Guides & How-To · 2026-10-23
Motorized Screen Cost in Northern Virginia (2026): Typical Prices and the Best Systems
Typical installed costs for motorized retractable screens in 2026, what drives the price, and which system fits your patio. Your firm quote is free.
The short answer
Most motorized retractable screens cost a few thousand dollars per opening, installed. Across the market in 2025 and 2026, one MagnaTrack residential screen typically runs $4,500 to $12,000, and one V-Track screen typically runs $2,500 to $7,000 depending on the fabric.
These are typical installed ranges across the market, not American Light Design's prices. Every screen is built to the opening it covers, so the only number that matters for your home is the one we give you after measuring. That measurement and quote are free: request a free quote or schedule an in-home consultation.
How to read the cost ranges on this page
Each range below is a typical installed cost: the screen, the motor and professional installation together. Unless a row says otherwise, it assumes:
- one opening about 12 to 16 feet wide and 8 to 10 feet tall
- a standard fabric and a standard motor with a handheld remote
- a surface mount on sound posts or beams
- no structural work and no new electrical circuit
A larger opening, a premium fabric, recessed housings, smart-home control, or work on the structure or wiring moves a project toward the top of a range or past it. A small, simple opening sits near the bottom.
Motorized screen costs by system
We install two motorized screen systems, MagnaTrack and V-Track, and the table below covers both, plus the storm-rated version of MagnaTrack.
| Screen | Typical installed range | What the range assumes |
|---|---|---|
| MagnaTrack residential screen | $4,500–$12,000 per opening | About 12–16 ft wide × 8–10 ft tall, standard insect or solar mesh, standard motor, surface mount |
| MagnaTrack Defender storm screen | $5,500–$14,000 per opening | About 12 ft wide × 10 ft tall, Kevlar-reinforced storm fabric, motorized |
| V-Track insect screen | $2,500–$5,000 per screen | About 10–12 ft wide, insect mesh, standard motor |
| V-Track solar screen | $3,000–$6,000 per screen | About 12 ft wide, solar shade mesh, standard motor |
| V-Track clear vinyl screen | $3,500–$7,000 per screen | About 12 ft wide, clear vinyl weather panels, heavier tube and motor |
Market ranges, not American Light Design's quoted prices. All rows assume no structural or electrical work. Your firm price comes from a free in-home measure and quote.
Commercial screen projects
Restaurants, patios at hospitality venues, and other commercial spaces usually have several wide bays and need engineered mounting, wind-rated fabric and central controls. That puts them in a different bracket from a home patio.
| Scope | Typical installed range | What the range assumes |
|---|---|---|
| MagnaTrack commercial screen, per opening | $6,500–$15,000 | One commercial-grade bay, 16–30 ft span, engineered mounting, wind-rated fabric |
| Multi-bay commercial project | $35,000–$100,000+ | Several wide bays with integrated controls |
Market ranges, not quoted prices. Commercial projects are always quoted after a site visit.
Motorized awning costs, for comparison
If you are weighing screens against shade from above, our own line of motorized retractable awnings comes in four styles. The ranges below assume an awning about 12 to 14 feet wide with a 10-foot projection, acrylic awning fabric, a motor and a standard wall mount. Brick or stucco walls that need extra reinforcement add to the cost. See all four styles on our motorized awnings page.
| Awning style | Typical installed range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open-Roll | $2,500–$5,500 | Entry style with no hood over the fabric roll |
| Cross-Arm | $3,500–$7,500 | Crossed arms for a deeper projection on a narrower wall; estimated between the adjacent styles |
| Semi-Cassette | $4,000–$9,000 | Standard widths; very wide awnings of 25–40 ft run about $9,000–$18,000 or more |
| Full-Cassette | $5,000–$10,500 | Fully enclosed cassette; wind sensors, LED lighting and smart control push it toward the top |
Market ranges, not American Light Design's quoted prices.
Repair and service costs
We also service motorized screens and awnings, including most systems we did not install. Typical repair bills across the market look like this. See screen and awning repair for what the service covers.
| Repair | Typical range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Service call with a common fix | $250–$1,100 | Trip and diagnosis plus fabric, arm, remote or limit-setting fixes |
| Complex motorized repair | Up to about $2,125 | Motor and arm replacement, with parts |
Market ranges, not quoted prices. We price a repair after diagnosing it.
What drives the cost of a motorized screen
Two screens that look alike can be thousands of dollars apart. These are the factors that move the number most:
- Opening size. Width and height set the amount of fabric, the length of the tracks and the size of the motor. Very wide openings need a heavier system.
- Number of openings. Each opening gets its own screen, tracks and motor, so a patio with four openings costs roughly four times one opening, plus any shared electrical work.
- Fabric. Insect mesh costs the least, solar shade mesh a little more, clear vinyl more again, and storm-rated fabric the most.
- Mounting. A surface mount on existing posts is the simplest. Recessed housings that hide the screen in the ceiling or beam cost more and are easiest to plan during new construction.
- Structure. Out-of-level floors, soft or undersized posts, and masonry can call for extra framing or hardware.
- Power. Every motor needs power at the top of the opening. If there is no outlet or circuit nearby, adding one is a separate cost.
- Controls. A handheld remote is standard. Wall switches, wind and sun sensors, and smart-home integration add to it.
- Finish. Standard frame colors cost less than a custom powder-coat color.
The best motorized screens: MagnaTrack or V-Track
We install both of the systems we consider the best motorized screens available, so we can recommend whichever one fits your opening. In short:
- MagnaTrack holds the fabric edge with magnets in a self-correcting track that resets the screen after a bump or a gust. It covers openings up to 30 feet wide and 20 feet tall and is the only one of the two with a certified storm screen, Defender.
- V-Track holds the fabric edge with a welded bead that rides in an aluminum channel. It covers very wide openings, with single spans approaching 99 feet, and offers a broad range of solar fabrics and a clear vinyl program.
For an everyday patio with insect or solar screening, either system works well, and the choice usually comes down to budget, finish and features. See the full side-by-side on our MagnaTrack vs V-Track comparison, or browse all motorized retractable screens.
How to get your firm price
A range is a starting point for a budget, not a quote. Your firm price comes from a free in-home measure and quote. We measure every opening, check the posts, floor and power, bring real fabric and frame samples, and then give you a firm price for the exact screens you choose.
Request a free quote online, or schedule an in-home consultation at a time that suits you. We install within about 90 miles of our Marshall, Virginia headquarters, across Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC.
Frequently asked questions
How much do motorized retractable screens cost?
Across the market, a single motorized retractable screen typically costs $2,500 to $12,000 installed, depending on the system, the size of the opening and the fabric. Most homes need more than one, so a whole patio usually costs more than one screen. These are market ranges; your firm price comes from a free measure and quote.
How much do MagnaTrack screens cost?
A MagnaTrack residential screen typically costs $4,500 to $12,000 per opening installed, for an opening about 12 to 16 feet wide. A MagnaTrack Defender storm screen typically costs $5,500 to $14,000 per opening. Learn more about MagnaTrack screens.
Why is the range so wide?
Because every screen is custom. Opening size, fabric, mounting, the condition of the posts and floor, power at the opening, and controls all change the price. A small opening with insect mesh and an existing outlet sits near the bottom of a range; a large opening with storm fabric, recessed housing and new wiring sits at the top or above it.
Are these American Light Design's prices?
No. They are typical installed ranges across the market, shown so you can plan a budget. We quote each project after measuring it, and that quote is free.
Is a patio with several openings priced per opening?
Usually, yes. Each opening gets its own screen, tracks and motor, so the total is close to the sum of the openings, plus any electrical or structural work the patio needs.
How do I get an exact price for my home?
Request a free quote or schedule an in-home consultation. We measure every opening, show you fabric and frame samples, and give you a firm price.
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