Screened Porch Cost Calculator
Prices a screened porch as a porch plus a screening system, because the screen is the part people underestimate — the framing, the spline or panel system, the door and the kick panels all add up separately from the roof.
Recommended products for this project
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Outdoor Solid Composite Decking Boards 96"x5.43"x1", Polymer Composite Decking for All Weather Use,Poolside,Backyard,Patio(6 Pcs,Redwood and Maple,21.72sqft)
View on Amazon
Swanson Tool Co PL001M Magnetic Composite Post Level, Yellow, Includes Elastic Loop for Hands-Free Work and 3 Vials for Easy Plumb and Level Reads
View on Amazon
Ready Seal Exterior Wood Stain | Semi-Transparent Oil-Based Formula | Professional Grade Stain and Sealer in One | Ideal for Decks, Fences, Pergolas, Wood Siding & More | 5 Gallon | Natural Cedar
View on Amazon
SUNVIE All-in-One Low Voltage Deck Lights Kit, 8 Pack 5W Low Voltage Landscape Lighting with 60W Transformer 100FT Wire and Connectors, 3000K 12-24V AC/DC LED Deck Step Lights for Fence Post Patio
View on AmazonGet the Smart Decking Calculator app
Estimate decks on the go, save projects, and share with contractors.
Building something else? Try our sister calculators
Smart Fencing Calculator
Estimate fence cost by material and linear footage.
Smart Roofing Calculator
Free roof replacement cost estimates by material.
Smart Drywall Calculator
Android app — drywall sheets, mud, and tape estimates.
Smart Fencing Calculator
Android app — fence cost estimates on the go.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to screen in a porch?
- If the roof already exists, screening it in is the cheap version of this project — you are buying framing, the screen system and a door rather than a structure. If you are starting from an open deck or from nothing, the roof dominates the cost and the screens are a modest addition on top.
- What is the cheapest way to screen a porch?
- Traditional screen stapled and splined into site-built wood frames. It costs the least in materials and is well within DIY range. The trade-off is repairs: when a panel tears you re-spline that whole frame, whereas a track system lets you replace one section in minutes.
- What screen material should I use?
- Fibreglass is the default — cheap, easy to work and does not crease. Aluminium is more durable but dents and shows every mistake. Pet-resistant screen is roughly seven times stronger and worth it for the lower panels if you have a dog. Solar screen cuts heat noticeably but darkens the porch.
- Do I need a permit to screen in a porch?
- Screening an existing roofed porch often does not need one, because you are not changing the structure. Building the roof does. Rules vary a lot by jurisdiction, and some treat enclosing a porch as adding conditioned-adjacent space — worth one phone call to the building department before you start.
- Should I add kick panels?
- If you have pets or young children, yes. The bottom 18 to 24 inches of screen takes almost all the damage — paws, toys, mower debris, feet. A solid kick panel in that zone means you replace a scuffed board occasionally instead of re-screening every season.
