Window Screen Cleaning and Repair Cost in California (2026)

Window screens are easy to overlook until they are dusty, torn, or sagging out of the frame. Keeping them clean and intact matters more than most people think: clean screens let in more light and fresh air, keep bugs out, and actually help your windows stay cleaner, since a dirty screen deposits grime back onto the glass. In California, screen work is inexpensive compared with most home maintenance. Cleaning runs about $10 to $40 per screen, rescreening (new mesh in a good frame) runs about $25 to $75, and full replacement typically runs $75 to $300 per screen. Here is how it breaks down, when to repair versus replace, and a California-specific reason screens here wear out faster.

Screen cleaning cost

Professional screen cleaning is usually offered as an add-on to a window cleaning visit rather than a standalone service. Expect roughly $10 to $40 per screen, depending on size and how much buildup has accumulated. Many window cleaning companies include a basic screen wipe-down as part of a full-service package, so it is worth asking what is covered when you book (see our cost guide for how add-ons factor into pricing).

Screen cleaning is also very DIY-friendly. Removing screens, brushing off loose dust, and gently washing them with mild soapy water and a soft brush before rinsing and drying handles most routine grime. Doing this a couple of times a year keeps screens clear and, importantly, extends their lifespan by several years. The trade-off between handling it yourself and paying someone is much the same as it is for the glass, which we weigh up in our professional vs. DIY guide.

Repair and rescreening cost

When a screen is damaged, the question is whether to repair the mesh or replace the whole thing. Repair is the value option when the frame is still good.

• DIY patch (small holes/tears): a repair kit costs about $10 to $20 and handles minor damage with patch tape or a small mesh patch.
• Professional rescreening (new mesh, existing frame): about $25 to $75 per screen, with most standard sizes in the $35 to $55 range. Bulk discounts often apply when several screens are done at once.

Rescreening keeps your existing aluminum or fiberglass frame and simply replaces the mesh. If the frame is flat, square, and the channel is intact, this is the cost-effective choice.

Replacement cost

When the frame itself is bent, cracked, or warped, or you want to upgrade to a specialty screen, full replacement makes more sense. Costs vary by material and size:

• Standard replacement screen (new frame and mesh): about $75 to $300 per screen installed.
• Movable or sliding screens: roughly $60 to $260 each installed.
• Custom sizes or shapes (arched, round, oversized): about $200 to $600 per window, since they require custom fabrication.
• Pet-resistant screens: about $100 to $350 per screen.
• Solar screens (which block heat and reduce cooling costs): about $120 to $400 per screen.

For a whole-house project of 10 to 15 screens, budget roughly $750 to $3,000 depending on materials.

Repair or replace? A simple rule

The decision comes down to the frame and your goals:

• Repair or rescreen when the mesh is damaged but the frame is straight and sound. This is the value play for small holes, tears, or a loose spline.
• Replace when the frame is bent, cracked, or warped, or when you want a different type of screen (solar, pet-proof, or security mesh) for added function.

In short: mesh damage only means repair it; broken frame or a specialty upgrade means replace it.

Why California screens wear out faster

Here is a California-specific factor worth knowing. Standard fiberglass mesh, the default and most affordable screen material, degrades under UV exposure, and California gets a lot of sun. In high-sun parts of the state with 250-plus days of sunshine a year, standard fiberglass mesh often lasts only about 5 to 8 years before it becomes brittle and starts tearing easily, shorter than the 10-to-15-year lifespan screens reach in milder climates.

Inland and far northern markets sit squarely in that band. Homeowners in Fresno and Redding, for example, can expect mesh to reach the end of its life sooner than on the cooler, cloudier stretches of the coast.

Two practical takeaways follow. First, if you are replacing screens in a sunny inland area, it can be worth asking about more UV-durable mesh options. Second, regular cleaning genuinely matters here, because keeping screens free of abrasive dust and grime helps offset the wear and squeezes more years out of the mesh before it fails.

How screens affect your windows

There is a reason screen care ties directly to window cleaning: a dirty screen works against clean glass. Dust and pollen trapped in the mesh wash down onto the window with every rain or watering, so screens and glass really are one system. Cleaning them together, on the same schedule, keeps both clearer for longer, and our guide to how often to clean your windows sets out a sensible rhythm for California homes. If you are booking a professional window cleaning, having the screens cleaned at the same visit is efficient and inexpensive.

Finding help in California

Many window cleaning companies handle screen cleaning, and some offer repair or rescreening as well, though screen replacement is often handled by window or screen specialty companies. On SparklingPanes you can browse providers across California by city and county, check ratings and review counts, and see which services each offers. Screen cleaning is a common add-on in the larger markets, including San Jose, where a good number of providers list it alongside window cleaning. As always, comparing a couple of quotes and confirming exactly what is included (cleaning only, or repair and rescreening too) is the best way to a fair price.

Prices reflect 2026 market data and are planning estimates. Your actual cost depends on screen size, material, condition, and location. Always confirm scope and pricing with the provider.