How Much Does a Screened-In Porch Cost in 2026? ($2,800 Avg)
Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·5 min read·6 sources Quick answerQuick answer: A screened-in porch costs $2,800 on average nationally, with most projects ranging from $1,500 to $22,000. Enclosing an existing covered porch runs $10-$25 per square foot; building a brand-new screened porch addition costs $50-$175 per square foot.
- ✓The national average cost to screen in a porch is $2,800, with typical projects ranging from $1,500 to $22,000 (Angi).
- ✓Enclosing an existing covered porch with screens runs $10-$25 per square foot (HomeGuide, King-struction), or about $2,000-$5,800 total (King-struction).
- ✓Building a brand-new screened porch addition costs $50-$175 per square foot (HomeGuide, King-struction), or $10,000-$35,000 for a typical project (King-struction).
- ✓Screen material alone ranges from about $0.15 per square foot for basic fiberglass mesh up to $6-$7 per square foot for premium copper or bronze screening (Inch Calculator, King-struction).
How much does screened in porch cost?
National average
$2,800
total project
Typical range
$1,500–$22,000
Most projects
Whole project
$250–$35,000
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Cost by material / type
| Type | Low | High |
|---|
| Screen an existing covered porch (per sq ft) | $10 | $25 |
| Screen an existing covered porch (total project) | $2,000 | $5,800 |
| New screened porch addition (per sq ft) | $50 | $175 |
| New screened porch addition (total project) | $10,000 | $35,000 |
| Rescreening existing torn screens (total) | $800 | $5,200 |
| DIY screening kit (materials only, 8x8 section) | $250 | $300 |
| DIY full porch screening kit | $500 | $1,500 |
What affects the cost?
- Whether you're screening an existing covered porch versus building a new porch structure from scratch: existing enclosures run $10-$25 per sq ft while new-build additions run $50-$175 per sq ft (HomeGuide, King-struction)
- Porch size: a typical 12x12 enclosure runs about $2,000 while a 20x20 enclosure runs about $5,000 (Angi)
- Screen material: fiberglass mesh is cheapest at roughly $0.15-$0.50 per sq ft, aluminum runs $0.30-$0.75 per sq ft, and premium options like copper, bronze, or pet-resistant screening run $2-$7 per sq ft (Inch Calculator, HomeGuide, Angi, King-struction)
- Framing material: pressure-treated wood runs $10-$15 per sq ft, composite decking runs $6-$12 per sq ft, and cedar framing runs $5-$9 per sq ft (King-struction, Bhumi Calculator)
- Roofing work: if a new roof or roof extension is needed, roofing alone adds $70-$155 per sq ft (HomeGuide, King-struction)
- Labor rates, which run roughly $4-$60 per sq ft depending on project complexity, or about $70/hour for simpler rescreening jobs (HomeGuide, Angi)
- Electrical additions such as outlets, lighting, or a ceiling fan, which add $250-$700 for electrical work and $150-$500 for a ceiling fan (King-struction, HomeGuide)
- Permits, which typically run $100-$500 for a simple screen-in but can reach $3,900 for larger new-build projects requiring structural permits (Angi, HomeGuide, King-struction)
Why does a screened-in porch cost so much?
The honest answer is that “screened-in porch cost” actually covers two very different jobs, and the price gap between them is huge. Screening in a porch that already has a roof and framing is the cheap version: $10-$25 per square foot installed (HomeGuide, King-struction), or about $2,000-$5,800 total (King-struction). Building an entirely new screened porch addition, with new footings, framing, and a roof, is a different project altogether at $50-$175 per square foot (HomeGuide, King-struction), or $10,000-$35,000 (King-struction). Angi’s blended national average across both scenarios lands at $2,800, with typical spending falling between $1,500 and $22,000. Inch Calculator, which weights more heavily toward full new-build projects, reports a $15,000-$30,000 typical range and a $65-per-square-foot average. So before comparing quotes, figure out which project you’re actually pricing.
What affects the cost?
Size and scope drive most of the variation. A 12x12 enclosure of an existing porch runs about $2,000, while a 20x20 enclosure runs about $5,000; building those same sizes as new porches costs $7,200 and $20,000 respectively (Angi). Screen material matters too: basic fiberglass mesh costs as little as $0.15-$0.50 per square foot, aluminum runs $0.30-$0.75, and upgraded options like pet-resistant, solar, or copper/bronze screening can run $2-$7 per square foot (Inch Calculator, HomeGuide, Angi, King-struction). Framing material shifts the budget further, pressure-treated wood runs $10-$15 per square foot for new framing, while cedar runs $5-$9 (King-struction, Bhumi Calculator). If a roof extension is needed, roofing alone adds $70-$155 per square foot (HomeGuide, King-struction). Add-ons like electrical ($250-$700), a ceiling fan ($150-$500), and permits ($100-$500 for simple jobs, up to $3,900 for larger new-build permits) round out the total (King-struction, HomeGuide, Angi).
How to lower your screened-in porch cost
- Screen an existing covered porch instead of building new. This alone is the single biggest lever: $2,000-$5,800 versus $10,000-$35,000 for a new-build addition (King-struction).
- Choose standard fiberglass or aluminum screening. These run $0.15-$0.75 per square foot, versus $2-$7 for copper, bronze, or specialty pet-resistant mesh (Inch Calculator, HomeGuide, King-struction).
- Consider a DIY kit for a small section. An 8x8 screening kit costs $250-$300 in materials, and full DIY porch kits run $500-$1,500, well under hiring a full crew (Bob Vila, HomeGuide).
- Only rescreen what’s damaged. If the frame and structure are sound and you just need new mesh, rescreening runs $800-$5,200 (avg $2,900), far less than a full re-do (Angi).
- Skip electrical add-ons if you don’t need them. Outlets and lighting add $250-$700 and a ceiling fan adds $150-$500 on top of the base screening cost (King-struction, HomeGuide); these are easy to defer to a later project.
- Get multiple quotes, since labor is the biggest swing factor. Labor alone can run $4-$60 per square foot depending on project complexity, so pricing out two or three contractors on the same scope of work is worth the effort (HomeGuide).
Prices vary by region, porch size, and whether structural or roofing work is required, so treat these figures as a planning baseline and confirm with a local, on-site quote before committing.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to screen in an existing porch?+
Screening in an existing covered porch typically costs $10-$25 per square foot installed (HomeGuide, King-struction), or roughly $2,000-$5,800 total for an average-size porch (King-struction). Angi's own existing-porch-specific figures run $2,000-$4,000, while its widely cited $2,800 average and $1,500-$22,000 range are blended across both existing-porch and new-build screened porch projects.
How much does it cost to build a new screened-in porch from scratch?+
A brand-new screened porch addition, including framing and roofing, runs $50-$175 per square foot (HomeGuide, King-struction), or about $10,000-$35,000 for a typical project (King-struction). Larger or more upgraded builds can run $15,000-$30,000 and occasionally exceed $45,000 (Inch Calculator).
What's the cheapest way to screen in a porch?+
A basic DIY screening kit for an 8-by-8-foot section costs about $250-$300 in materials (Bob Vila), and a full DIY porch-screening kit runs $500-$1,500 (HomeGuide). Hiring a pro just for installation on an already-built porch typically adds $300-$600 in labor (Bob Vila).
How much does it cost to rescreen a porch that already has screens?+
Rescreening, replacing worn or torn screens on a porch that's already built, costs $800-$5,200, averaging around $2,900, according to Angi. King-struction quotes a lower per-square-foot rate of $2-$4 for rescreening-only work.
What screen material is most affordable?+
Standard fiberglass mesh is cheapest at roughly $0.15-$0.50 per square foot, and aluminum runs $0.30-$0.75 per square foot. Premium options like copper, bronze, or pet-resistant screening can run $2-$7 per square foot (Inch Calculator, HomeGuide, Angi, King-struction).
Does adding electrical or a ceiling fan increase the cost?+
Yes. Electrical work for a screened porch adds roughly $250-$700 (King-struction), and installing a ceiling fan costs an additional $150-$500 (HomeGuide).
Sources
Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-24):
- Angi — Average cost $2,800; low end $1,500, high end $22,000. Enclosing existing porch typically $2,000 to $4,000, at $5-$20 per sq ft; building new porch $25-$120 per sq ft. By size: 12x12 enclose existing $2,000 / build new $7,200; 14x16 enclose existing $2,900 / build new $11,200; 20x20 enclose existing $5,000 / build new $20,000. Screen materials per sq ft: fiberglass $0.25-$0.50, aluminum $0.35-$0.70, copper $1-$1.50, stainless steel $1-$1.25, solar $0.75-$1.50. Motorized retractable screens $2,000-$4,000 per unit. Rescreening $800-$5,200 (avg $2,900). Screen door $100-$2,500. Permits $100-$300. Labor about $70/hour.
- HomeGuide — Total installed cost: existing porch $10-$25 per sq ft; new porch $50-$175 per sq ft. Labor $4-$60 per sq ft (existing $4-$10, new $22-$60). Materials existing $6-$15 per sq ft, new $28-$115 per sq ft. Screen materials per sq ft: fiberglass $0.20-$0.35, aluminum $0.45-$0.75, copper $2.00-$3.00, solar sun-blocking $0.85-$1.30, stainless steel $0.90-$2.00. Motorized retractable screens $30-$50 per unit component. Posts $30-$250 each. Roofing $70-$155 per sq ft. Railing $20-$60 per linear ft. Concrete steps $100-$500 per step. Building permit $200-$500. Ceiling fan $150-$500. DIY basic kits $500-$1,500; quality kits $2,000-$7,000+.
- Inch Calculator — National average price $20,000; typical range $15,000-$30,000. Average price per sq ft $65, typical range $60-$80. Just adding screens to existing porch: material only $3-$5 per sq ft, installed $5-$7 per sq ft, average project cost $2,400. New screened porch build $15,000-$30,000, can exceed $45,000. Frame & screens only DIY approx $6.85/sq ft (minimum $685 for 100 sq ft). Completely new build range $4,800-$24,000. Screen material costs per sq ft: fiberglass $0.15, aluminum $0.30, polyester $0.60, steel $1.00, bronze/copper/Monel $6.00. Building permit approx $200. Designer plans $200-$1,000. Roof framing and labor $300+ per sq ft.
- Bob Vila — DIY materials for a 200 sq ft covered porch as little as $450 (lumber, screen fabric, screws, paint), plus $300-$600 in professional labor if hired for installation. A screening kit for an 8-foot-by-8-foot section typically sells for $250-$300. Major construction projects (covered deck or screened porch requiring roof/framing work) run anywhere from $5,000 to well over $20,000 depending on size and design.
- King-struction — Screening existing porch $2,000-$5,800 ($10-$25 per sq ft). New porch build $10,000-$35,000 ($50-$175 per sq ft). Small 12x12 porch $1,500-$12,000. Rescreening only $2-$4 per sq ft. Pressure-treated wood framing $10-$15 per sq ft; vinyl/PVC framing $150-$300 total. Screen materials per sq ft: fiberglass $0.20-$3, aluminum $0.50-$3, copper $4-$7, pet-resistant $5-$7. Gable roof $70-$155 per sq ft; flat vinyl/aluminum cover $20-$60 per sq ft. Permits $100-$3,900. Electrical work $250-$700.
- Bhumi Calculator — Average cost per sq ft $15-$35 professionally built. By size: 100 sq ft $1,500-$3,500, 200 sq ft $3,000-$7,000, 300 sq ft $4,500-$10,500, 400 sq ft $6,000-$14,000. Labor $10-$20 per sq ft (55-65% of total); materials $5-$15 per sq ft (35-45% of total). Screen materials per sq ft: standard fiberglass $0.25-$0.60, pet-resistant $0.55-$1.10, solar $0.70-$1.50. Retractable screens $40-$80 per linear ft. Pressure-treated framing $2-$4 per sq ft; cedar framing $5-$9 per sq ft; composite decking $6-$12 per sq ft. Regional per-sq-ft ranges: Northeast $20-$40, Midwest $16-$32, South $14-$28, West $22-$45, Mountain $18-$38.
Screened-in porch costs span an unusually wide range because 'screened in porch' covers two very different jobs: (1) adding screens to a porch that already has a roof and framing, which is comparatively cheap ($1,500-$5,800 total, $10-$25/sq ft), and (2) building an entirely new screened porch addition with new framing and roofing, which runs far more ($10,000-$35,000+, $50-$175/sq ft). The published national average ($2,800) and headline range ($1,500-$22,000) come from Angi and represent the blended figure across simple-to-elaborate enclosure projects; the project_high_usd ($35,000) reflects the upper end of new-build additions per King-struction, whose $10,000-$35,000 new-build range is the source-backed figure used throughout this guide (King-struction, not HomeGuide, is the source that states this total). DIY-only figures (Bob Vila, HomeGuide) show simple screen kits can cost as little as $250-$1,500 in materials, with $300-$600 added if hiring labor just for installation on an already-built structure. All figures assume a typical single-story porch; multi-story or complex rooflines cost more.