8 Affordable Screen Door Alternatives

Screen doors come in handy during the spring and summer when you want fresh air and sunshine the most. Not all homeowners enjoy the look of screen doors, and some homeowners simply want an alternative with similar benefits. With so many options out there, what are the best screen door alternatives that you can get right now?

Storm doors, fly door blinds, magnetic screens, mosquito nets, and retractable doors are the best screen door alternatives. Velcro screens, macrame curtains, storm doors, and security doors are also great for keeping bugs out and letting natural light inside. Storm doors and security doors are great options for home safety purposes, but options like magnetic screens are the most convenient.

Each of these options offers protection from bugs, strong winds, and inclement weather. You don’t need a screen door to enjoy fresh air, nice views, and a house without bugs. Follow along as we explore the best screen door alternatives that any homeowner can appreciate.

Storm doors are a safer, better, and more convenient alternative to screen doors. Screen doors are great, but they can easily tear and break, but that’s not a problem with storm doors. Storm doors keep bugs out of the house and allow natural light to fill the room.

Look for a divided storm door with a glass hatch that you can open if you want fresh air. That gives you a screen door alternative that mimics the airflow benefits of screen doors. Most storm doors have locks that give you added safety, especially when you compare them to screen doors.

You don’t have to worry about bugs, debris, or water getting through your storm door. Consider storm doors if you want a screen door alternative that has all of its benefits and none of its downsides.

Many homeowners use screen doors to keep bugs out, but it doesn’t always work as intended. Look into fly door blinds if you want a barrier between your door and your home to keep bugs out. Simply hang fly blinds in your doorway leading outdoors to keep bugs from entering your home with the door open.

This alternative keeps bugs out, but it also lets you open the door to let the fresh air inside on a nice day. Fly blinds save you money and cost between $10 and $30, or more, making them a budget alternative. They come in many colors and designs so you can match your fly blinds to your home’s aesthetic.

Walk through the door carefully as it can be easy to pull fly blinds down on accident. Fly blinds are easy to hang up and they generally stick to the door frame or ceiling without a problem. Buy and hang fly door blinds so you can enjoy the fresh air without worrying about bugs.

Many homeowners look for screen door alternatives that are cheaper and more convenient. Magnetic screens give you a convenient alternative to screen doors that won’t break the bank. You can roll or zip-up magnetic screens to get them out of the way when you don’t need them.

Magnetic screens are fixed with magnets so that you can quickly pull them apart or together to let air and light inside. Homeowners with dogs benefit even more as magnetic screens are also one of the best dog door alternatives. You can expect to pay between $20 and $60 for a magnetic door screen, and that saves a fortune compared to storm doors or screen doors.

Magnetic door screens take less than 10 minutes to install and it’s worth every second. Be careful when you walk through a magnetic screen because they can come down easily like fly door blinds. Consider magnetic screens if you want a simple, discreet, and easy to install screen door alternative.

Cut a length of mosquito net to fit your doorway if you want a cheap and effective screen door alternative. Mosquito net won’t look great in your doorway, but it will keep bugs out of your home and give you peace of mind. Choose this alternative if you want a screen door alternative that can be temporary if you want.

The mosquito net is not a durable material, but it does its best to keep mosquitoes out of the house. This alternative is best for DIY-minded homeowners that want to take on a project. You can easily cut a mosquito net to match the dimensions of your door to make a perfect fit.

The whole project only takes 30 minutes or less, and it’s worth it for the consistent results. Don’t choose this option if you want a visually appealing screen door alternative. Mosquito nets are the ultimate affordable alternative to screen doors for inventive homeowners.

Look into retractable doors if you want to be able to get your screen door alternative out of the way when you don’t need it. They are similar to magnetic doors in that they are hard to notice when you aren’t using them. You can fold up retractable screen doors when you don’t need them to make the best use of your space.

Not everyone likes the look of screen doors, and that’s why retractable doors are such a great option. Some of them can even roll up so that you can tuck them away whenever you want to. You can expect to pay between $70 and $160 for a durable retractable screen door that you can count on.

They are easy to install, keep pests out, and allow natural light to fill your home. Consider retractable doors if you want the best of both worlds between screen doors and magnetic screens.

It doesn’t get much easier than a Velcro screen, and that’s why it’s one of the best screen door alternatives. Velcro screen doors allow you to open and shut your screen with a strip of Velcro for a tight fit. They are similar to magnetic screen doors, but Velcro screens are not quite as easy to snap together.

You can install Velcro screen doors in under 10 minutes, and they can accommodate any door’s dimensions. Be careful when you walk through Velcro screen doors as they are not too durable and can tear easily. The fabric is thin, and they aren’t anchored to the ceiling as strongly as a retractable screen door.

Look into Velcro screens if you want an easy-to-install, convenient screen door alternative. You can find Velcro screens for as low as $30, and it’s worth every penny. Velcro screens are a great temporary door idea, and they work hard to keep bugs at bay.

You can boost your home’s security while you let air into the house and keep bugs out. Simply install a security door and you won’t have to worry about bugs or even burglars. Security doors are often made of metal, and many of them are grated so that they allow for airflow.

Bugs have a hard time getting through security doors, and they’re more durable than screen doors. The best thing about security doors is the added safety and peace of mind compared to other screen door alternatives. Security doors are specifically built to withstand blunt force, extreme weather, and yes, even bugs.

You can find security doors made of various materials and in many designs that can suit your home’s style. Security doors run between $110 and $600, but they are worth it for the security benefits and bug prevention.

Consider a macrame door curtain if you want a visually appealing screen door alternative for your home. Macrame has become increasingly popular over the last several years, and it adds a unique visual flair to any home. You can hang a macrame in front of or behind a door so that you can leave it open to let fresh air inside.

With that said, macrame curtains are only ideal for keeping large bugs and pests out of the house. Small bugs can still sneak into the house as the macrame doesn’t form a tight seal. If bugs aren’t a problem, however, macrame curtains are the perfect screen door alternative if you want to brighten up your home’s aesthetic.

Macrame curtains start as low as $20 but spend $40 or more if you want more durable curtains. They are easy to hang in the doorway, and macrame curtains don’t fall easily. Consider macrame curtains if you want a screen door alternative that will stand out.

Related Questions

How long do screen doors last?

Traditional screen doors last 30 years if they can avoid trauma or damage in that time. However, high-end metal screen security doors can easily last 50 years or more if they’re treated well. They are worth it even if they don’t always last long because screen doors are cheap to replace and easy to install.

Are storm doors reversible?

Yes, storm doors are usually reversible, and that’s why they are easy to shop for. You can place most storm doors with the hinge on either side, so they don’t limit who can buy or install them. Always make sure to verify the dimensions before you buy a storm door, even if the hinges are reversible.

Do security doors keep bugs out?

Security doors keep bugs out because of the strong metal grate design that is hard for pests to sneak through. Some security doors have bigger holes in the grates than others, but smaller holes are more ideal for pest control. These holes also do wonders to help improve airflow and decrease stuffiness inside the house.

Does storm door help insulate?

Storm doors help insulate your home because they provide an extra layer that conserves energy. This can help lower your energy bills so that you don’t have to crank the heat or air conditioner. Storm doors prevent heat from escaping during the winter, and they keep hot air out of the house during the summer.

Storm doors are the best screen door alternative because they let natural light in, and they keep bugs out. They also help insulate the house which can conserve energy bills during the winter and summer. Fly door blinds and magnetic screens are the most convenient screen door alternatives because they are easy to install and keep bugs out well.

Retractable screen doors are also great because you can fold or roll them up to get them out of the way. Security doors are another great option because they prevent bugs, but they also protect against extreme weather and burglars. Macrame curtains are a visually appealing screen door alternative, but they can only prevent small bugs from entering the house, so they aren’t ideal.

You can cut mosquito netting to match the dimensions of your doorway if you want a budget screen door alternative. Macrame curtains and Velcro screens are also convenient screen door alternatives, but they aren’t great for keeping large pests out of the house. Each of the aforementioned screen door alternatives is effective for letting natural light in and keeping bugs out.