Door Stop Buyers Guide

Baseboard Door Stop

One of the most common types of door stops found in homes is the fixed-post baseboard door stop. The fixed-post baseboard door stop is a solid piece with a rubber tip on the end. This door stop mounts on the baseboard or on the door itself. In older homes, the doors are usually solid wood. Often, baseboard doorstops are installed on the wood door in older homes. Newer homes utilize hollow core doors. The baseboard doorstop migrated from the door to the baseboard in new homes with hollow core doors.

Hinge Pin Door Stop

A hinge pin door stop installs on a hinge by removing the pin from the center of the hinge, placing the stop on the top of the hinge, and reinserting the pin through the stop and the hinge. The hinge pin door stop has two rubber bumpers; one to protect the door and another to protect the door trim. These door stops work best with lightweight doors.

Floor Mounted Door Stop

As its name suggests, floor mounted door stops install on the floor instead of the door or baseboard. They are often used if there is no wall in the door's swing path but a stop is still required to protect items behind the door. Bullet door stops resemble a bumper in a pin ball machine. Rather than a rubber tip, a floor mounted bullet stop has a rubber ring around its perimeter. Cannon door stops have a rubber bumper at the end of an elbow. Dome door stops are a low profile pod-shaped door stop. Dome stops are popular in high traffic areas because they minimize the tripping hazard of a baseboard stop or other floor mounted door stops.

Wall Bumper Door Stop

Wall bumpers are door stops that mount on the wall at door knob level. They are usually round with a rubber bumper in the center to cushion the door knob's impact if it hits the wall.

Hook Door Stop

Hook door stops are a hybrid of other door stops. They incorporate a hook on the end of the door stop and include an eyelet that installs on the door. Hook door stops have a dual purpose. They prevent the door from swinging to far open but also can be used to prevent the door from closing. The hook and eyelet anchor the door to the doorstop.

Kickdown Door Stop

The black sheep of the doorstop family is the kickdown door stop. A kickdown door stop does not prevent the door from opening too far but instead impedes it from closing. It is installed on the opposite side of a door. The kickdown door stop lifts up when not in use and then can be kicked down to prop the door open.