Storm Door vs Screen Door: How to Choose and Costs

Buying guide · 2 min read · Updated October 2026

A storm door protects the entry from rain, snow and wind, and a screen door lets in light and air while keeping bugs out. A storm door averages about $425 and a screen door about $300, before labor.

Most readers pick on one question: do you want air, or protection? The comparison below answers it.

Storm door vs screen door: storm door blocks rain, snow and wind, air only with a retractable screen, lasts up to 30 years, average about $425; screen door lets in light and air, keeps bugs out, lasts up to 25 years, about $300 — Prices are averages and vary by region. Source: Angi, updated July 2026.

Table of Contents

What each one does

A storm door is a second door outside the main one. It blocks rain, snow and wind and protects the entry door. Angi says one lasts up to 30 years.

You only get airflow from a storm door if it has a retractable screen. Without one, the door stays shut in summer.

A screen door is lighter and built for ventilation. It keeps bugs out, and Angi says it can last up to 25 years.

Screen door on a front porch — A screen door on a porch with a good overhang. Photo: Erik Mclean on Pexels.

What a storm door costs

The price depends on the glass and the screen. HomeAdvisor averages $435 and lists labor at $250 to $450 per door.

Its table by type runs from mid-view and high-view at the low end to double storm doors at the top. Full-view and low-E glass sit in between.

Storm door cost by type: full-view $200 to $525, low-E view $225 to $575, mid-view $160 to $300, high-view $150 to $325, retractable $250 to $600, double $600 to $1,100; labor adds $250 to $450 per door — Door price only; labor is extra. Source: HomeAdvisor, updated June 2026.

HomeAdvisor’s body text gives $160 to $200 for mid-view, while its table says $160 to $300. I used the table.

How to choose

If the door faces weather, take the storm door. It protects the main door’s finish and cuts wind at the threshold.

If the entry is under a deep porch and you want air and light, a screen door is cheaper and simpler. A retractable-screen storm door covers both, at a higher price.

My call · James Davis

For an exposed front door I would buy the storm door with a retractable screen. For a sheltered porch or a back door, a plain screen door does the job.