Insect Mesh for Windows in Singapore: Types, Prices and What Actually Stops Mosquitoes (2026)

Insect mesh for windows is a fine woven screen, usually fibreglass or polyester, fitted over the window opening so the breeze still comes in but mosquitoes, midges and flies stay outside. In Singapore it comes in three main formats (DIY net, magnetic panel and retractable roller), and a custom-fitted screen is priced per window depending on size, mesh and frame.

The catch is that "insect mesh" covers everything from a cheap velcro net off Shopee to a retractable frame that will still be working in ten years, and the difference is not really the mesh. It is the seal, the frame and how long it all lasts in our humidity. We install window and door mesh across Singapore, so this is written from what we see on site visits.

Insect mesh vs cat mesh: know which one you are buying

Insect mesh is about weave tightness: thin strands, openings around 1 mm, and a frame that only needs to hold the mesh flat. Cat mesh uses the same tight weave on a frame rated to take a cat leaping into it, which is why cat mesh is rated in kilograms and insect mesh is not. No pets? Buy the lighter, cheaper option with a clear conscience. Have a cat? Buy cat mesh and treat the insect protection as a free bonus; our cat mesh in Singapore guide covers that side.

The three mesh materials, and which one suits insects

Every installer here is choosing from roughly the same menu of mesh types; the difference is which one they put in front of you.

Fibreglass is what most people picture when they think of a mosquito screen; Phifer describes its Phiferglass fibreglass screening as the industry standard for decades. It does the job and costs the least, but it tears, so it belongs on windows nobody presses on. Polyester is our pick for pure insect mesh if you want the window to look empty: stronger, best airflow of the three, and what we fit on our Base and Pro frames for insect-only homes. Stainless steel 316 is really a cat mesh material, though some insect-only customers pick it for wet areas because it does not corrode.

Does 18x16 or 20x20 weave matter for Aedes mosquitoes?

Less than the marketing suggests. An adult Aedes aegypti, the dengue mosquito, is about 4 to 7 mm long, far bigger than the roughly 1 mm openings in either weave. Both stop it. Where the tighter 20x20 earns its keep is with sandflies and midges; Phifer sells its 20x20 as a "no-see-um" mesh for exactly those tiny insects. We covered the bug-by-bug list in can bugs get through mesh.

What actually lets mosquitoes into a meshed flat is the gap, not the weave: a channel where a magnetic frame meets a grille, a lifted corner of tape, a door left open at dinner. No weave count fixes those. Our mosquito and mesh guide goes through the honest list.

The three frame formats sold in Singapore

The DIY net is where many Singaporeans start, and on a small toilet window that is fine. The complaints show up later: one HardwareZone parent found the double-sided tape on a magnetic frame stopped sticking after a single wash, and "dust magnet" comes up in nearly every thread. Treat it as a one-year product. We compare the two formats properly in magnetic vs retractable window mesh.

Custom magnetic screens are the long-established Singapore format, and they work well on plain casement windows without deep grilles. One misconception worth clearing up: a professionally fitted magnetic screen is often not much cheaper than an entry-level retractable frame such as our Base; the real saving is in the DIY kit, not the format. Retractable is the format we sell, because in Singapore you want the mesh out of the way sometimes (to hang laundry, to get the full wind on a cool evening) and firmly sealed the rest of the time. Our companion piece on how retractable insect screens work goes into the mechanism. And if you searched for a "mosquito net" rather than mesh, our mosquito net for windows piece sorts out which format people mean.

What insect mesh costs in Singapore (2026)

We do not publish prices in articles because window size, mesh material and frame change the figure so much, but here is how the three tiers compare.

• DIY kits: the cheapest route by a long way, from Shopee, Lazada or Taobao. HardwareZone users still describe Taobao kits as a fraction of local shop prices, which is true, and you get what you pay for on the seal.
• Custom retractable insect mesh (ours): priced per window, custom-cut and installed. Our Base is our most affordable model and the natural insect-only choice, with Sleek, Core and Pro above it. Size, mesh type and the number of windows done in one visit drive the figure, so we quote from a photo rather than publish a number; our guide to what drives a window mesh quote explains the moving parts.
• Other installers: most quote per opening or per square foot after seeing the window, so the only fair comparison is sending the same list of windows to two or three of them.

Two things push a quote up more than anything else: very long windows (a 340 cm opening needs the bigger 7.8 cm Base cassette or the Pro) and doors, which need their own door mesh. Doing the whole flat in one visit and choosing polyester over stainless steel bring it down. Our window mesh price guide has per-flat estimates.

Who sells insect mesh in Singapore

These are the names that show up when you search for insect mesh here, in no particular order, and what each publicly offers.

All of them will do the basic insect job. What differs is whether they fit your grilles, removable vs retractable, warranty and price, so get two quotes for the same list of windows. Our best window mesh in Singapore roundup has more on each.

Which of our models for an insect-only home

• Base with polyester or fibreglass: our most affordable retractable, 20+ kg, pinch lock and auto-retract. Right for most bedrooms and living rooms with no cats.
• Pro with polyester: for long windows, or if you want the 2-in-1 option with a sunshade or blackout layer in the same frame.
• Sleek: for narrow toilet and kitchen windows and rubbish chute recesses where a normal cassette will not fit. Its reinforced stainless steel 316 is overkill for insects, but sometimes it is the only thing that fits.
• Door: for the balcony or service yard door, the opening most people forget and the one that lets in the most mosquitoes.

The window models go on with our drill-free tape and silicone method, which suits HDB flats and rentals: free site visit with samples and measuring, custom cutting, then an install of under an hour per visit.

If you want a quote to compare against the others, send us photos of your windows on WhatsApp. We will tell you roughly what it costs, arrange a free site visit if you want one, and there is no obligation either way.

Frequently asked questions

Does insect mesh really keep mosquitoes out?

Yes, if it is sealed. The openings in standard 18x16 or 20x20 mesh are around 1 mm and an adult Aedes mosquito is several times that size, so nothing gets through the weave itself. Mosquitoes that turn up in a meshed home came through gaps at grilles and frames, an open door, or were already breeding inside, which is why NEA keeps asking everyone to clear stagnant water.

Fibreglass or polyester for insect mesh?

Fibreglass is cheaper and slightly darker, which some people like for privacy. Polyester is clearer, lets more air through and is tougher, so it lasts longer on windows that get opened and closed daily. For a pure insect job on a budget, fibreglass is fine; if you want the window to look empty, polyester. Neither survives a cat, so cat homes should look at stainless steel 316 or pet mesh.

How much does insect mesh cost per window in Singapore?

It depends on window size, mesh type and frame, which is why we quote from a photo rather than publish figures. DIY velcro or magnetic kits are the cheapest, custom-fitted retractable mesh costs more and lasts far longer, and our Base is our most affordable model. Very long windows, doors and stainless steel mesh cost more; doing several windows in one visit brings the per-window price down. WhatsApp us photos for a quote.

Sources

MeshMates product specifications are from our own product pages.

1. Phifer — Phiferglass. phifer.com
2. UF/IFAS Extension — Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae). ask.ifas.ufl.edu
3. Wholesale Screens and Glass — Phifer 20x20 No-See-Um Mesh Insect Screen. wholesalescreensandglass.com
4. HardwareZone Forums — [Parents] BTO installing anti insect window grills. forums.hardwarezone.com.sg
5. Magicseal — Magnetic Insect Screen Singapore for a Secure Fit and Unobstructed Views. magicseal.com.sg
6. Seiki Screen — Mosquito Net Window Singapore: [No.1] Insect Screen Window. seikiscreen.com.sg
7. Seiki Screen — [NEW!] Insect Screen Singapore: Retractable Mosquito Netting. seikiscreen.com.sg
8. Mozziefy — Mesh Singapore & Anti Mosquito Screens. mozziefy.com
9. Luxus — Luxus Invisible Mesh Singapore | Pet Proof | Window Mesh | Anti Insect. luxus.sg