Here’s What It Costs to Add Screened-In Porch in 2024
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Evette Zalvino Contributing AuthorClose
Evette Zalvino Contributing AuthorEvette is just your average HGTV fan who dreams of having a home worthy of being on one of those shows. When she isn't writing for HomeLight, she's working at her local real estate office. In her downtime, you'll find her searching for the next great hiking trail in her area.
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Joseph Gordon Associate EditorClose
Joseph Gordon Associate EditorJoseph Gordon is an Associate Editor with HomeLight. He has seven years of experience reporting on the commercial real estate and insurance industries. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco.
At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.
What does adding a screened-in area to your existing porch cost using a ready-made kit cost in 2024? This can typically range between $2,000 to $2,800. Professional installations within that range can cost as much as $2 per square foot.
However, a completely new porch construction may cost you between $25 and $120 per square foot. However, if you start the project from scratch, it might run you closer to $40,000, factoring in permits and material expenses.
That is quite a large sum of money, but a screened-in porch is a must for homeowners who enjoy being outside but hate being eaten alive by bugs. Plus, once the project is completed, homeowners can expect a 75% return on their investment in terms of home value, on average.
Now, you can sit outside without becoming a buffet for mosquitos and have an additional living space that can serve many purposes. It can be a nice place to entertain guests or have a romantic dinner with your sweetheart. You can use it as a home office when you need a change of scenery or turn it into a space where you can exercise and get invigorated by the fresh air.
What's Your Home Worth?
Consider getting a free online home value estimate before you make any major additions to your house, such as a screened-in porch.
We’ve compiled this handy pricing guide, updated for 2024, to help you determine the cost of building a screened-in porch.
Screened-in porch overview
When you begin budgeting for your screened-in porch, remember that the actual size of the porch — including the materials you use, location, and any upgrades — will affect the overall cost. With that said, here are a few broad estimates from some popular home improvement websites:
HomeAdvisor
All costs are represented as averages, not to be confused with exact estimates. Always research your area’s prices before committing to any home improvement project.
HomeAdvisor costs are estimated from over 2 million users across over 400 projects.
- New screened-in porch: $4,600 to $22,000 + $2,000 to $2,800 for screen installation
- Add screen to existing porch: $2,000 to $2,800
- Cost per square foot: $3 to $5 per square foot for materials and $2 per square foot for labor to add screening; $25 to $120 per square foot to build new
- Convert a deck to a screened porch: $19 to $37 per square foot; Asphalt roof extension – $16 to $30 per square foot, Aluminum patio covers – $14 – $22 per square foot
HomeGuide
HomeGuide tracks millions of project cost estimates nationwide from its network of 30,000 local professionals.
- New screened-in porch: $10,000 to $35,000 total or $50 to $175 per square foot.
- Add screen to existing porch: $2,000 to $5,000 on average or $10 to $25 per square foot.
- Cost per square foot: $10 – $25 per square foot for adding screens to an existing porch
- Convert a deck to a screened porch: $25 to $50 per square foot
Fixr
Fixr gathers data from the latest cost studies, U.S. government websites, specialty associations, vendor sites, and a 90,000+ local contractor network.
- New screened-in porch: $15,000 to $35,000
- Add screen to existing porch: $5 to $7 per square foot
- Cost per square foot: $2.50 to $30 per square foot for screening, depending on materials, plus $72 to $82 per square foot for labor on an existing porch; $30 to $47 per square foot for materials to build new
- Convert a deck to a screened porch: $8,000 to $10,000 for roofing, plus $2.50 to $30 per square foot for screening
Key factors that affect the cost
Whether you’re building new or screening an existing patio, there are several factors that will affect your budget.
Location
You could spend more depending on where you live and the type of living space you want to create. For example, Archadeck of Kansas City, which builds outdoor living spaces throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area, including Jackson County, Missouri, says the average cost to build a screened porch in their area starts at $25,000.
In comparison, James Moylan of Design Builders, Inc., a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor in Bethesda, Maryland, estimates most projects run between $60,000 to $100,000.
“What we build is essentially an addition that doesn’t have walls,” Moylan says.
Materials
The type of materials will have a considerable impact on your budget. Here’s a breakdown of some materials commonly used to build a screened-in porch.
Flooring
- Poured concrete: $5.50 and $9 per square foot
- Concrete pavers or stenciling: $4 to $20 per square foot
- Floating wood or tile floor: $20 to $60 per square foot
Roofing
- Shingle: $3.50 to $5.50 per square foot
- Wood: $4.50 to $13.50 per square foot
- Aluminum: $4 to $15 per square foot.
- Glass: $22 to $75 per square foot
Posts, beams, and railings
- Fiberglass: $130 and up for posts, $70 and up for railing
- Wood: $23 and up for posts, $12 and up for railing
- Stone: $650 to $750 for decorative stone columns
- Vinyl: $104 and up for posts, $52 and up for railing
- Aluminum: $108 and up for posts, $84 and up for railing
- Wrought iron: $60 and up for posts, $101 and up for railing
Note: These options will vary in cost by material and architectural style (such as Colonial, Farmhouse, Decorative, or Craftsman).
Screens
Moylan’s company uses Screeneze, a warrantied system available to professional contractors and installers that uses an aluminum base, vinyl caps, and no staples or splining. Beyond such an integrated system, prices vary for the type of screen mesh, as well as other features:
- Aluminum mesh: About $2.50 to $4 per square foot.
- Fiberglass: About $4 to $5 per square foot.
- Sun-blocking: About $4 to $5 per square foot.
- Retractable: About $20 to $30 per square foot.
You can also find DIY screened-in porch kits with everything you need to complete your project. Companies like Screen House, Eze Breeze Direct, and Screen Tight can help you create the perfect screened-in porch when you call for a free quote.
Door
If you plan to have a screen door leading from the porch to the yard, expect to pay an average of $300, depending on the door’s style. You also might want to install or revamp a door leading from the house to the porch for about $300 to $600.
Labor
You can save big by building your own porch. Home Depot estimates that if you’re just adding screening to an existing porch, it can be done between 2 to 4 hours.
However, hiring a professional means paying $2 per square foot to screen on an existing porch. If built from scratch, you’re looking at $72 to $82 per square foot.
Square footage
If you entertain a lot, Moylan recommends building a space that’s either 15′ x 20′ or 16′ x 16′, which will give you plenty of space for outdoor dining furniture. However, the porch you design can be as large or small as you’d like. Just remember that the size will impact the cost of materials and labor.
Note: Some homeowner associations and municipalities have specific rules regarding building a screened-in porch, so before you do anything, check with them first and get any necessary permits.
Additional costs to consider
Building permits and land surveying
In most areas, a screened-in porch is considered an addition, and that will require a building permit. Permits for this purpose typically average around $800, varying widely from $100 to $3,900 based on location. Additionally, expect to pay approximately $500 for land surveying service
Since the range is so broad, we recommend considering the cost of applying for a building permit before starting anything.
Add-on features
Your screened-in porch doesn’t just have to have an outdoor dining table. You can add all sorts of features to make your space truly enjoyable. Some popular additional features include:
- Outdoor fireplace: $1,500 to $20,000
- Hot tub: $3,000 to $10,000 for above-ground, $8,000 to $25,000 for in-ground
- Outdoor kitchen: $6,082 to $25,491
- Outdoor ceiling fan: $50 to $10,000 (for tropical designer fans)
Surprise repairs
When budgeting for any project, you should save money for unexpected repairs. These could be as small as cutting materials to the wrong dimensions or as big as a damaged foundation or wood damage (if you’re converting an existing deck or patio).
We recommend setting aside at least 10% to 25% of your overall budget.
The cost of adding a screened-in porch is worth the investment
The cost of adding a screened-in porch to your home (especially if it’s built from scratch) can make it feel like you need a second mortgage to get the job done. But when you look at the bigger picture, you’re expanding the square footage of living space that can serve many purposes. And when you sell, the newly built space can add up to 75% of its cost to your home’s value.
Header Image Source: (Stuart Monk / Shutterstock)
