforehand is to properly insulate it.

I would also suggest investing in garage insulation if you are trying to cut down on costs. Even if you don’t spend plenty of time in your garage, hot and cold air can still get in through there easily. Once the temperature changes in your garage, you can expect the same thing to happen in other parts of your home. You will then have to respond to that by either turning up the heat or the air-conditioner.

Finally, you should insulate your garage if you do a lot of car repair work in there. Car repairs can be noisy affairs and you don’t want to bother the other people in your home while carrying them out. By having some insulation installed, you can eliminate that problem.

Are There Other Spots in My Garage I Should Insulate?

Aside from the garage door, it’s also a good idea to purchase some insulation that you can install on the garage’s walls and the ceiling, according to Lowe’s.

I would also take the time to closely inspect the walls of my garage to see if there are any openings that may serve as entry points for hot or cold air. If you have some spare panel or roll insulation, you can cut them and use them to fill in the gaps, though an easier solution would be to get some foamed-in-place insulation.

Conclusion

One of the best things you can do to improve your garage and the rest of your home is to simply install some insulation. When you do that, you effectively make your home comfortable and more functional while also cutting down on your energy bills.

There’s no need to be squeamish about paying for insulation because the future improvements and savings you’ll be able to enjoy because of it will be more than worth it.