Most Seattle homeowners we talk to want the same thing: a spot outside they can actually use in June without getting eaten alive, and in October without getting rained on. A screened-in porch does that. The screened in porch cost in the Seattle area usually lands somewhere between $4,000 and $60,000 — a huge spread, and it comes down to one question: do you already have a roof over that space, or are we building one?
That’s the whole story. Screens are cheap. Structure is not.
Here’s how the numbers break down in our market, what the permit office is going to want, and where people usually get surprised.
Screened-In Porch Cost in Seattle — 2026 Estimates
| Scope of work | Seattle estimate (2026) | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Rescreen an existing screened porch | $1,500 – $4,000 | $8 – $18 |
| Screen in an existing covered porch or deck | $3,000 – $9,000 | $15 – $32 |
| Add a roof to an open deck, then screen it | $18,000 – $45,000 | $60 – $150 |
| Build a new screened porch from the ground up | $22,000 – $60,000 | $70 – $200 |
| Motorized retractable screens (upgrade) | add $4,000 – $12,000 | — |
These are estimates, not quotes. They’re built off published 2026 national ranges plus the labor premium we see in the Puget Sound market. Your actual number depends on the size, the roof framing, and whether we’re touching the foundation.
By size, for a straightforward job:
| Porch size | Screening an existing covered space | Building new |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 12 (120 sq ft) | $2,000 – $4,000 | $9,000 – $25,000 |
| 12 x 16 (192 sq ft) | $3,000 – $6,000 | $14,000 – $40,000 |
| 16 x 20 (320 sq ft) | $5,000 – $10,000 | $23,000 – $64,000 |
Screening In a Porch You Already Have
This is the cheap version, and if you already have a covered patio or a roofed deck, it’s the one you want.
We’re framing in the openings between the existing posts, adding screen channel or removable frames, building a screen door, and trimming it out. No foundation work. No new roof. Usually no engineering.
A job like this on a 200-square-foot covered patio runs about $3,000 to $6,000 in most of King County. Two to four days on site. Often no permit at all, since we’re not changing the structure or the footprint — but we always check with the city before we quote it.
If your covered patio is older, budget a little more. We usually find something: a post that was never properly flashed, a beam with rot at the bearing point, or a slab that’s pitched the wrong way. Fixing that before the screens go up is cheaper than fixing it after.
Building a New Screened Porch From Scratch
This is a real addition, and it’s priced like one. $22,000 to $60,000 is the honest range for most Seattle jobs.
That number covers footings, framing, a roof that ties into your existing roofline, gutters and flashing, a finished ceiling, electrical, the screen system, and a door. On a sloped Seattle lot — think Magnolia, West Seattle, or anything up on Queen Anne — footings alone can add several thousand dollars, because we’re digging deeper on the downhill side and sometimes bringing in an engineer.
Where the money actually goes on a new build, roughly:
- Foundation and framing: 30–40%
- Roof, flashing, gutters: 20–25%
- Ceiling, trim, and finishes: 15–20%
- Screen system and door: 10–15%
- Electrical, lighting, permits: 10%
Screens are the smallest line item on the whole job. That surprises people every time.
What Pushes the Price Up Around Here
Tying into the existing roof. A screened porch that hangs off the back of the house needs a roof connection that will not leak. In a climate that rains 150 days a year, that flashing detail is the most important thing we do, and it takes time.
Ceiling finish. A painted ceiling is the cheap option. Tongue-and-groove cedar is what most of our clients pick, and it runs a few thousand more on a mid-size porch. It holds up well in our humidity and it’s what makes the space feel finished instead of like a covered carport.
Heat. If you want to use the porch in February, you need something — a gas fireplace, an overhead infrared heater, or both. A fireplace with a stone surround is typically a $6,000–$15,000 add. Infrared heaters are a few hundred each and get you most of the way there.
Grade and drainage. Puget Sound soil holds water. If the ground slopes toward the house, that gets corrected before anything gets framed. It’s not glamorous work and it’s not free.
Motorized screens. Retractable screens that roll up out of the way are great and they cost real money — figure $4,000 to $12,000 depending on the number of openings.
Screen Material — What to Actually Pick
The screen mesh itself is a rounding error on the total, so don’t cheap out here.
- Fiberglass — the default. Cheapest, easy to replace, tears if a dog leans on it.
- Aluminum — runs 25–50% more per square foot than fiberglass and lasts a lot longer. Good choice in Seattle, where things stay damp.
- Pet-resistant — heavier weave, adds roughly $0.50–$1.50 per square foot. Worth it if you have a dog or cats.
- Solar screen — cuts glare and heat. Less useful here than in Phoenix, but nice on a south- or west-facing porch.
On a 200-square-foot porch, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive mesh is a couple hundred dollars. Pick the one that fits how you live.
Permits in Seattle and King County
Short version: if we’re adding a roof, you need a permit.
Seattle SDCI requires a building permit for all attached porch and patio covers, regardless of size. There’s no small-project exemption for a roof that’s attached to the house. Decks are a separate rule — in Seattle, a deck more than 18 inches above grade needs a construction permit, while most Eastside and King County jurisdictions use 30 inches.
Screening in a space that’s already legally roofed usually doesn’t require a permit, because we aren’t changing the structure. Usually. Bellevue, Renton, and unincorporated King County each read it a little differently, so we confirm before we write the contract.
We handle the permit application, the drawings, and the inspections on every job. If a contractor tells you a roofed porch doesn’t need a permit in Seattle, that’s a reason to keep looking. We wrote up the deck side of this in more detail in our deck permit guide for Seattle and King County.
Is It Worth It in Our Climate?
Honestly, more here than in most places.
Seattle summers are short, and the two things that shut down an outdoor space are bugs at dusk and rain. A screened porch handles both. Our clients tell us they use a screened porch two or three times as many days per year as an open deck — spring through fall instead of six good weeks in July and August.
If you’re deciding between options: an open deck is cheapest and gets the least use. A covered patio is the middle ground and keeps the rain off. A screened porch is the covered patio plus bugs handled. A sunroom is glass, insulated, and heated — it’s a real room, and it’s priced like one.
Most people who call us about a sunroom actually want a screened porch, and they’re glad to hear it costs a fraction as much. You can see the rest of what we build outside on our outdoor living page.
Screened-In Porch FAQ
How much does it cost to screen in an existing deck?
If the deck already has a roof, about $3,000 to $9,000 in the Seattle area depending on size — an estimate, not a quote. If the deck is open to the sky, the roof is the real project and the total jumps to $18,000–$45,000.
Do I need a permit for a screened-in porch in Seattle?
Yes, if you’re adding a roof. Seattle SDCI requires a building permit for any attached porch or patio cover, regardless of size. Screening in a space that’s already legally covered usually doesn’t require one, but the answer varies by city — we check before quoting.
How long does it take to build a screened porch?
Screening in an existing covered porch: two to four days. Building a new screened porch from scratch: four to eight weeks on site, plus permit review time, which in Seattle can run several weeks on its own.
What is the difference between a screened porch and a three-season room?
A screened porch has open screens — it’s the same temperature as outside. A three-season room swaps the screens for glass or vinyl panels, so you get some wind and rain protection and a few more usable weeks. A three-season room costs more, but less than a fully insulated sunroom.
Can you screen in a covered patio that is already there?
Usually, yes — that’s the most common version of this job. We check the post spacing, the header height, and the condition of the existing framing first. If the bones are good, it’s a fast, high-value project.
Get a Real Number for Your Porch
Every one of these ranges moves once we see the space. The roof connection, the grade, and the condition of what’s already there set the price — not the square footage.
Give us a call at 206-851-4233 or request an estimate and we’ll come look at it. We build screened porches, covered patios, and decks across Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Edmonds, and the rest of King and Snohomish County.
