Window Screen Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide

Window screens, also called fly screens or insect screens, let you ventilate a room without letting in mosquitoes, flies, or moths. They are far more common in continental Europe and North America than in the UK, though interest in them rises with each hot summer. The Asian tiger mosquito is not established in the UK, although UK Health Security Agency surveillance still picks up occasional incursions.¹

In 2026, supply-and-fit costs range from £50 to £300 per window, depending on the screen type, window size, and whether the frame requires modification. DIY magnetic screens for standard casement windows start at £20–£60 per window.

Types of Window Screen

Fixed Frame Screens

A rigid aluminium or uPVC frame with fibreglass or stainless-steel mesh, fitted inside or outside the window recess. Fixed screens suit windows that are rarely opened fully and where a permanent installation is acceptable. They are the cheapest option per unit.

Magnetic Clip-On Screens

A lightweight frame with magnetic edges that attaches to the window frame without tools or fixings. Suitable for standard casement windows. Easy DIY installation; can be removed and stored in winter.

Pleated Screens (Concertina)

A folding concertina mesh that slides horizontally across the window opening. Ideal for wide openings or bi-fold windows. More expensive than fixed frames but unobtrusive when pushed to one side.

Retractable Roller Screens

A cassette fixed to one side of the window frame with mesh that rolls out on demand, similar to a roller blind. High-end option; suits large, frequently used windows.

Sliding Screens

A screen panel that slides in a track, typically paired with aluminium sliding windows. Less common in UK housing stock.

2026 UK Window Screen Costs

Prices are per window and assume UK mainland delivery. Prices in London and the South East often run higher.

What Drives the Cost?

Window size is the biggest variable. Screens are made-to-measure; larger openings mean more material and a heavier frame. A screen for a 600 × 900 mm casement typically costs well under one for a 1,200 × 1,200 mm picture window, which has more than two and a half times the area.

Frame material affects longevity. Powder-coated aluminium frames cost more than uPVC ones but are generally stiffer and longer-lasting.

Mesh grade influences price. Standard fibreglass mesh, with holes of roughly 1 mm, suits most applications. Finer midge mesh keeps out smaller insects but reduces airflow slightly. Pet-resistant mesh (heavier and PVC-coated) typically costs 20–30% more.

Access and fitting complexity adds cost. Screens fitted on first-floor or higher windows from outside require scaffolding or a tall ladder and can add £30–£80 per window in labour. Non-standard reveals or heavily profiled frames may need bespoke adapters.

Mesh Types and Specifications

DIY vs. Professional Installation

Magnetic clip-on screens are a genuine DIY job. The frame peels apart, you cut the mesh to size with scissors, and magnets hold it in place. No tools required; installation time is 15–30 minutes per window.

Made-to-measure fixed frame screens typically arrive as a finished unit, you press them into the window recess or fix with small adhesive clips. Most homeowners can manage this without professional help.

Pleated and retractable roller screens need accurate measuring and precise mounting of tracks and cassettes. Mistakes are costly, and a poorly aligned track causes the mesh to bunch or jam. For these types, professional fitting is usually worth the extra £50–£100 per window.

Building Regulations

Fitting a window screen is not in itself building work under the Building Regulations. If the building is listed, check with your local planning authority first: any alteration that affects a listed building’s character needs Listed Building Consent.² Conservation Area Consent no longer exists in England: since 2013 it has been replaced by planning permission for relevant demolition, so in a conservation area the practical question is whether an Article 4 direction covers your windows, which the council can tell you.³

Screens can also affect escape in a fire: Building Regulations Approved Document B expects many habitable rooms other than kitchens to have an emergency escape window, with an unobstructed openable area of at least 0.33 m² that is at least 450 mm high and 450 mm wide.⁴ A fixed screen that blocks this route should not be used on an escape window.

Getting Quotes

Window screen suppliers can be found through trade directories, uPVC window installers, and specialist insect-screen fabricators. When asking for quotes, provide:

1. Window type (casement, sash, sliding, bi-fold)
2. Exact width × height of the opening in millimetres
3. Whether you need inside or outside fitting
4. Floor level
5. Mesh preference (standard, fine, pet-resistant)

Many suppliers offer a measuring service at no charge if you proceed with the order. Allow typically two to four weeks lead time for made-to-measure units from UK fabricators; off-the-shelf magnetic screens are typically available next-day online.

The rules in this note are those that apply in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own building standards and permitted development rights.