How much does it cost to repair a window screen?

DIY patch: $3-$5 (adhesive patch kit). DIY full rescreen: $10-$25 per screen (mesh, spline, and roller tool). Professional rescreen: $15-$40 per screen. Pre-made replacement: $10-$40. Screen repair is one of the cheapest home repairs — a full rescreen kit (mesh, spline, roller) costs under $20 and covers multiple screens.

How do I rescreen a window?

Remove old spline and mesh. Lay new screen over the frame (overlap edges 1-2 inches). Press new spline into the channel using a spline roller tool, starting at one corner. Work around all four sides, pulling the screen taut. Trim excess mesh with a utility knife. Takes 20-30 minutes per screen. The spline roller tool ($5-$10) is the only specialty tool needed.

What type of screen mesh should I use?

Fiberglass: most common, easiest to work with, affordable, corrosion-resistant. Best for most windows. Aluminum: more durable but dents and oxidizes. Pet-resistant (polyester or vinyl-coated): 3-7x stronger than standard, resists claws. Solar screen: blocks 60-90% of heat and UV (good for hot climates and south/west-facing windows). Standard mesh density: 18x16 strands per inch.

Can I fix a small hole in a window screen?

Yes, in under 5 minutes. For holes under 1 inch: use a peel-and-stick adhesive screen patch ($3-$5 for a multi-pack at any hardware store). Clean the area, peel the backing, press firmly. For holes 1-3 inches: cut a patch of matching screen material, apply with adhesive (fiberglass) or fold the wire edges through (aluminum). For larger damage: a full rescreen is easier and looks better than a large patch.

Article

Tips

Window Screen Repair Guide: Patching, Rescreening & Costs

Lumberama Editorial Team, Window & Home Maintenance Specialists Jun 11, 2026 11 min read

Why Repair Screens

A torn or damaged window screen defeats its purpose: keeping insects out while letting fresh air in. Even small tears grow larger over time. A single hole is an open invitation for mosquitoes, flies, and other pests. The good news: window screen repair is one of the easiest, cheapest, and most satisfying DIY home repairs. A patch takes 5 minutes. A full rescreen takes 20-30 minutes. And the materials cost under $20.

Small Repairs (Patches)

Adhesive screen patch: For holes under 1 inch. Peel-and-stick patches from the hardware store ($3-$5 for a multi-pack). Clean the area around the hole. Apply the patch over the hole, pressing firmly. Works on fiberglass and aluminum screen. The fastest fix.

Screen repair patch (larger holes): For holes 1-3 inches. Cut a piece of matching screen material slightly larger than the hole. For fiberglass screen: apply a thin bead of clear adhesive around the hole, press the patch over it, and let dry. For aluminum screen: cut the patch with extra material around the edges, bend the edge wires inward, push through the existing screen, and fold the wires flat on the other side to hold. Takes 5-10 minutes.

Full Rescreen

When the screen mesh is heavily damaged, torn in multiple places, or sagging, it is time for a full rescreen. This replaces the entire mesh in the existing frame.

Materials needed: Screen mesh (fiberglass or aluminum, sold by the roll), screen spline (the rubber cord that holds the screen in the channel), and a spline roller tool ($5-$10).

Screen mesh types: Fiberglass: the most common. Easy to work with, does not dent or crease, corrosion-resistant. Standard mesh: 18x16 (18 strands per inch horizontally, 16 vertically). Aluminum: more durable, resists pet damage better, but dents and oxidizes over time. Pet-resistant screen: heavy-duty polyester or vinyl-coated polyester that resists claws and teeth (3-7x stronger than standard). Solar screen: reduces heat gain and UV by 60-90% (good for sun-facing windows).

Process: Remove the old spline (pry up one end with a screwdriver and pull). Remove the old screen. Lay the new screen over the frame (overlap all edges by 1-2 inches). Starting at one corner, press the new spline into the channel using the roller tool (concave wheel side). Work around all four sides, pulling the screen taut as you go. Trim the excess screen with a utility knife. Replace the frame in the window.

Frame Replacement

If the frame is bent, broken, or corroded: replace the entire screen assembly. Pre-made replacement screens in standard sizes are available at hardware stores ($10-$40). Custom-sized frames can be made from frame kit stock ($15-$30 for corner connectors and frame bars) or ordered from screen shops.