Window Screen Replacement: Rescreen or Buy New?

Window screen replacement comes in two forms. If the screen frame is straight and its corners are tight, only the mesh needs replacing: you pull out the rubber spline that holds it, lay in new mesh and roll in new spline ². If the frame is bent, the corners are broken or the screen is missing, you need a whole new screen, either from the window's manufacturer or from a shop that builds screens to size.

On price, RiteScreen, a company that makes replacement screens, puts mesh-only rescreening at about $20 to $50 per window when the frames are sound, and a new framed screen at about $50 to more than $150 depending on the hardware ¹. This Old House reports $15 to $50 per screen for professional labor, materials not included ². Neither is a national survey; local shops set their own prices.

Rescreen the frame or replace the screen

Rescreening makes sense when the frame is square and undamaged and the spline groove is intact. The work needs a spline roller, new spline of the right diameter, the mesh and a utility knife ². This Old House says to remove the old spline with a flat screwdriver, press the mesh into the groove with the roller's convex wheel, keep the mesh taut without over-stretching it, and roll in one direction only ². It also says that a screen 36 inches or taller needs a center support so it does not bow ².

A new screen is the better choice when:

• the frame is bent, twisted or cracked, so new mesh would not sit flat;
• corner keys are broken or missing;
• the screen is gone and the window uses its own latches, plungers or clips, so the new one has to match them.

Ordering from the window maker

Many window lines use screens sized and fitted to that product. Andersen, for example, tells owners whose screens need replacing to shop its online parts store ³. Ordering from the maker means giving the window's brand, series and size; the original paperwork or a label on the window may show them. Matching the frame color and the latch style is easier that way.

Some manufacturers also sell upgraded mesh. Andersen describes its TruScene screen as a micro-fine stainless steel mesh and says it lets in over 25% more fresh air than its standard fiberglass screens ³. That is the maker's own claim.

Before paying for a repair, check whether your window warranty covers screens and for how long. Our window warranties explained article sets out what several manufacturers cover.

Mesh types

Mesh is the main choice after the frame. Phifer, a screen-mesh manufacturer, sells these families ⁴, and This Old House describes the trade-offs ²:

• Fiberglass. The most common and easiest to install; This Old House calls it the most affordable ².
• Aluminum. More durable and resistant to sagging, but stiffer and harder to roll in ².
• Heavy-duty (pet-resistant). Phifer sells PetScreen and TuffScreen for homes with pets and children ⁴.
• Fine mesh for small insects. Phifer's No-See-Ums mesh is a tighter 20x20 weave ⁴.
• Solar screening. Phifer says its sun-control screens can block up to 90% of the sun's heat and rays ⁴; This Old House notes they can reduce visibility and airflow ².
• High-visibility mesh. Phifer markets BetterVue and UltraVue2 for better natural light and a clearer view ⁴.
• Metal for coastal or historic homes. This Old House suggests copper, bronze, brass or stainless steel near salt air ², and Phifer sells bronze screening ⁴.

RiteScreen's table shows how mesh changes the price of a screen from its shop: $50 to $65 for charcoal fiberglass, $59 to $80 for aluminum, $63 to $90 for a solar mesh and $76 to $120 or more for an allergy-filtering mesh ¹.

How to measure for a new screen

RiteScreen warns that a screen 1/8 inch off may not fit ¹, so measure carefully:

1. If the old screen is intact, measure the screen frame itself, edge to edge, width first.
2. If it is missing, measure the opening the screen sits in, at the top, middle and bottom for width and at both sides and the middle for height, and give all of them to the supplier rather than guessing a deduction.
3. Note the frame depth, the frame color, and the type and position of the latches or tabs.
4. For a rescreen, measure the spline groove, or keep a short piece of the old spline to match.

This Old House says common screen sizes run from about 18 by 20 inches to 36 by 74 inches, and sizes outside that range need a custom order ².

When the window is the problem

A torn screen is a small repair. Fogged glass, rotted sills or sashes that will not stay open are not, and replacing screens will not fix them. Repair or replace windows walks through that decision, and window repair cost and window sash replacement cover the in-between repairs. If you decide the windows themselves need replacing, ask whether screens are part of each quote before paying for screen work separately. You can compare quotes from window installers when you are ready.

We are not affiliated with the manufacturers named.

About these figures

• ¹ Reported: RiteScreen's rescreening range of $20 to $50 per window, new framed screen from about $50 to over $150, per-screen prices by mesh type and its measuring warning, posted March 9, 2026, checked October 26, 2026.
• ² Reported: This Old House's rescreening steps, mesh descriptions, $15 to $50 per-screen labor, center support at 36 inches and common size range, updated May 28, 2026, checked October 26, 2026.
• ³ Reported: Andersen's insect screen page (parts store for replacements, TruScene stainless steel mesh and its 25% airflow claim), checked October 26, 2026.
• ⁴ Reported: Phifer's window and door screening lineup, including the 20x20 small-insect mesh and the up to 90% solar claim, checked October 26, 2026.