How much does it cost to install window screens?

While window screens are not completely necessary to use a window, they enhance the experience. Screens allow you to open the windows without needing to worry about insects getting in or the family pet getting out. 

Screens are quick and easy to install, and many window manufacturers install them at no additional charge when you purchase a new window. When you want to replace your screens but do not need new windows, you can contract to buy and install just the screens. If you have standard-sized windows, you can purchase preassembled screens or easily assembled screen kits and have them installed for around $10 a screen on average. If you have custom-sized windows, the cost will rise to about $21 a screen on average for a professional to measure, cut the frames, assemble, and install the screen. The average homeowner who needs screens for an entire house, including a sliding door screen, will spend between $50 and $800, with most people spending around $300 for standard screens stretched to fit onsite.

Pros and cons of window screens

Window screens provide many benefits. They keep out bugs and some larger pieces of debris while allowing fresh air to penetrate the inside, allowing you to open your windows on nice days. They can also be a deterrent for pets that may otherwise attempt to escape through an open window. 

Window screens are not a secure option for windows, however. With the window open, a screen is easily kicked in or removed from the outside, allowing intruders to enter your home. Screens are also easy to damage. For example, a kitten’s claws or a tumbling child can tear or ruin a screen. Depending on the framing material, they may bend or crack over time, which makes them less effective. They also darken or slightly obscure your view of the outside, which can be annoying for some homeowners.

Types of window screens

While most window screens operate similarly, different types offer additional features:

Installation process

Screens can come readily assembled, meaning that they are already in a frame, stretched, and ready to be placed in a window. If this is the case, all that has to be done is fitting the screen and snapping down its locks to hold it in place. The entire process takes just a few minutes per screen.

However, many screens are custom-made to fit your windows. In this case, your window is measured, and the frame pieces are cut to fit. The frame is assembled, and the mesh is stretched between the pieces of the frame with a tool that presses it tightly into place, stretching it. Now, the screen can be fit into your window. This process takes longer than the preassembled variety, about 10 minutes start to finish for a professional who does this regularly. In some cases, you can purchase custom frames by giving the measurements to the dealer, and then your installer only has to install them. 

If your frame is in good shape, you could have new mesh stretched to fit the old frame. The process is the same as a custom screen without the need to measure, cut, and assemble the frame.

Labor costs

Labor costs vary depending on the type of screen. For a standard screen, labor is roughly $5 a screen, while labor for a custom screen cut to fit and assembled onsite is around $15 to $17 a screen. For replacing all the screens in a home, the labor portion around $180 out of the $300 total.

Screen replacement vs repair

Screens are not very durable, and many show wear over time like breaks, snags, and sagging. Sometimes instead of replacing the screen, it is possible to have it repaired. Purchase repair kits for around $10 that allow you to put a new piece of mesh over a small hole. While this is not the most attractive method, it can help make your screen last longer. Likewise, if the screen is coming out of the frame, you may be able to reattach it using a roller tool that retails for around $15. 

A screen that has been damaged once, however, may become damaged again easily. And patching holes multiple times will make the screen look unattractive. Repairs are generally a good method if you have a single screen with one small issue. But once you notice multiple problems, replacement will usually be the best and longest-lasting choice.

Solar screens vs window tinting

If your home is located in a sunny area, then the UV rays of the sun entering your home through the windows could heat up the interior as well as fade your belongings. Besides curtains, you have two ways of dealing with this issue - using solar screens or tinting your windows.

Solar screens are dark-colored mesh screens. They can be strictly solar or also be pet or security screens. They are dark and can slightly obscure your view, but you can remove them when no longer needed. Having a solar screen installed costs around $21 for a custom screen. 

Window tinting involves putting a dark film over your windows to reflect the light. Like a solar screen, it darkens and partially obscures your view. Unlike a solar screen, however, it is very difficult and expensive to remove the film. So, if you do not like the effect, you may feel obligated to keep it. Window tinting costs around $7 a square foot, with the average window requiring 5 square feet, making it about $35 a window.

Enhancement and improvement costs

Adjustable Screens

If you want a readymade screen but do not know the size, purchase an adjustable one. These screens shrink or grow to fit a variety of sizes, so they may work in some oddly shaped windows. They cost between $40 and $100/screen depending on options.

Retractable Screens

If you want the option of looking through your windows without needing to remove the screen, purchase a retractable one. The frame remains in place, but the screen portion slides up and down, providing an unobstructed view. They cost between $90 and $200/screen.

Hinged Screens

Hinged screens also provide options for positioning the screen or allowing you to fully open the window without removing the screen. They cost between $90 and $200/screen.

Custom Screens

If you have an oddly shaped window, you may need a custom screen. This involves purchasing the frame in addition to the mesh. The installer will cut and assemble the frame on-site and then install the mesh. The entire process costs around $30/screen, depending on the screen material.

Screen Doors

Screen doors are made the same way a window screen is but with a sturdier frame and either hinges or a track for sliding. They cost around $100 to $200/each.

Additional considerations and costs

• Some people take their screens off when they are not in use, such as in the winter. This helps keep them from being damaged by pets or children, and it can help them last longer.
• Many screens can be used on porches. Fiberglass makes a good choice because it will not tear or sag as much as other types.
• Window screens can be removed from the window or frame, and the frame can be reused with a new screen.
• You can install readymade screens yourself very easily, and some screens can be put together by the homeowner with the right tools as well.