Last updated:
The clear magnetic seal on the side of your folding bath screen may have gone yellow, become stiff, or stopped closing as neatly as it used to.
At first, replacing it sounds simple: measure the length, check the glass thickness, and find something similar online. But once you start searching, you quickly find plenty of magnetic shower seals that look similar — and very few that are clearly made for the side of a folding bath screen.
Some may clip onto the glass, but still be too wide, too tight, or make the folding screen difficult to close.
So, do you really need the exact same magnetic strip?
Not always.
A better place to start is the side gap when the screen is closed — the space between the two glass edges.
As a simple guide, a gap under 8mm may suit an H shape side seal, while a gap over 8mm is usually better suited to a folding bath screen seal.
Measure the Side Gap First
Before choosing a replacement seal, close the folding bath screen into its normal position — the way it sits when you use the bath or shower.
Now look at the space between the two glass edges.
That is the gap you are trying to cover.
Do not measure just one point. Older bath screens are often slightly uneven. The top may sit quite close, while the bottom has opened up more over time. Measure the gap in three places: top, middle and bottom.
Glass thickness still matters, of course. It tells you whether a seal can clip onto the glass.
But the side gap tells you whether that seal will actually cover the space.
Measure the gap first. Then check the glass thickness.
Why Folding Bath Screen Magnetic Seals Are Hard to Replace
You may have already removed the old strip, measured it, checked the glass thickness, and searched for a magnetic shower seal.
The problem is that many standard magnetic seals are made for frameless pivot doors, hinged shower doors, or normal shower door closing edges. These doors often have a larger glass-to-glass gap, commonly around 22mm.
A folding bath screen is different. Many folding bath screens or bi-fold shower doors have a smaller side gap, often around 8–18mm.
If you fit a magnetic seal designed for a wider gap onto a smaller folding screen gap, it may clip onto the glass but still cause problems. The door may feel tight, the seal may be squeezed, or one part may line up while another part does not.
Older screens can make this harder. The side gap may no longer be perfectly even, and magnetic seals need both sides to meet at the right position, angle and magnetic direction.
That is why copying the old magnetic strip is not always the best solution, especially if it was already stiff, yellowed, weak, or never worked very well.
Instead of asking, “Where can I find the same magnetic seal?”, ask:
What type of seal can cover the gap I have now?
Simple Alternatives for Folding Bath Screen Side Seals
Once you know the gap size, the choice becomes much easier.
For a smaller side gap — usually under 8mm — look at an H shape side seal.
But be careful here. This does not mean any ordinary H profile. You need the type designed to grip both glass edges and bridge the gap between them. It should not just protect one glass edge or clip onto one side without covering the space.
Think of it like a small clear bridge.
When the two glass panels are already close together, the seal does not need magnetism. It simply needs to sit between the panels and cover the narrow gap continuously. If the bridge section reaches across the space, you can then choose the correct version based on your glass thickness.
This is often much easier than trying to match the original magnetic strip.
A normal H shape seal with soft fin-style flaps may have more limitations depending on the screen and the installation position. I explain this in more detail in the article about why folding bath screens leak. You can click here to learn more.
For a larger side gap — usually over 8mm — an H shape side seal is often not enough. It may clip onto the glass, but the middle section may not reach far enough to close the space.
In that case, look at a folding bath screen seal.
This type has a wider sealing area, so it is better suited to the larger gaps often found on folding or bi-fold bath screens. You can think of it as a wider clear water barrier rather than a narrow bridge.
So the basic idea is simple:
Small gap: look at an H shape side seal.
Larger gap: look at a folding bath screen seal.
The name of the seal matters less than the job it needs to do. It must cover the side gap clearly, continuously and without stopping the screen from closing properly.
Quick Buying Guide
Before ordering, check three things.
First, close the folding bath screen and measure the side gap at the top, middle and bottom.
Second, confirm your glass thickness.
Third, check whether the gap is close to 8mm, or whether it changes noticeably from top to bottom.
If the gap is clearly under 8mm, start with an H shape side seal.
If it is clearly over 8mm, look at a folding bath screen seal instead.
If the gap is close to 8mm, or the measurements are very different from top to bottom, take a photo of the closed screen, the old seal position and your measurements before choosing. That will make it much easier to confirm the right style.
Close the screen → measure the top, middle and bottom gap → check whether it is under or over 8mm → then choose by glass thickness.
FAQ
If I cannot find the original folding bath screen magnetic seal, do I have to buy the same one?
Not always. If the original seal is difficult to find, measure the actual side gap with the screen closed. If the main job is to cover that gap, an H shape side seal or folding bath screen seal may be a suitable alternative.
Why is a normal magnetic shower seal not always suitable?
Many standard magnetic seals are made for shower doors with a larger closing gap. Folding bath screens often have a smaller and less even side gap, so glass thickness alone is not enough to choose the right seal.
How do I choose between an H shape seal and a folding bath screen seal?
Start with the side gap. A smaller gap, usually under 8mm, is more likely to suit an H shape side seal. A larger gap, usually over 8mm, is better suited to a folding bath screen seal. If your measurements are close to 8mm or uneven, take photos and check before ordering.
Summary
If you cannot find the original folding bath screen magnetic seal, do not choose by glass thickness alone. Measure the closed side gap first, then choose a seal that can cover it without stopping the screen from closing smoothly.
Laura joined SIMBA in January 2017. As a seasoned seal expert, she specializes in finding the right profiles for tricky UK bathrooms. Her mission? Making sure SIMBA customers get it right first time.