We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
When you use your garage for more than just storage or parking, a garage door screen is a must. These magnetic screens consist of durable fiberglass mesh that covers the entire garage door opening, letting in a breeze while keeping out bugs and leaves.
After reviewing dozens of highly-rated options, our top recommendation is the Pick for Life Garage Door Screen. We like that it features powerful magnets that hold the door together and gravity weights to prevent it from blowing in the wind. Best of all, it comes in 19 sizes, making it easy to find the ideal fit for your garage.
Installing a garage door screen is relatively easy, says Thomas Borcherding, owner of Homestar Design Remodel in Des Peres, Missouri. “The typical garage door screen installation requires a drill, wrench, screwdriver, or even less if it’s a magnetic or Velcro screen,” he advises. If you’re ready to add one of these screens to your garage, keep reading for important shopping considerations and a list of some of the best garage door screens on the market.
- BEST OVERALL: Pick for Life 16-by-7-Foot Garage Door Screen
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Aurelio Tech Magnetic Garage Door Screen
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FIBERGLASS: Liamst Magnetic Garage Door Mesh Screen
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR 2-CAR GARAGES: UnBugs Premium Mesh Magnetic Garage Screen Door
↓ Jump to Review - BEST HEAVY-DUTY: Fresh Air Screens Model C 2-Zipper Garage Door Screen
↓ Jump to Review
Garage Door Screens Comparison
| Product | Type | Size Options | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pick for Life 16-by-7-Foot Garage Door Screen | Roll up | 19 | Black |
| Aurelio Tech Magnetic Garage Door Screen | Fixed detachable | 2 | Black |
| Liamst Magnetic Garage Door Mesh Screen | Roll up | 5 | Black |
| UnBugs Premium Mesh Magnetic Garage Screen Door | Roll up | 10 | Black |
| Fresh Air Screens Model C 2-Zipper Garage Door Screen | Roll up | 8 | Black or white |
Our Top Picks
The list below narrows the field to some of the best garage door screens on the market. These screens install quickly, feature durable construction, and have designs that make them easy to open and close.
Best Overall
Pick for Life 16-by-7-Foot Garage Door Screen
Pros
- Gravity weights hold screen door in place during windy conditions
- A dozen size options make it compatible with most garage doors
- Powerful magnets automatically close the door after someone passes through it
Cons
- Some customers complain that the mesh material starts fraying after only a few months
Product Specs
- Type: Roll up
- Size options: 12
- Color: Black or white
With its simple installation, wide coverage, and a design that holds up to wind, this garage door screen is one of the best options on the market. The screen attaches to the header of the garage door using adhesive tape with a hook-and-loop connection that sticks to the screen’s outer seam. Powerful magnets hold the opening in the center of the door closed, while gravity weights prevent wind from blowing the screen inward, so there’ll be no gap at the bottom.
We like that when the screen is not in use, you can either pull apart the hook-and-loop connection to remove the screen or roll it up and secure it with the integrated straps. The screen, made from tear-resistant and fireproof fiberglass mesh, is available in 19 sizes, allowing for a custom-like fit.
Get the Pick for Life garage door screen at Amazon.
Best Bang For The Buck
Aurelio Tech Magnetic Garage Door Screen
What We Like
- Strong magnets keep the opening securely closed
- Easy to detach hook-and-loop design
- Extra gravity sticks help close door quickly
What We Don’t Like
- Door does not have straps for rolling up
Product Specs
- Type: Fixed detachable
- Size options: 2
- Color: Black
A screen that can capably cover an entire opening for a 2-car garage must be durable—which is why this model boasts reinforced fiberglass mesh construction that resists tearing. This screen also installs quickly using a hook-and-loop strip that adheres to the exterior of the garage door frame.
Its 34 magnets—more than most garage door screens use—make for a quick, secure automatic closing after people and pets walk through it. Integrated gravity sticks add stability that ensures the opening closes quickly while preventing the screen from being pushed around by the wind. The screen, which fits garage doors that are 7 feet high by 16 feet wide, is detachable for easy storage. A single garage door screen size is also available.
Get the Aurelio Tech garage door screen at Amazon.
Best Fiberglass
Liamst Magnetic Garage Door Mesh Screen
What We Like
- Made from durable high-density fiberglass mesh fabric
- Can be rolled up when not in use
- Available in 5 sizes
What We Don’t Like
- Some customers complaints regarding the screen’s adhesive strips
Product Specs
- Type: Roll up
- Size options: 5
- Color: Black
With its use of high-density fiberglass mesh, this is one of the heavier and therefore more durable garage door screen systems on the market, which ensures it won’t rip or be blown around by the wind. It uses adhesive tape that runs around the frame of the garage door and attaches to the screen with a hook-and-loop connection that can be easily removed for storage.
A total of 28 magnets create a tight seal that ensures there are no gaps in the screen’s opening. The screen can be easily removed for storage or rolled up using its integrated straps. Weights built into the bottom hold the screen steady while also helping to close the opening quickly after someone passes through.
Best For 2-Car Garages
UnBugs Premium Mesh Magnetic Garage Screen Door
What We Like
- Numerous size options available
- Integrated weights hold screen in place
- Large number of magnets keep door securely closed
What We Don’t Like
- Magnets make rolling up the screen difficult
Product Specs
- Type: Roll up
- Size options: 10
- Color: Black
Adding a screen door to a garage opening needn’t be a major investment. This affordable model from UnBugs covers a standard 7-foot-high by 16-foot-wide opening, acting as a garage mosquito net. We like that installing this screen requires no tools thanks to an adhesive mounting strip and hook-and-loop design. The opening that bisects the screen closes automatically with 26 magnets, creating a tight seal between seam openings. Weights at the bottom of the screen hold it stable during high winds.
The UnBugs garage door screen kit features two storage options: Remove the screen from the mounting strip and fold it up or roll it up using the integrated ties at the top of the screen. In addition to this 2-car garage option, UnBugs also makes a single-car option.
Get the UnBugs garage door screen at Amazon.
Best Heavy-Duty
Fresh Air Screens Model C 2-Zipper Garage Door Screen
What We Like
- Features heavy mesh fabric and high-quality zippers
- Can install with a black or white strip
- Buckles and straps secure door when rolled up
What We Don’t Like
- One of the priciest garage door screens available
Product Specs
- Type: Roll up
- Size options: 8
- Color: Black or white
This roll up garage door screen from Fresh Air Screens may be on the pricier side, but it will likely last a lot longer than cheaper garage door screens thanks to its durable construction. The screen consists of heavy mesh fabric that will endure for multiple years. Rather than using magnets, this screen employs zippers at the seam opening for tighter security.
Similar to other garage door screens, this model installs by attaching an adhesive strip to the garage door frame. The strip, which is available in black or white, then attaches to the door via a hook-and-loop strip. The screen also rolls up and is equipped with a system of durable buckles and straps that hold it securely at the top of the garage door when not in use. Fresh Air also offers a rope-and-pull kit, sold separately, that makes it easier to roll the door up.
Get the Fresh Air Screens garage door screen at Lowe’s or The Home Depot.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose the Best Garage Door Screens
We made our selections of the top garage screen doors based on several criteria. A good garage screen door must create a seal around the entry and at the door threshold to be effective at keeping bugs out. With that in mind, we chose types of garage door screens that use a hook-and-loop installation design, which holds the door securely to the garage door frame.
We also chose models with magnet and gravity weights, which help keep the door opening closed to prevent pests from getting inside. Since garage doors vary in size, we chose mainly garage door screens that are available in multiple size options. Since magnetic door screens must allow entry for vehicles, our selections also include products that are easy to open either by removing the screen for storage or by rolling it up.
What to Consider When Choosing a Garage Door Screen
Below, learn about the types of garage door screens available, how these bug blockers attach to a garage door opening, and other important features.
Type
Garage door screens come in two types: roll up and removable. Both types attach to a hook-and-loop adhesive mounting strip that runs around the top and sides of the door frame. This strip makes it easy to attach the screen for use and detach it for storage.
Roll-up screens are detachable and have straps at the top of the door, enabling you to manually roll them up to store the screen or to allow a car to pull inside the garage. “Roll-up garage screens offer the benefit of not having to install the screen every time you wish to use it, whereas removable screens feature easier installation at the expense of having to reinstall it every time you wish to use it.,” says Borcherding.
Both types of screens have a tractable opening at the center that serves as a door, allowing people and pets to pass through. Typically, magnets are sewn into the opening’s seams to hold it together when closed, though sometimes zippers are used instead; both designs create a tight seal that keeps bugs out.
Easy Installation
Garage door screens mount to the exterior of the door frame so they don’t interfere with the functioning of the garage door. Similar to installing screens designed for entryways into the home, garage door screen installation involves attaching an adhesive strip around the rim of the door opening.
This screen door installation generally involves no tools other than a step ladder and can be completed in less than 30 minutes. The screen door then attaches to the strip via a hook-and-loop connection. To remove the screen door for storage, simply pull it off of the hook-and-loop strip.
Motorized garage door screens, which are not included in this list, require professional installation.
Material and Appearance
Like the smaller retractable screens designed for doorways, garage door screens use some form of tear-resistant fiberglass mesh. Higher-end door screens use denser mesh that is heavier and less prone to stretching or being blown around by the wind. These doors use powerful magnets in the seam of the opening that hold together while allowing people and animals to open it and pass through. Some garage screen doors have weights sewn into the bottom seam that help keep the screen taut and in place.
Since a garage door opening constitutes a large part of a home’s facade, the curb appeal of a garage door screen is also a factor to consider. While most garage screen doors look similar in appearance, they come in black or white.
FAQs
Like garage door insulation kits, mesh screens are a simple but useful add-on that can increase the comfort of your space. If you’re wondering about the durability of a garage door screen, if your garage needs one, or what makes one better than another, read on for more information about these helpful bug barriers.
While it is possible to tear or pull down a garage door screen, most are made of tear-resistant fiberglass mesh and mount to hook-and-loop strips that will pull apart rather than rip if too much force is applied to the screen. To extend the life of a garage door screen, be gentle when opening and closing it and remove and store it during winter weather.
The durable materials used to make garage door screens can last for a long time if properly cared for. That said, you can expect to get about three seasons out of the door screen before you’ll need to replace it. White garage door screens do require more maintenance to keep clean, as dirt shows more easily on the white mesh than it does on black mesh.
While most use the same design for their doorways and installation, they vary in the quality of fiberglass mesh they use for the screen. Higher-end garage door screens use a heavier, more durable mesh that will hold up longer than lower-end screen doors. Features also vary. Some garage door screens have straps that allow you to roll them up while others don’t. A retractable garage door screen, sliding garage door screen, or pull down garage door screen may cost more than a standard magnetic or zippered screen door.
A screened garage door is worth it if you use your garage for more than storage. If working out, hanging out, or using the garage as a workshop, a garage with a screen door allows air to flow in while keeping bugs and debris out.
Garage door screens are installed on the outside. This position allows you to use your garage door opener without interference, allowing the door to open and close as usual.
It’s best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when measuring for a garage door screen. If no instructions are given, follow these steps: open the garage door and use a tape measure to measure the width of the opening from side to side. Then, measure the height from the floor to the bottom of the header. For the best fit, add an inch to each measurement.
Why Trust Bob Vila
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
