Quick answer: The cheapest way to make a deck private is a railing-mounted screen — a bamboo roll-up runs about $90–$180 for a 10×6-foot section. For a permanent, better-looking solution, a built slat wall, lattice panel, or pergola screen runs roughly $180–$850 installed per section, depending on material. Planting and pergolas add privacy while keeping the space feeling open. The right pick comes down to budget, looks, and how permanent you want it.
Key takeaways
- Cheapest: railing screens. A bamboo roll-up screen is about $90–$180 for a 10×6-ft section (D&G, 2025) — renter-friendly and removable.
- Best-looking: built walls. Cedar slat and composite privacy walls run $300–$700 installed per section, and read as part of the deck.
- Open feel: pergolas and planting. A pergola with side panels or a row of evergreens screens sightlines without boxing the deck in.
- Demand is real. 98% of outdoor-living pros say an updated outdoor space has a big impact on home value (Fixr, 2025).
How much does deck privacy cost?
Deck privacy ranges from about $90 for a simple bamboo roll-up to $850 for a built metal or composite screen (per 10×6-foot section), according to D&G’s 2025 privacy-screen pricing. The spread comes down to material and permanence: temporary railing screens are cheapest, while framed walls bolted into the deck cost more but last and look built-in. Here’s how the common options compare for a standard 10-foot-wide, 6-foot-tall section.
Deck privacy cost per 10×6-ft section by material: bamboo roll-up $90-$180, wood lattice $180-$350, cedar slat $300-$600, composite panel $350-$700, metal screen $450-$850 (Source: D&G Flooring, 2025).
Below, the options from cheapest and most temporary to most permanent.
1. Railing-mounted screens (cheapest, renter-friendly)
Bamboo, reed, mesh, and outdoor-fabric screens attach right to your existing railing and are the fastest, cheapest way to add privacy. A bamboo roll-up is about $90–$180 for a 10×6 section, and fabric or mesh panels are similar. They won’t last as long as a built wall and can flap in wind, but they’re removable — ideal for renters or a quick fix while you plan something permanent.
2. Built privacy walls and lattice (permanent, best looking)
Framed slat walls, lattice panels, and louvered screens are bolted into the deck’s posts, so they look built-in and last for years. Cedar slat and composite panels run roughly $300–$700 installed per section (D&G, 2025). Because they carry wind load, they should be attached to properly sized posts — which is why we design privacy walls into the deck structure rather than tacking them on afterward. See our custom deck ideas for how built-in features shape a deck.
3. Pergolas and louvered screens (privacy without boxing you in)
A pergola with side panels, or a louvered screen, blocks specific sightlines while keeping the deck open and airy. This is a great option when you want privacy from one direction — a neighbor’s second-story window, say — without walling off the whole deck. A pergola also gives you a place to add lighting, a fan, or climbing plants. Our guide to building a pergola over a deck walks through the structure.
4. Planting for privacy (evergreens, grasses, planters)
Tall planters, ornamental grasses, and evergreen shrubs screen a deck naturally and soften the look of any hard screen. For year-round privacy in East Tennessee, evergreens hold their cover through winter, while grasses give a fast, seasonal screen. Built-in planter boxes along a railing double as a green privacy wall — an approach we cover in designing garden decks that complement your landscaping.
5. Combine privacy with shade
Many of the best setups pair a privacy screen with a shade solution, since the same wall or pergola can do both. A louvered wall on the sunny, exposed side blocks both sightlines and afternoon glare. If sun control is your bigger concern, our shade design and installation options work alongside privacy screening.
Why homeowners are investing in outdoor privacy
Outdoor living is one of the highest-impact upgrades a home can make, and a deck only gets used if it feels comfortable and private. In Fixr’s 2025 survey of outdoor-living professionals, 98% agreed that an updated outdoor space has a big impact on home value, 56% said homeowners are investing more than the year before, and 31% reported backyards being converted into multipurpose spaces.
Outdoor-living pro survey (2025): 98% say it boosts home value, 56% say homeowners are investing more, 31% say backyards are going multipurpose (Source: Fixr, 2025).
Rules of thumb: height, HOA, and wind
Before you build, check three things: local height limits, HOA rules, and how much wind a solid screen will catch. Many areas cap freestanding privacy structures at a certain height, HOAs often need to approve exterior changes, and a tall solid wall acts like a sail — it needs posts and footings sized for wind load. A pro can confirm what your specific deck and lot allow before anything goes up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add privacy to my deck?
The quickest way is a railing-mounted screen (bamboo, mesh, or fabric) for about $90–$180 per section. For a permanent, better-looking result, install a framed slat wall, lattice, or louvered screen bolted into the deck posts, or use pergolas and planting to screen sightlines.
What is the cheapest way to make a deck private?
A bamboo or reed roll-up screen attached to your existing railing is the cheapest option — roughly $90–$180 for a 10×6-foot section (D&G, 2025). It’s removable and renter-friendly, though less durable than a built wall.
How much does a deck privacy screen cost?
Installed privacy for a 10×6-foot section runs about $90–$180 for bamboo, $180–$350 for wood lattice, $300–$700 for cedar slat or composite panels, and up to $850 for a metal screen (D&G, 2025).
What can I plant for deck privacy?
Evergreen shrubs give year-round screening in East Tennessee, while ornamental grasses provide a fast, seasonal screen. Tall planters and built-in railing planter boxes create a green privacy wall that softens hard screens.
How tall can a deck privacy screen be?
It depends on local rules — many areas cap freestanding privacy structures at a set height, and HOAs may need to approve the design. Tall solid screens also catch wind, so they need posts and footings sized for the load; confirm limits before building.
Make your deck a place you actually use
A deck you feel exposed on tends to sit empty. Whether you want a quick screen or a built-in privacy wall that looks like part of the deck, Tennessee Deckworks can design privacy into your Knoxville deck the right way — sized for wind, integrated with the structure, and matched to your style. Contact us for a free design consultation and let’s make your deck feel like your own.
Sources
- D&G Flooring, Outdoor Privacy Screen Ideas & Buying Guide — installed privacy cost per 10×6-ft section by material (bamboo $90–$180 up to metal $450–$850) (dgfloors.com) (retrieved 2026-08-05).
- Fixr, Top Outdoor Living Trends for 2025 — professional survey (98% impact on home value; 56% investing more; 31% multipurpose) (fixr.com) (retrieved 2026-08-05).
About the author: Joshua Iddens is the founder of Tennessee Deckworks, a licensed deck builder serving Knoxville and East Tennessee with custom decks, porches, and outdoor living spaces.
