Custom magnetic fly screen: the buyer's guide to choosing well (2026)

To choose a custom magnetic fly screen (also called an insect screen), check five things: drill-free installation, mesh quality, the ability to make special shapes, the type of fastening and the manufacturing lead time. A custom magnetic fly screen fixes on in about ten minutes without tools, adapts to any size or shape of opening, and can be taken off and put back at will, unlike a fixed-frame screen or a standard model with fixed dimensions.

The three main families of fly screens

Before comparing, you need to distinguish the three solutions found on the market:

• The custom magnetic fly screen: made to your exact measurements, held by a magnetic strip (or hook-and-loop) all around, without drilling.
• The fixed-frame or roller screen: installed by a joiner, screwed into the frame, sturdy but permanent and expensive.
• The standard ready-to-fit screen: sold in DIY stores in fixed sizes, cheap but rarely suited to unusual openings.

Comparison table

Criterion	Custom magnetic	Fixed frame (joinery)	Standard ready-to-fit
Installation	Drill-free, ~10 minutes, no tools	Drilling / screwing, professional fitting	Drill-free but fixed dimensions
Special shapes (round, arched, triangle, hexagon)	Yes, made to the exact shape	Possible but expensive	No
Mesh	E-glass fibreglass 18×16 threads/inch, 122 g/m², M2 fire rating	Varies by manufacturer	Often basic
Fastening	Magnets all around (or hook-and-loop on request)	Fixed, not removable	Hook-and-loop or clip-on frame
Removable / reversible	Yes, taken off and put back at will	No	Partly
Lead time	6 to 9 business days (custom manufacturing)	Several weeks	Immediate, off the shelf
Indicative price	Mid-range	High	Low

How to choose in 3 questions

1. Does your opening have a particular shape or size?

If your window is round, arched, triangular or simply non-standard, only custom manufacturing guarantees a perfect fit. Standard models only cover common dimensions.

2. Do you want to be able to remove the screen?

A magnetic fastening comes off and back on in seconds, handy for cleaning the glass, closing the shutters or storing the screen in winter. A screwed frame, on the other hand, stays in place all year.

3. Are you willing to drill?

If you are a tenant or you do not want to damage your frames, go for drill-free installation: the self-adhesive magnetic strip sticks to the frame (PVC, aluminium, lacquered wood, lacquered metal) without any screws.

The criterion not to overlook: the mesh

An fly screen's durability comes first from its fabric. An E-glass fibreglass mesh with an 18×16 threads-per-inch weave and a weight of 122 g/m² offers a good balance of strength, discretion and outward visibility. Nylon-reinforced edges and an M2 fire rating extend its life season after season.

When the opening is not in a house

The three families above assume a wall, a frame and a floor that stay where they are. A campervan, a caravan or a boat cabin breaks all three assumptions: the panel has to close by itself, nothing may be drilled into the shell, and the whole thing has to survive being driven at speed. In practice only the magnetic made to measure option answers all three, which is why it is the one you see on vehicles. The detail is on our campervan and caravan fly screens page.

Frequently asked questions