Deck Privacy Screen Calculator
A lattice privacy screen is a run of framed panels between posts. Enter how long and how tall the screen is and how far apart the posts are (no more than 8 ft, the length of a lattice panel). The calculator works out the bays, picks the panel orientation that wastes least, and counts 4 × 8 ft panels, posts, top and bottom rails and the moulding that frames each panel.
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Finish the rest of the edge with the deck railing calculator.
Lattice panels for common screen sizes
4 × 8 ft panels, posts at both ends, laid whichever way uses fewer panels in each bay.
| Screen | Post spacing | Bays | Panels | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft × 6 ft high | 8 ft | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 12 ft × 6 ft high | 6 ft | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 16 ft × 6 ft high | 8 ft | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 16 ft × 8 ft high | 8 ft | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 24 ft × 6 ft high | 8 ft | 3 | 6 | 4 |
Building a privacy screen that stays up
Frame each bay with a top and bottom rail between the posts, slip the lattice into cap or U-moulding so the cut edges are covered, and screw the moulding to the frame. Barrette Outdoor Living sells its 4' × 8' privacy lattice with matching screws, cap moulding and divider moulding. Small-opening privacy patterns block more view — and catch more wind.
That wind load is why a tall screen needs its own posts bolted to the deck frame or set in footings; ordinary railing posts aren't designed for it. Plan the posts with the deck post calculator, and if the screen continues as a railing use the deck railing calculator. Covering the space under the deck instead? See the deck skirting cost calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many lattice panels for a deck privacy screen?
- Split the screen into bays between posts, then fit 4 × 8 ft panels into each bay. A 12 ft screen 6 ft high with posts 6 ft apart has two 6 × 6 ft bays; each takes two panels, so four panels in all.
- What size are lattice panels?
- The standard size is 4 × 8 ft, with 2 × 8 ft strips for skirting and toppers. Barrette Outdoor Living sells its vinyl privacy lattice in 4' × 8' panels in diamond and square patterns.
- How far apart should privacy screen posts be?
- No more than 8 ft, so one length of lattice spans a bay without a joint. Closer posts — 6 ft is common for tall screens — make the screen stiffer in wind.
- Can I attach a privacy screen to deck railing posts?
- Only if the posts were built to take it. A solid or lattice screen catches far more wind than a railing, and railing posts are designed for a person leaning on them, not a sail. Through-bolt dedicated posts to the frame or set them in footings.
- Is vinyl or wood lattice better for privacy?
- Vinyl doesn't need painting and won't rot, and privacy patterns with small openings block more view. Wood or pressure-treated lattice is cheaper and can be stained to match the deck but needs refinishing.
