Quick answer: a magnetic screen door (often called a fly screen door or insect screen door) is a mesh curtain that hangs in a doorway and closes with magnets down the centre, so you can walk through hands-free and the mesh falls shut behind you. Measure the width and height of the opening, choose a screen that fits (or a made-to-measure one), fit the top and sides to the door frame as the product instructions show, then check that the magnetic edges meet cleanly from top to bottom.
What a magnetic screen door is
Unlike a hinged screen door in a solid frame, a magnetic mesh screen is a soft curtain. The two halves meet in the middle and are held together by magnets, so they part when you walk through and close again on their own. People shop for them as a magnetic screen door, a fly screen door or an insect screen door; the job is the same: keep insects out while letting air through, without needing to open and close a second solid door.
TidyMend’s current white magnetic screen door is a polyester-fiber mesh curtain that closes down the centre with magnets and attaches to the door frame with hook-and-loop fastener. Sizes are 80 × 200 cm, 80 × 210 cm, 90 × 200 cm, 90 × 210 cm, 100 × 200 cm, 100 × 210 cm, 110 × 210 cm, or 110 × 220 cm — choose a width and height that fits your door frame. Browse all Window & Door Screens, including Magnetic Screen Doors.
Before you start: measure the opening
Measure the width and height of the doorway, patio opening or garage opening in more than one place, as frames are not always square. Compare those measurements with the size stated on the product you are buying. If the opening is unusual, look for a made-to-measure or larger screen that can be fitted to that size.
Step-by-step: fitting a magnetic mesh screen door
- Unpack and check the screen. Lay it out so you can see the top edge, the side fittings and the magnetic centre. Read the instructions that come with the screen, as the exact fixings can differ between a standard door curtain, a made-to-measure screen and a garage screen.
- Fit the top first. Attach the top of the mesh to the underside or face of the door frame, following the product instructions, so the screen hangs evenly across the width of the opening.
- Fix the sides. Work down each side of the frame so the mesh is smooth, without large wrinkles, and the two magnetic edges can meet in the middle. Do not pull the mesh so tight that the magnets cannot close, or so loose that they gap.
- Check the magnets. Walk through and let the screen fall shut. The magnetic edges should meet from top to bottom. If they gape at one point, adjust the side fixing at that height.
- Test a few times. Walk through with your hands full, and from both directions, to check that the mesh parts and closes on its own.
Patio doors and garage openings
The same idea applies to a patio door and to a garage door opening, but the opening is often wider. Measure carefully and choose a screen made for that size — for example a wider or made-to-measure mesh for a patio, or a garage-sized screen for a garage opening. On a garage, fit the screen to the frame around the opening, not to the moving garage door itself, so the door can still open and close.
Tips
- Fit the screen on a dry, still day if you can, so the mesh is easier to handle.
- Keep the magnetic edges clean; dust or a bent edge can stop them closing fully.
- If you have pets, watch how they use the doorway at first, and check that their claws are not catching the mesh. Small holes can be patched with screen repair tape or patches; see how to fix a hole in a window screen. For a cat or small dog, a lockable pet flap for screen doors fits into a mesh screen door (not solid doors).
- When you want a solid door closed as well, you can still use the original door; the mesh hangs in the same opening and is there for when the solid door is open.
More options in the shop: the AUGO magnetic screen door 38 × 83 in, the Flux Phenom magnetic screen door, 38 × 82 in (ships to the United States only) and the Flux Phenom magnetic fly screen, 90 × 210 cm (ships to the United Kingdom only).
Frequently asked questions
Is a magnetic screen door the same as a fly screen door?
For this kind of product, yes. “Magnetic screen door” is a common name for a hands-free mesh curtain with a magnetic opening. “Fly screen door” or “insect screen door” describes the same job: a mesh in the doorway that lets air in and helps keep insects out.
Do I need to drill?
That depends on the screen you buy and your frame. Follow the fitting method in the product instructions. Some setups use hook-and-loop, tape or other no-drill fixings; others use screws. If you cannot drill, check the listing and instructions before you order.
Will it work on a door that is not a standard size?
A ready-made curtain has a maximum size, which is stated on the listing. If your opening is larger, smaller or an unusual shape, a made-to-measure screen is the usual choice. Always measure first.
Can I use one on a garage door?
Yes, if you choose a screen sized for that opening and fit it to the frame around the opening. Do not attach the mesh to the garage door panel itself.
Related
Browse all Window & Door Screens and Magnetic Screen Doors, see how to fit a stick-on window insect screen, or browse all TidyMend guides.