How much does a screened lanai cost?
A screened lanai costs $2,000 to $5,000 to add screens to an existing porch, or $10,000 to $35,000 to build new, per HomeGuide.
Per square foot that is $10 to $25 for screening and $50 to $175 for building, on HomeGuide's lanai guide — the same bands it publishes for a screened-in porch, because a lanai is a screened porch by its Florida name. What the lanai guide adds is the list of factors it calls Florida-specific: grading and drainage under the slab, the screen type, the door, flooring, railing, steps, and a building permit at $200 to $500 that can rise for a lanai over 200 square feet.
Source: HomeGuide
This page is general information, not professional advice. Prices move with the size and height of the structure, the screen chosen, your city's permit rules and the season, and the only number that counts is a written quote from a licensed contractor who has measured your yard.
Screened lanai cost by size
| Lanai size | Add screens to an existing porch | Full new lanai |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft (100 sq ft) | $1,000 – $2,500 | $5,000 – $17,500 |
| 12 x 12 ft (144 sq ft) | $1,440 – $3,600 | $7,200 – $25,200 |
| 12 x 16 ft (192 sq ft) | $1,920 – $4,800 | $9,600 – $33,600 |
| 20 x 20 ft (400 sq ft) | $4,000 – $10,000 | $20,000 – $70,000 |
| 24 x 36 ft (864 sq ft) | $8,640 – $21,600 | $43,200 – $151,200 |
Source: HomeGuide
What a new lanai's bill is made of
HomeGuide splits the new-build rate into $28 to $115 per square foot of materials and $22 to $60 of labor, and then itemizes the pieces: a gable roof at $70 to $155 per square foot of roof, or a flat aluminum patio cover at $20 to $60; posts at $30 to $250 each; flooring over the slab at $4 to $15 per square foot; a ceiling fan at $150 to $500; and an outdoor outlet at $180 to $350. An architect's plan, which HomeGuide says is typically needed for the permit, runs $100 to $250 per hour.
Source: HomeGuide
A lanai quote that is one number is a quote you cannot compare. Ask for the roof, the screens and the slab work as separate lines.
How much does it cost to rescreen a lanai?
If the frame is sound and the mesh is not, the job is rescreening, and it is priced like a pool cage: HomeGuide's repair guide reads $0.75 to $1.50 per square foot of screen area, $25 to $65 per panel for small jobs, and $1,200 to $3,500 for a full rescreen. Its porch guide puts rescreening a porch at $2 to $4 per square foot of floor. Either way it is a fraction of screening the lanai the first time.
Lanai versus sunroom versus covered patio
HomeGuide's comparison line is the useful one. A screened lanai costs nearly the same as a covered, screened patio. A Florida room or sunroom is a different project at $80 to $400 per square foot, because it has real walls, windows and often insulation. A plain covered deck runs $25 to $90 per square foot on its figures. The lanai's appeal in a hot climate is that it skips the insulation and keeps the breeze — HomeGuide says it suits hot climates for exactly that reason.
Source: HomeGuide
To price your lanai's size from the published tables: the screen enclosure cost calculator.
These are the lanai and screen enclosure companies AI assistants actually name when homeowners ask. Nobody can pay to be on these lists.
- Most recommended screen enclosure companies in Tampa, FL
- Most recommended screen enclosure companies in Orlando, FL
- Most recommended screen enclosure companies in Jacksonville, FL
- Most recommended screen enclosure companies in Miami, FL
- Most recommended screen enclosure companies in Houston, TX
- Most recommended screen enclosure companies in Phoenix, AZ
Not your city? See every metro we measure.
Questions people ask next
- How long does it take to build a lanai?
- HomeGuide says 4 to 6 weeks for a new foundation, walls, roof and screens, with a permit adding 1 to 4 months depending on the city, and 2 to 7 days to add screens and a roof to an existing base.
- Does a lanai add value to a home?
- HomeGuide says a screened lanai raises the home's appraisal value and publishes a resale return of 80% to 100% depending on location. That is HomeGuide's figure for its readers, not a measurement of your house.
- What is the cheapest screen for a lanai?
- Fiberglass, at $0.20 to $0.35 per square foot of material on HomeGuide's table, with aluminum next at $0.45 to $0.75. Copper is the costliest on HomeGuide's table at $2 to $3. The screen is a small share of a new lanai and a large share of a rescreen.
- Do I need a permit for a screened lanai in Florida?
- Florida cities treat a screened lanai as an aluminum structure that needs a building permit — Tampa lists it under its residential screen enclosure permit type, and HomeGuide prices the permit at $200 to $500. The page on this site about pool cage permits covers what the cities publish.
Written for homeowners by Most Recommended Screen Enclosures, which measures which screen enclosure companies AI assistants actually recommend in 12 U.S. metros. Nobody can pay to be on those lists. How we measure.