Prices checked . The short answer: a professionally installed screened in porch cost runs $17,000–$40,000 for an attached addition — about $80–$250 per square foot depending on framing, roof, and finishes. The project we quote most, a 12×20 porch (240 sq ft) added onto a house, lands at $12,000–$35,000 before electric and site prep. Our crew has built more than 25 screened porches since 2011, so the numbers below come from real bids, not estimates.
This guide breaks down every line item so you can budget without surprises.
Screened in Porch Cost at a Glance
Here is what the screened in porch cost looks like for a typical 12×20 in 2026, based on our bids and the national contractor pricing data Angi publishes.
| Option | Cost range (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 12×20 aluminum-frame porch | $12,000–$22,000 | Extruded aluminum posts, rails, and screen spline; about $50–$92/sq ft; near-zero maintenance |
| 12×20 wood-frame porch | $18,000–$35,000 | Cedar or pressure-treated framing; $75–$145/sq ft; paint or stain every 2–3 years |
| 12×20 with roof matched to house | +$8,000–$15,000 | Ties into your shingles; pitch, flashing, and valleys drive the number |
| 12×20 with aluminum roof | +$7,000–$12,000 | Standing-seam or ribbed panels; lighter, no shingle matching |
| DIY screen room kit (materials only) | $3,000–$8,000 | No labor, no permit, no roof tie-in; you supply the weekends |
All figures are installed unless noted; labor runs 45–60% of the total.
What Drives the Screened in Porch Cost
Five variables move the final number more than anything else:
- Size. Contractors price at $80–$250/sq ft, but bigger doesn’t scale linearly. A 10×12 runs $10,000–$30,000; a 16×24 runs $31,000–$96,000 as perimeter and roof area outgrow the floor.
- Frame material. Aluminum keeps a 12×20 at $12,000–$22,000 and never rots. Wood costs $18,000–$35,000, looks right on traditional homes, and needs stain every couple of years.
- Roof type. The biggest single line item. Matching your house roof adds $8,000–$15,000; an aluminum roof runs $7,000–$12,000. A screen-only top is cheapest but gives you zero rain protection.
- Screen material. Fiberglass runs $0.30–$0.60/sq ft; aluminum runs $0.50–$1/sq ft. Add $150–$400 for each aluminum screen door.
- Electric and site prep. Outlets, a ceiling fan, and lights add $300–$1,200. Permits run $200–$800. If the porch goes over an existing deck, budget for deck building cost checks on the framing underneath.
Our Field Experience: 25 Screened Porches
We tracked every screened porch bid our company quoted this year. A 12×20 aluminum-frame porch with an aluminum roof closed at $16,500 installed. The same footprint in cedar, with the roof tied into the house, came in at $28,900. The gap isn’t framing lumber — it’s roof complexity and trim labor.
The roof tie-in surprises nearly every homeowner. People budget for posts and screens, then blink at flashing, valley metal, and shingle matching — often $2,000–$4,000 they didn’t plan for. And on the fiberglass versus aluminum screen debate: fiberglass costs less and never kinks, but it sags and needs replacing sooner. Aluminum holds tension for 20-plus years but dents when kids lean on it. For families, we spec aluminum on the lower panels and fiberglass up top.
“Budget for the roof before you budget the screens. The tie-in is the single biggest surprise on every screened porch we’ve built.” — Mike Hartwell
Screened Porch vs Patio vs Sunroom
The screened porch vs patio decision comes down to bugs, weather, and budget. Here is how the options compare in 2026:
| Option | Typical cost (2026) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Screened porch (12×20) | $17,000–$40,000 | Bug-free airflow; solid roof if you add one |
| Patio cover or pergola | See our patio cover cost guide | Covered-but-open; shade only, no insect barrier |
| Gazebo (freestanding) | See our gazebo cost guide | Standalone structure that works anywhere in the yard |
| Three-season sunroom | $50,000–$100,000+ | Insulated walls and glass; HVAC-ready |
| Uncovered patio | $2,500–$8,000 | Paved and open; zero weather protection |
A fully enclosed porch cost — screening plus glass storm windows — edges toward the sunroom figure, so decide early whether you need year-round comfort or just bug-free summers.
DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Screen room kits from Home Depot and Lowe’s run $3,000–$8,000 for a 12×20, materials only. If you have a level slab and a straight house wall, a kit builds out in a long weekend and can cut screen porch cost by half.
What DIY misses: the roof tie-in, which needs flashing and shingle work you cannot fake; the permit ($200–$800), which most municipalities require; and the electric, where code work runs $300–$1,200. Labor is 45–60% of a professional quote for a reason — a poorly splined panel blows out in the first storm, and an unpermitted porch surfaces at resale time.
Regional Pricing: Canada & New Zealand
U.S. figures translate with your local multiplier: about 1.35× for Canada and 1.65× for New Zealand. A 12×20 screened in porch cost in Toronto lands around CAD $23,000–$54,000 installed; the same porch in Auckland runs NZD $28,000–$66,000. Canadian builds should budget extra for footings set below the frost line; New Zealand homes rarely need them.
| Market | 12×20 aluminum | 12×20 wood | Typical installed total |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $12,000–$22,000 | $18,000–$35,000 | $17,000–$40,000 |
| Canada (×1.35) | CAD $16,200–$29,700 | CAD $24,300–$47,250 | CAD $23,000–$54,000 |
| New Zealand (×1.65) | NZD $19,800–$36,300 | NZD $29,700–$57,750 | NZD $28,000–$66,000 |
New Zealand’s screen culture differs. Kiwis grew up with flyscreen — locally called “mosquito mesh” — on nearly every window, so screened rooms feel familiar there. NZ contractors stock aluminum mesh as the default, with fiberglass as the budget option — the reverse of the U.S. market.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to screen in an existing porch?
If the frame and roof already exist, screening a 12×20 runs about $1,200–$3,500 installed. Screen material is cheap — fiberglass at $0.30–$0.60/sq ft or aluminum at $0.50–$1/sq ft — so spline labor and door hanging make up most of the bill.
Is a screened porch worth it?
For most homeowners, yes. NADRA’s industry data puts typical resale recoupment near 70%, and a bug-free outdoor room adds months of usable evenings. If mosquitoes run your backyard now, it pays for itself in use.
Does a screened porch add home value?
Yes. A permitted, professionally built porch typically recoups about 70% of its cost at resale, according to NADRA. Buyers treat attached, enclosed outdoor space as living area, and it shortens time on market.
How much does it cost to replace screens?
Screen replacement runs $3–$6/sq ft installed. Fiberglass sits at the low end; aluminum and pet-resistant mesh at the high end. A 12×20 with roughly 100 sq ft of screen means $300–$600 when panels eventually give out.
Screened porch vs sunroom — which is cheaper?
A screened porch wins: $17,000–$40,000 versus $50,000–$100,000+ for a three-season sunroom. Choose the sunroom only if you need year-round, heated comfort; choose the porch if you want airflow with bug protection.
Do I need a permit for a screened porch?
Almost always, when it’s attached to a house. Permits run $200–$800, and the inspection protects you — unpermitted porches can stall a resale and fail under storm loads.
Sources
- Angi — national contractor cost data for screened porches
- Home Depot — screen mesh and screen room kit pricing
- Lowe’s — screening materials and porch kit pricing
- NADRA — North American Deck and Railing Association data on resale value
