In Australia, custom powder-coated aluminium privacy screens generally run from around $300 to $700 per square metre installed, depending on height, slat spacing, colour and how tricky the install is. A small courtyard screen sits at the lower end. A tall boundary run in a custom colour lands higher.
That is the range. What matters more is understanding what moves the price, so you can read a quote properly instead of just comparing bottom lines.
What you are actually paying for
A privacy screen is not just slats. The price covers the aluminium itself, the powder-coat finish that keeps it looking good for years, the custom fabrication to your exact sizes, and the install, including any posts or brackets. The cheap end of the market cuts corners on the finish, which is exactly where it fails first.
What drives the price up or down
- Height and length. More square metres, more cost. Simple.
- Slat spacing. Tighter gaps use more material for the same area, so a high-privacy screen costs a little more than an airy one.
- Colour. Standard powder-coat colours are cheapest. Custom colours and woodgrain finishes cost more. Worth reading up on which colours actually last in the sun before you pay extra for one that fades.
- Freestanding vs infill. A screen that needs its own posts and footings costs more than slats infilling an existing fence or frame.
- Site access. A tight side passage, a sloped block or an upper level all add labour.
Cheap DIY kits vs a custom screen
You will find flat-pack aluminium screen kits online for a couple of hundred dollars, and for a small, simple job they can work. The catch is the finish. Near the coast, salt spray can eat a cheap coating within a couple of years, so a bargain screen becomes a replacement job fast. A custom screen with a proper marine-suited powder coat costs more up front and outlasts several of the cheap ones. Do the maths over ten years, not over the first invoice.
Do you need council approval?
Approval is usually not required for a screen under two metres, which keeps your cost down, but rules vary by council, zoning and whether it attaches to a boundary fence. Check before you build so you are not paying to redo it. This ties into how to block a neighbour’s view the right way, which covers height and placement in more detail.
How to get an accurate quote
Per-square-metre figures are a guide, not a quote. The only way to know your real number is a measure-up, because your height, slat choice, colour, posts and site all change it. A good quote itemises those so you can see what you are paying for rather than a single vague figure. Get a measure and quote and you will get a real number for your job, built locally and usually installed within about 5 to 10 days.
FAQs
How much do aluminium privacy screens cost per square metre? As a general guide, around $300 to $700 per square metre installed in Australia, depending on height, slat spacing, colour and install complexity.
Are aluminium screens cheaper than a fence? Screens are usually priced per square metre like fencing, and a screen used as an infill panel on an existing fence is often the cheaper way to add privacy than a whole new fence.
Why are some quotes so much cheaper? Usually the finish. A cheap coating fades or corrodes faster, especially near the coast, so a low quote can cost more over time.
Do custom colours cost more? Yes. Standard colours are cheapest, with custom colours and woodgrain finishes adding to the price.