The cost of repairing a porch screen is $3,994 on average, but it can cost between $890 and $7,097 or more depending on the size and materials.
From spring breakfasts to summer happy hours, your porch or sunroom is a favorite gathering spot year-round. But even the best screens won’t last forever. When your porch, sunroom, or patio screens rip or tear, expect to pay between $890 and $7,097 to repair them. The average price most people pay is about $3,994, or $0.25 to $2.50 per square foot depending on the materials.
Minor repairs fall on the lower end of the price range, and more significant repairs fall on the higher end. The final price varies based on the extent of the damage and the quality of the replacement screen. The following breaks down all of the cost factors you need to know.
Whether you use your porch or sunroom as a play area for the kids or a quiet nook for the adults, if a screen rips, you probably want it fixed ASAP.
There are several types of screen material for patio repairs and replacement, and each comes in at a different price point. If you live in an area with heavy rainfall and gusty winds, you’ll want the fabric to be weighty enough that it won’t sag or bulge.
These are the prices for the most common types of patio and sunroom screens (per square foot):
| Material | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Fiberglass | $0.25–$0.50 |
| Aluminum | $0.35–$0.70 |
| Stainless steel | $1–$1.25 |
| Copper | $1–$1.50 |
| Brass | $1.50–$2.50 |
More affordable screens tend to rip and tear more easily than metal screens. Labor comes in at about $110 for the first 38 square feet, then $2 to $3 for each additional square foot. Do-it-yourself and labor won’t cost a thing other than your time.
Hiring a contractor to rescreen your porch can cost around $2,000 in labor. Here are a few related contractor costs that you may run into as your pro completes the project:
Roof repairs: $45–$75 per hour
Screen door installation: $50–$75 per hour
Exterior Pressure Wash: $50–$150 per hour
Even high-quality screens break, tear, rip, and get holes—sometimes caused by an overexcited pet or probing tiny fingers. The total cost you pay will depend on several factors, including where in the country you live. At the low end, the price can be less than $200, and at the high end, you can pay as much as $21,000.
| Location | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Tampa, FL | $400–$1,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $2,175–$11,125 |
| Chicago, IL | $625–$15,000 |
| New York, NY | $1,000–$5,925 |
| San Antonio, TX | $3,450–$22,500 |
| Atlanta, GA | $4,500–$41,725 |
The average labor cost if you hire a sunroom or patio contractor near you is $110 for the first 38 square feet, then $2 to $3 for each additional square foot. Labor to replace glass windows in a sunroom or porch is about $500 for basic inserts. But if your repairs are pretty significant, you might pay as much as $2,000 in labor alone.
When you decide to rescreen a porch, there are additional costs to consider on top of the size of your screen and the amount of labor necessary to complete the rescreening and any other repairs. Here are some other items you’ll want to add to your budget.
Rescreening your porch or sunroom doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Some screening materials, like copper, are more expensive than fiberglass or aluminum.
Here are the costs to rescreen a 10-by-10 porch by type of material, not including labor or other materials.
Fiberglass screens are the most common choice for porches because they are less expensive than aluminum or steel screens. They’re also easier to install than some other types of screens because they don’t crease as easily and are flexible. A 10-by-10 porch rescreened with fiberglass at $0.50 per square foot is about $50, plus labor and other materials.
Aluminum screening is durable and long-lasting, with excellent outward visibility and a good appearance. However, over the years, aluminum can oxidize and develop a powdery coating that might limit visibility. A 10-by-10 porch rescreened with aluminum at $0.70 per square foot is about $70, plus labor and other materials.
In years past, many home porches were screened with copper screening. Today, to keep to historic standards, homeowners of these classic homes may choose to use copper or bronze to retain their home’s historic charm. If you were to rescreen a 10-by-10 porch with copper screening, you would pay about $150, plus labor and other materials.
Stainless steel screening is strong and durable. It’s also resistant to corrosion and ages well. Stainless steel is more expensive than other screening materials for porches, but it’s easy to find and doesn’t bulge or sag as easily as fiberglass. A 10-by-10 porch rescreened with stainless steel will cost about $125, plus labor and other materials.
FYI—if you have a dog or cat (or small kids), you might consider paying extra for a pet-resistant screen. Made of vinyl-coated polyester, a pet-resistant screen is seven times stronger than regular screening. For a 96-inch-by-50-foot roll, you’ll pay about $270.
If you’re hiring a contractor, ask them what replacement method they’ll be using—screen panels or mesh—and determine if the quoted price is different for each method.
If you’re doing this as a DIY project, price out the cost difference between porch screen panels and mesh screen materials, the wood for framing, the base strips, and the caps to create the screened in porch. Preassembled panels can cost between $65 and $155, and unassembled porch screen panels cost around $110. Just the replacement screen kit can cost around $20.
When you start any repair project, it’s common to come across more areas that need repairs. Additional repairs and maintenance when you’re rescreening a porch can include:
Ceiling repair: $45–$55 per square foot
Roof repair: $4–$11 per square foot
Exterior pressure wash: $0.10–$0.50 per square foot
Screen door replacement: $250–$400
Screen door repair: $7–$200
The final cost of any additional repairs will depend on the extent of the damage and the materials you choose.
Before you’re knee-deep into rescreening your porch or sunroom, you might want to make sure you have the time and patience needed to do the job right.
"Replacing a screen is tedious, but with the right tools and help, it is usually a good DIY,” says Andy Kilborn, Angi Expert Review Board member and owner of Andy’s Handyman. “If you're considering it, try replacing one small screen area to start. If that goes well, proceed with the rest. If it has more complexity than you expected, consult a professional."
A 8-by-10-foot DIY kit sells for about $250 to $300 and has everything you need to screen an 8-by-10-foot porch. Most kits include a roll of the screen, one spline tool, and spline (a vinyl cording that fixes the screening material into the frame).
You’ll also want a straightedge knife, ruler, scissors, tape, and cleaning supplies on hand. Kits come in various sizes and can save you the cost of buying each item separately. Make sure to match the existing spline, or your installation won’t go well.
To be sure the screen is stretched tight enough to prevent sagging, ask for help. In this instance, four hands are better than two. But, by doing it yourself, you are saving up to $2,000 on labor alone. However, hiring a pro can help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure your screen is installed correctly.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
If you’re not an experienced DIYer, consider hiring a local patio repair contractor to rescreen your porch or sunroom. Unless you’re only repairing a small rip or hole, this project is not an easy job. A professional can also make recommendations for materials that will work best for your porch.
Yes, a variety of screen materials cut out glare from the sun. Solar screen material can block up to 90% of the glare and heat from the sun, saving on cooling costs. It also offers privacy yet unlimited outward visibility. The cost depends on the size of the screen roll, but solar screens cost between $25 and $90 per roll.
Rescreening your porch can take a few hours to a whole day, depending on the size of the enclosure and the amount of screen that needs replacing. If you decide to have a professional handle the rescreening, be sure to get a timeline as well as a cost estimate so you know how long you’ll be without the screened in space.
The screen material you choose depends on your needs. Here are some differences to consider:
Fiberglass is the least expensive but needs replacing more often.
Aluminum suits almost any job and doesn’t stretch as easily as fiberglass.
Pet-resistant screens are more expensive than fiberglass or aluminum, but they’re also wind and weather resistant.
Metal screens, like stainless steel, are the most expensive material for rescreening your porch or sunroom. However, they last for years and are golf ball resistant.
