Here’s What It Costs to Add Screened-In Porch in 2024

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 to $30 per square foot
• Aluminum: $4 to $15 per square foot.
• Glass: $22 to $75 per square foot

Posts, beams, and railings

• Fiberglass: $60 for posts
• Wood: $20 and up for posts, $26 and up for railing
• Stone: $600 to $820 for decorative stone columns
• Vinyl: $15 to $50 per linear foot, $60 and up for railing
• Aluminum: $30 to 120 per linear foot, $84 and up for railing
• Wrought iron: $65 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 in 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 up to $70 per hour for their services.

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: $6,127 to $26,163
• 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)