The Cheapest Ways to Keep Mice Out of Your Garage

Seeing a mouse in your garage isn’t just a minor nuisance — it’s usually a sign that a small gap has turned into an easy, repeatable entry route. Mice chew wiring, tear up stored materials, and contaminate surfaces. If you’re wondering how to keep mice out of a garage without spending a lot, the most cost-effective approach is simple: block the entry points first, then remove the things that make your garage appealing. 

What Are the Signs of Mice in Your Home or Garage? 

Before mouse-proofing your space, confirm that mice are the problem. They’re not always visible, so watch for rodent droppings, faint scratching sounds, gnaw marks, and wood shavings. Also check for gaps and holes as small as ¼ inch in doors, walls, or baseboards. 

How to Get Rid of Mice in Garage 

If mice are already in your garage, use snap traps baited with peanut butter along the walls and avoid glue or live traps. Rat poison is dangerous to more than just mice, so only use approved rodenticides in tamper-resistant bait stations. Wear gloves and ventilate the space when removing dead mice, and call a pest pro if the infestation is severe. 

How to Keep Mice Out of Your Garage 

Once you’ve removed the mice, take these steps to keep them from coming back. 

Start by finding the real entry point 

Before you buy anything, take a few minutes to find where mice are getting in. Most garages have gaps under the overhead door, at uneven corners, or around the side/passage door. Turn off the lights at night and look for daylight or airflow near the floor — if you can see or feel a gap, mice can use it. 

Seal the overhead door bottom 

If you only invest in one upgrade, make it the bottom of your garage door. Standard vinyl or soft rubber seals may be cheaper, but mice can chew through them quickly, reopening the gap. A rodent proof garage door bottom seal costs a bit more upfront, but it prevents repeat replacements and is the best long-term fix 

A reliable option is the Rodent Proof (w/ Xcluder® Mesh) Bottom Seal, which combines durable rubber with a chew-resistant barrier to create a true rodent proof garage door seal. If your seal is damaged and the retainer is bent or worn, it’s often easier to replace both together. The rodentBLOCK (w/ Xcluder®) Bottom Seal Replacement Kit includes the retainer, seal, and hardware for a tight install that works as an effective garage door rodent guard. 

Don’t overlook the passage door 

Even with a rodent proof garage door bottom seal, mice can slip in through the side or passage door, especially if the sweep is missing or made of soft material. Installing a door sweep for mice that seals tightly and resists chewing is a quick, low-cost fix. The rodentBLOCK Residential Door Sweep is built for this exact problem and helps stop repeat entry. 

Free habits that make sealing work better 

Once the doors are sealed, the cheapest improvements are behavioral. Reduce clutter along walls and avoid storing items in cardboard on the floor — it holds scent and makes easy nesting. Use sealed plastic bins instead. Also cut off food smells; mice are drawn to bird seed, pet food, trash, spilled grass seed, fertilizer, and even grill drippings. Keeping these in airtight containers (and cleaning up spills) makes your new seals far more effective. 

The most affordable way to keep mice out isn’t a spray or a gadget — it’s closing the gaps they rely on. Start with a rodent proof garage door seal on the overhead door (like the Rodent Proof Garage Door Bottom Seal or full Replacement Kit), add a chew-resistant passage door sweep for mice, and then remove clutter and food smells that attract pests. That combination keeps rodents out for good by stopping re-entry at the source.