Security Screen Door Cost: What Drives the Price
By the San Diego Mobile Screens team · Updated · 6 min read
We post prices for almost everything we do. Security screen doors are the exception, and here is why: each one is built to order for a single opening, and the choices you make change the price more than they do on any other door. So instead of a number that would be wrong for most homes, this guide explains what goes into a quote, how we price it, and how a security screen door compares with a storm door.
How pricing works
We measure your door at home, help you choose the style, color and hardware, and give you a price for that exact door. The measure is free and there is no obligation. Security doors are always made to order: we measure, order the door and come back to install it when it arrives.
What drives the price
- Size and shape of the opening. Every door is made to fit your frame. Taller, wider or out-of-square openings take more material and more work.
- Single or double. A pair of doors for a wide or double opening costs more than one door.
- Style. Our top option is the Tru-View, with marine-grade 316 stainless steel mesh that looks like a normal screen. We also install steel-grille styles (Sentry and Gibraltar) with a more traditional look.
- Color. Bronze, white and black are common. Custom colors are available on some styles and can change the price.
- Hardware and options. Deadbolt, handle set, closer, and extras such as a built-in pet door.
- Your door frame. The door mounts to your existing frame. Its condition and shape affect how it mounts, and your tech checks that at the measure.
From measure to install
- Measure and quote. About 30 minutes at your home. You choose the style, color and hardware and get a price for that door.
- Order. When you say yes, we order the door built to your measurements. A deposit is due when the order is placed.
- Install. We come back when the door arrives. Mounting, adjusting and testing take about an hour, and you pay the balance when the work is done.
We don't publish a wait time for ordered doors; your tech gives you the timing at the measure. As an authorized Tru-View dealer, we install the doors and stand behind the work, with no time limit on our workmanship.
Security screen door vs. storm door
They look similar from the street, but they do different jobs. A storm door is mainly weather protection: a glass panel (often swappable for a screen insert) in front of the main door. A security screen door is about airflow you can lock: it lets you leave the main door open while the screen stays locked.
| Security screen door | Storm door | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Fresh air with the door locked | Weather protection for the main door |
| Infill | Stainless steel mesh (Tru-View) or a steel grille | Glass panel, often with a screen insert |
| Frame | Heavy steel or aluminum frame | Usually a lighter aluminum frame |
| Lock | Deadbolt with a steel strike plate | Usually a standard handle lock |
| With the main door open | Built to resist cutting, prying and kicking | Mostly a screen or glass panel |
| Price from us | Measured and quoted at your home | We don't install storm doors |
In San Diego's mild climate, many people want the breeze more than extra insulation, and the breeze is what a security screen door is for. If you are weighing the cost, our post are security screen doors worth it? walks through when one makes sense.
What to ask for in any quote
- The exact style, mesh or grille, color and hardware the price covers.
- Whether the price includes the install and haul-away of anything it replaces.
- Who measures, and whether the door is built to that measurement.
- What the installer's own workmanship promise covers, and for how long.
Common questions
How much does a security screen door cost?
It depends on the size of the opening, the style, the color and the hardware, so we measure and quote at your home. The measure visit is free, and you get a price for that exact door before anything is ordered.
Why don't you post a price for security doors?
Every security door is built to order for one opening, and the choices you make change the price. A posted number would be wrong for most doors, so we quote the door you actually want.
How long does it take to get a security screen door?
Security doors are always made to order: we measure, order the door and come back to install it when it arrives. That is always two visits. Your tech tells you the timing at the measure. The install itself takes about an hour.
Can a security screen door have a pet door?
Yes. Several styles can be ordered with a built-in pet door. Tell your tech at the measure so it is part of the quote.
Do you install storm doors?
No. We don't work with glass, so we don't sell or install storm doors. We install security screen doors, swinging screen doors, sliding screen doors and retractable screens.