I tested this no-drill door closer for 2 months - honest review

The door that drove me crazy

My back door has been driving me insane for months. It either stays wide open letting in bugs and drafts, or slams shut with enough force to rattle the windows. I needed something that would close it gently but reliably, without drilling permanent holes in my rental apartment doorframe.

What this thing actually does

This automatic door closer uses a steel cable system with adjustable tension. You mount the main unit to your doorframe and attach the cable to the door itself. The spring-loaded mechanism pulls the door closed at a speed you can control with the included Allen key.

Installation took about 20 minutes. The kit includes screws for permanent mounting, but also adhesive options for temporary setups. What surprised me was how much you can actually adjust the closing force.

My honest take: what works and what doesn't

What genuinely impressed me:
The adjustability is real. I can set it gentle enough for my 6-year-old to handle, or strong enough to overcome wind resistance. After two months of daily use, the cable hasn't frayed and the mechanism still holds its adjustment settings.

The limitation you need to know:
On heavy solid wood doors, even at maximum tension, it struggles to create a tight seal. The door closes but doesn't latch firmly. You'll still need to give it a final push for security.

What would $2.89 normally get you?

At this price point, you'd typically find basic door springs or simple magnetic catches. Adjustable automatic closers usually start around $25-35 at hardware stores. This makes it essentially a risk-free trial of whether an automatic closer works for your specific door.

I compared it against similar units on Amazon, and while the housing feels less premium, the core mechanism performs comparably to options costing 10x more.

Buy it if... / Skip it if...

Buy it if:

• You want to test if an auto-closer works for your setup
• You're renting and need a non-permanent solution
• Your door weighs under 30 pounds
• You need adjustable closing force

Skip it if:

• You have a very heavy solid wood door
• You need something completely silent
• You want a sleek, integrated look
• Security is your primary concern

My score: 7/10. It solves the basic problem effectively at an unbeatable price, but don't expect commercial-grade performance.

Price: $2.89 (was $4.05)

Get it here: https://www.ali-ex.com/bpV3HD