National cost guides put a new screened-in porch at roughly $4,600 to $35,000, or about $25 to $175 per square foot, while screening in an existing covered porch can cost a few thousand dollars. Custom porches in the Baltimore and Washington suburbs, with a roof tied into the house, electrical and finished ceilings, often cost well above those averages. Treat every figure here as a planning range, not a quote.
Screened porches are one of the most requested outdoor projects in Maryland, and for good reason: they give you a bug-free, shaded room for most of the year. This guide covers what drives the cost, how permits work in Baltimore County, Howard County and Anne Arundel County, and the questions homeowners ask most before they call a builder.
HomeLight’s 2026 roundup of national cost guides shows how wide the range is, depending on who you ask and what is included:
| Source / project type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Angi: new screened-in porch | about $7,200 to $20,000 |
| HomeAdvisor: new screened-in porch | about $4,600 to $22,000 |
| HomeGuide: new screened-in porch | about $10,000 to $35,000 |
| New build, per square foot | about $25 to $175 |
| Screening an existing porch | about $10 to $25 per sq ft; kits $2,000 to $5,000 |
Most Maryland homeowners land somewhere between “screen kit on a deck” and “custom room with a fireplace.” The decisions below decide where.
Screening in a porch that already has a sound roof and floor is the least expensive path. Building on top of an existing deck is next, but only if the deck framing and footings can carry a roof. Many older decks were not built for that load, so footings or posts have to be upgraded first. A brand-new porch needs footings, framing, a floor and a roof, so it costs the most.
The roof is usually the largest single cost. A shed roof that ties in under a second-floor window is simpler than a gable roof, which looks more finished from the yard but takes more framing and roofing. Matching your existing shingles, gutters and trim adds labor but makes the porch look like part of the house.
Options include pressure-treated wood, composite decking, a concrete slab or pavers. Composite costs more up front but skips staining and splinters. A porch at deck height needs footings below the frost line, which in Maryland means digging deeper than many homeowners expect.
Standard fiberglass screen is the budget choice. Aluminum, pet-resistant and solar screens cost more, and retractable systems more still. A framed screen system that can later be swapped for windows makes a future three-season conversion easier.
A tongue-and-groove or beadboard ceiling, a ceiling fan, recessed lights and outlets all add cost, as do fireplaces, TV walls and heaters. They are also what make a porch usable from April through October, so price them early.
Sloped lots, common in Catonsville, Ellicott City and much of western Baltimore County, mean taller posts, more framing and sometimes retaining walls or extra stairs. If materials have to be carried around the house, labor goes up too.
In most cases, yes. Permits are issued by the county, and a roofed structure attached to the house is reviewed as construction. Baltimore County’s Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections states that a building permit is required when creating a weatherproof enclosure of an existing porch or deck, as well as for additions and structural changes. Howard County (Inspections, Licenses and Permits) and Anne Arundel County (Inspections and Permits) generally require permits for new roofed porches and for decks above a set height.
Beyond the building permit, expect:
Rules change and every lot is different, so confirm with your county before building. A design-build contractor should prepare the drawings and file the permit for you.
If you may want year-round space later, say so now. Designing the footings, framing and roof for a future conversion costs far less than rebuilding. Our post From Deck to Sunroom walks through that path.
Screening in an existing covered porch can take a few days. A new porch built from the footings up usually takes a few weeks of construction once the permit is issued, plus design and permitting time before that. Spring is the busiest season in Maryland, so homeowners who design and permit over the winter are usually first in line when the weather turns.
HomeLight cites a HomeAdvisor estimate of about 84% average return on a screened porch at resale. Resale numbers vary widely by market and build quality, but the everyday value is easier to see: a usable room for dinners, work and family time without the cost of a full addition, and no mosquitoes during Maryland’s humid summers.
Wall to Wall Construction designs and builds screened porches across Maryland, along with decks, patios and covered porches through our outdoor spaces team, including in Ellicott City and Severn. We will look at your house and yard and give you a clear, itemized estimate.
