A screened in porch costs $5 to $25 per square foot to screen an existing covered porch and $30 to $175 per square foot to build a new one, so a 12×16 porch runs about $1,900 to $4,800 screened in or $9,600 to $33,600 built new. The gap between those two numbers is the roof and the floor.
If your porch, deck or patio already has a solid roof, you are paying for screen framing, mesh and a door. If it does not, the roof, posts and foundation make up most of the bill, and the screens are a small line at the end.
Key takeaways
- Screening an existing covered porch: $5–$25 per square foot installed, or $1,900–$4,800 for 12×16 at HomeGuide’s rates.
- A new screened porch with base, roof and screens costs $30–$175 per square foot; HomeGuide puts the typical total at $10,000–$35,000.
- The roof is the biggest line item: a new gable roof with posts and footings runs $70–$155 per square foot of porch.
- Screen mesh itself is cheap: $0.20–$3 per square foot for materials, from fiberglass to copper.
- Doing it yourself on an existing roofed porch saves the $4–$10 per square foot labor charge.
| Cost item | Typical range | How to keep it down |
|---|---|---|
| Screen in an existing covered porch | $5–$25 per sq ft | Reuse the existing posts as screen frame anchors |
| New screened porch, base to roof | $30–$175 per sq ft | Build at ground level on a slab instead of raised |
| 12×16 (192 sq ft), screen existing porch | $1,900–$4,800 | Fiberglass mesh, one screen door |
| 12×16 (192 sq ft), new screened porch | $9,600–$33,600 | Shed or flat roof instead of a full gable |
| New gable roof with posts and footings | $70–$155 per sq ft | A flat aluminum or vinyl cover runs $20–$60 |
| Foundation: slab vs wood deck | $5–$15 vs $25–$50 per sq ft | Pour a slab when the porch can sit at grade |
| Screen door, installed | $175–$500 | Skip the yard door if you only enter from the house |
| Permit for a new screened porch | $150–$500 | Ask whether the contractor’s bid includes it |
| 3-season room instead of screens | $80–$230 per sq ft | Start with screens; glass can replace them later |
Assumptions: ground-level porch, professionally installed, materials and labor, national averages with no regional adjustment. Ranges span HomeGuide (screened porch and porch guides, Feb 2026; enclosure guide, Jul 2024; sunroom guide, Aug 2025) and Fixr (covered patio guide, Feb 2025). Where they disagree, the table shows the full span.
Screened porch cost per square foot, by project type
Screened porch cost per square foot depends first on what already stands there. HomeGuide’s guides price the work in three tiers: adding screens to a porch that has a roof, building a new porch with screens from the ground up, and enclosing a porch with windows to make a 3-season room.
| Project type | Installed cost per sq ft | 12×16 (192 sq ft) total | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen in an existing covered porch or patio | $5–$25 | $1,900–$4,800 | Screen framing, mesh, labor; roof and floor already there |
| New screened porch on a concrete slab | $30–$175 | $9,600–$33,600 | Slab, posts, roof, screens |
| New screened porch on a raised wood deck | Slab price plus $15–$45 | Add $2,880–$8,640 over a slab | Deck framing, guardrail, steps, roof, screens |
| Prefab screen-room kit on an existing deck | Kit price | $500–$7,000+ (kit only) | Frame, panels, screens, door; DIY assembly |
| 3-season room (windows and screens) | $80–$230 | $15,360–$44,160 | Walls, single-pane windows, roof; no HVAC |
Assumptions: per-sq-ft ranges from HomeGuide (2026) and Fixr (2025); 12×16 totals from HomeGuide’s size tables. The raised-deck row is the slab-vs-deck foundation difference below ($5–$10 vs $25–$50 per sq ft) multiplied by 192 sq ft.
Screening in an existing porch
Screening in a porch that already has a roof is the cheapest version. Fixr prices screening an existing covered patio at $5–$7 per square foot, Lawn Love puts materials and labor at $8.40–$12.45, and HomeGuide’s range is $10–$25. HomeGuide splits its number into $6–$15 for materials and screens and $4–$10 for labor.
- The existing roof has to be solid. Fixr notes that an awning, fabric cover, louvered roof or pergola cannot be screened the same way; see how a pergola differs from a gazebo.
- HomeGuide says adding screens and a simple roof to an existing base takes 2 to 7 days.
- Lawn Love’s national average for a 200-square-foot existing porch is $2,085.
Building a new screened porch
A new screened porch means paying for a foundation, posts, a roof and the screens. HomeGuide puts that at $50–$175 per square foot for a ground-level porch, or $10,000–$35,000 total. Fixr’s lower figure, $30–$47 per square foot, is for a covered, screened-in patio, which uses a slab instead of a framed floor.
If your deck already exists, price the roof and screens on top of it and check that the framing can carry the load. To price the deck itself first, see the per-square-foot numbers in deck cost per square foot by material and size.
Screened in porch cost by size
Screened in porch cost by size scales almost directly with floor area, because HomeGuide’s table is a per-square-foot rate multiplied out. The 12×16 row is the size most people price first.
| Porch size | Screen an existing porch | Build a new screened porch | Convert to 3-season room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8×10 (80 sq ft) | $800–$2,000 | $4,000–$14,000 | $6,400–$18,400 |
| 10×10 (100 sq ft) | $1,000–$2,500 | $5,000–$17,500 | $8,000–$23,000 |
| 12×12 (144 sq ft) | $1,400–$3,600 | $7,200–$25,200 | $11,520–$33,120 |
| 12×16 (192 sq ft) | $1,900–$4,800 | $9,600–$33,600 | $15,360–$44,160 |
| 10×20 (200 sq ft) | $2,000–$5,000 | $10,000–$35,000 | $16,000–$46,000 |
| 12×20 (240 sq ft) | $2,400–$6,000 | $12,000–$42,000 | $19,200–$55,200 |
| 16×16 (256 sq ft) | $2,600–$6,400 | $12,800–$44,800 | $20,480–$58,880 |
| 20×20 (400 sq ft) | $4,000–$10,000 | $20,000–$70,000 | $32,000–$92,000 |
Assumptions: installed, ground-level. First two columns from HomeGuide’s screened-in porch guide (Feb 2026); 3-season column from HomeGuide’s porch enclosure guide (Jul 2024), which converts an existing porch.
Small porches cost more per square foot than the table suggests, because a door and a permit cost the same on 80 square feet as on 400. Lawn Love’s small-porch average of $1,500 for 144 square feet works out to about $10 per square foot.
Line items: roof, foundation, posts and electrical
The line items on a new screened porch quote are where bids differ the most. Ask each contractor to price these separately, so you can compare a $12,000 bid with a $30,000 one on the same terms.
| Line item | Installed cost | 12×16 (192 sq ft) estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Gable roof, shingles, posts, footings, framing | $70–$155 per sq ft | $13,440–$29,760 |
| Flat vinyl or aluminum patio cover | $20–$60 per sq ft | $3,840–$11,520 |
| Roof framing only (beams, no roofing) | $6–$15 per sq ft | $1,152–$2,880 |
| Concrete slab foundation | $5–$15 per sq ft | $960–$2,880 |
| Pier and beam foundation | $7–$11 per sq ft | $1,344–$2,112 |
| Wood deck as the floor | $25–$50 per sq ft | $4,800–$9,600 |
| Composite deck as the floor | $40–$80 per sq ft | $7,680–$15,360 |
| Posts (2 to 4 corner posts) | $30–$250 each | $60–$1,000 |
| Flooring over slab or porch | $4–$15 per sq ft | $768–$2,880 |
| Railing (raised porch) | $20–$60 per linear ft | Depends on open sides |
| Steps, 5 to 10 concrete steps | $500–$5,000 per set | One set |
Assumptions: HomeGuide screened porch and porch guides (Feb 2026), slab upper end from HomeGuide’s enclosure guide (Jul 2024). Right column multiplies the per-sq-ft rate by 192 sq ft; HomeGuide’s gable roof range is quoted for a 200 sq ft porch.
HomeGuide notes a screened porch needs 2 to 4 structural corner posts depending on whether it attaches to the house, and heavy roofing may need more. A slab at grade also skips the guardrail and steps a raised deck needs. For ground-level base costs in pavers or concrete, compare paver patio cost per square foot and by size.
Electrical, door and permit
Electrical, doors and the permit are the line items quotes most often leave out. HomeGuide prices them as follows:
- Outdoor outlet: $180–$350 each, labor and materials.
- Light fixture: $80–$300 each, installed.
- Damp-rated ceiling fan: $150–$500 for the unit, plus $400–$1,000 labor.
- Electrician: $50–$130 per hour; HomeGuide notes fees rise when cables are hidden inside the roof soffits.
- Exterior screen door: $175–$500 installed.
- Building permit: $150–$500 for a new porch; enclosing an existing porch can carry remodeling permit fees of $500–$2,000.
HomeGuide says you typically need a building permit for a screened-in porch, with footing inspections before the build, and separate electrical or plumbing permits for new outlets or sinks. Check with your local building department and HOA before you order materials.
Porch screen material prices
Porch screen material prices are the smallest part of the budget. HomeGuide lists unframed screen mesh at $0.20–$3.00 per square foot, while installed screen systems with frames cost $4–$11 per square foot for fiberglass or aluminum.
| Screen material | Material per sq ft | Per 100 sq ft of screen | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiberglass | $0.20–$0.35 | $20–$35 | HomeGuide’s pick for most porches; $4.20–$10.40 installed |
| Aluminum | $0.45–$0.75 | $45–$75 | $4.50–$10.75 installed; Lawn Love notes it can corrode |
| PVC-coated polyester | $0.60–$1.00 | $60–$100 | HomeGuide lists it among the strong options |
| Solar sun-blocking | $0.85–$1.30 | $85–$130 | Lawn Love: lets less sunlight through, for more shade |
| Stainless steel | $0.90–$2.00 | $90–$200 | Higher-end metal mesh |
| Copper (90/10 copper-zinc) | $2.00–$3.00 | $200–$300 | Most expensive mesh |
| Manual retractable unit | $15–$25 | $1,500–$2,500 | Sold as a complete roll-up unit |
| Motorized retractable unit | $30–$50 | $3,000–$5,000 | Before installation |
Assumptions: material prices from HomeGuide’s screened porch guide (Feb 2026), unframed mesh unless noted; installed prices from HomeGuide’s enclosure guide (Jul 2024). Per-100 column is arithmetic.
Rescreening later is cheap by comparison: HomeGuide puts it at $2–$4 per square foot. It also says screens are usually the first part to wear out, typically after 5 to 10 years.
Upgrading to a 3-season room
Upgrading to a 3-season room replaces open screens with windows, usually with screens behind them. HomeGuide prices a 3-season room at $80–$230 per square foot, so a 12×16 porch goes from $1,900–$4,800 screened to $15,360–$44,160 enclosed.
| Upgrade | Average cost | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Existing porch to 3-season room | $80–$230 per sq ft | Walls, windows, often foundation work |
| Screened porch to 3-season room | $4,000–$10,000 | Screens replaced with glass panels |
| Screened porch to 4-season room | $10,000–$20,000 | Insulation, double-pane glass, HVAC |
| 3-season room to 4-season | $3,000–$20,000 | Windows, insulation, HVAC extension, possibly a slab |
| Glass picture window replacing a screen | $400–$800 per window | Stronger, insulated frame |
Assumptions: HomeGuide sunroom guide (Aug 2025) and porch enclosure guide (Jul 2024), installed. Permits, insulation and HVAC extension can be extra.
HomeGuide warns that enclosing a porch as a sunroom often costs about the same as building one new, because most porches need structural reinforcement to meet code for a room. If you think you may glass it in later, ask the builder to size the posts and footings for that now.
DIY vs pro screened porch cost
DIY vs pro screened porch cost comes down to labor, and labor is a smaller share on a screen-in than on a new build. HomeGuide calls kit installation DIY-friendly for experienced homeowners with the right tools.
| 12×16 porch (192 sq ft) | DIY materials | Hired, installed | Labor you save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen an existing covered porch | $1,152–$2,880 | $1,900–$4,800 | $768–$1,920 |
| Build a new screened porch | $5,376–$22,080 | $9,600–$33,600 | $4,224–$11,520 |
| Prefab screen-room kit on a deck | $500–$7,000+ | Kit plus handyman at $50–$80 per hour | Varies |
Assumptions: HomeGuide cost calculator (Feb 2026): existing porch materials $6–$15 and labor $4–$10 per sq ft; new porch materials $28–$115 and labor $22–$60 per sq ft, multiplied by 192 sq ft. DIY column excludes tool rental and permits.
- Good DIY candidates: screening a solid covered porch, rescreening, or a kit over a sound deck.
- Hire out: a new roof tied into the house, footings, and any wiring. HomeGuide lists carpenters at $30–$100 per hour and architects at $100–$250 per hour for custom plans.
- Timeline: HomeGuide puts a new screened porch at 4 to 6 weeks of building, plus 1 to 4 months for a permit in some cities.
Cheap kits have sloped canvas or clear polycarbonate roofs, while the $2,000–$7,000 kits use steel roofing, per HomeGuide. A kit still needs a level, sound deck or patio under it.
Mistakes that blow up a screened porch budget
Mistakes that blow up a screened porch budget usually start with an assumption about what is already there. These are the ones the cost guides flag:
- Assuming the deck can take a roof. HomeGuide says a deck can become a screened porch only if its foundation handles the extra weight; otherwise it needs reinforcement first.
- Pricing screens when there is no solid roof. A pergola or awning cannot simply be screened, so the job becomes a new roof at $20–$155 per square foot.
- Counting it as living space. HomeGuide notes a screened porch does not add to a home’s square footage, because it lacks heating, cooling and insulation.
- Leaving out the door to the yard. A screen door adds $175–$500 installed; decide before framing.
- Taking the lowest bid without line items. Ask what the price includes for roof, footings, permit, electrical and cleanup.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 12×16 screened porch cost?
A 12×16 screened porch costs about $1,900 to $4,800 if you are screening in an existing covered porch, and $9,600 to $33,600 to build a new one with a foundation, roof and screens, based on HomeGuide’s 2026 size table. Turning the same 192 square feet into a 3-season room runs roughly $15,360 to $44,160.
How much does it cost to screen in an existing porch?
Screening in an existing porch costs about $5 to $25 per square foot installed. Fixr puts screening a covered patio at $5 to $7, Lawn Love at $8.40 to $12.45, and HomeGuide at $10 to $25. For a 200-square-foot porch, HomeGuide’s total is $2,000 to $5,000. The porch needs a solid roof for this price to apply.
Is it cheaper to screen a porch yourself?
Yes, on a porch that already has a solid roof. HomeGuide splits screening into $6 to $15 per square foot for materials and $4 to $10 for labor, so a 12×16 porch saves roughly $770 to $1,920 in labor. A new roof, footings and wiring are better left to licensed pros, and a permit is usually still required.
Do you need a permit for a screened-in porch?
Usually. HomeGuide says a building permit is typically required for a screened-in porch and costs $150 to $500 for a new porch, with footing inspections before construction. New outlets or a sink can need separate electrical or plumbing permits. Rules vary by city and HOA, so check with your local building department before you start.
Does a screened porch add square footage?
No. HomeGuide notes a screened porch does not count toward a home’s total square footage, because added living space needs heating, cooling and insulation like the rest of the house. It can still raise appraisal value, and HomeGuide says it may raise property taxes depending on your county. Ask your local assessor how they treat it.
How long does a screened-in porch last?
The structure lasts as long as its roof, posts and foundation, but HomeGuide says the screens typically need replacing after 5 to 10 years. Rescreening costs about $2 to $4 per square foot. HomeGuide rates fiberglass as the best mesh for most porches: durable, lightweight, corrosion resistant and easy to install.
Sources
- HomeGuide, How Much Does a Screened-In Porch Cost? (Feb 11, 2026).
- HomeGuide, Cost to Build a Porch (Feb 10, 2026).
- HomeGuide, Cost to Enclose a Porch (Jul 31, 2024).
- HomeGuide, Sunroom Cost (Aug 22, 2025).
- Fixr, Covered Patio Cost (updated Feb 3, 2025).
- Lawn Love, How Much Does Adding a Screened-in Porch Cost? (updated Oct 9, 2026).
