Fence Privacy Screen: The Missed Revenue for Rental Companies

Most rental companies lose thousands every year by not offering fence privacy screens with their temp fence rentals. 
Screens can increase your revenue by 46% to 169% on just one job. And the companies that offer them are taking business that could be yours. 
 
Andrew Hession, SONCO’s Specialist in Rental Business says:

“Many rental companies don’t realize how much money they’re leaving on the table by not offering screens to their customers. But when they do, they better be ready to deploy them quickly." 

Check out the breakdown below and use the materials in this post to see how your business can make more money.

The Problem: Profit Gaps from Not Offering Fence Privacy Screens

Most customers won’t bring up privacy screens, but they’ll usually say yes when you do. For many, it’s a compliance must-have, so if they don’t get it from you, they’ll just buy it somewhere else.

Every fence rental without screens is money left behind, steady revenue that disappears just because it wasn’t part of the offer.

The Numbers You Can’t Ignore

Screens aren’t just add-ons, they transform the value of every rental job.

Take a 1,000 ft project lasting three months:

• Base job (no screens)

Fence, installation, accessories, freight = $5,210

First, the privacy screen option

You’ll need about 20 rolls of 50 ft privacy screen to cover 1,000 ft of temp fence perimeter.

• Each roll costs $32, and with a 40% markup, the selling price is $32 × 1.40 = $44.80
• 20 rolls × $44.80 = $896 in screen revenue
• Add screen installation at $1.50 × 1,000 ft = $1,500
• Extra revenue: $896 + $1,500 = $2,396

Total job: $5,210 (no screen) + $2,396 (with screen) = $7,606

46% increase vs. no screen

Now look at the custom screen option

• Each custom screen roll costs $293, and with a 25% markup, the selling price is $317.50 × 1.25 = $366.25
• 20 rolls × $366.25 = $7,325 in custom screen revenue
• Add screen installation at $1.50 × 1,000 ft = $1,500
• Extra revenue: $7,325 + $1,500 = $8,825

Total job: $5,210 (no screen) + $8,825 (with custom screen) = $14,035

169% increase vs. no screen

Compare the Numbers

These numbers don’t even include potential extra charges for takedown or delivery fees, for example, which can raise the total even more. 

Want to see how the calculator works?

Watch this video:

A Growing Market for Fence Privacy Screens

The global fence screen market was about USD 1.65B in 2024 and could reach USD 2.46B by 2032 (6% yearly growth).

Another report puts it at USD 1.8B now, growing to USD 2.6B by 2031 (around 5.5% yearly growth).

Contractors, venues, and municipalities already recognize the value. The question is whether your rental company is capturing it too.

Solution: Make Fence Privacy Screens a Default Add-On

Instead of waiting for customers to request them, make screens part of every fence proposal.

Why this works:

• Make more money without extra marketing or sales work.
• Give customers clear value with safety, compliance, and branding.
• Stand out as the one-stop shop that’s already thinking ahead for them. 

Become a Reseller

Adding screens to your lineup is more than an upsell. It turns your company into a reseller with a bigger role in the supply chain.

Instead of only providing the fence, you become the source for a full solution. That builds stronger ties with customers and opens a new stream of profit.

How SONCO Helps You Capture That Extra Profit

SONCO makes selling screens simple.

• Custom branding and safety signage ready to fit your customer’s needs.
• Free design services. Our team handles the artwork.
• On-time delivery to you or straight to your customer’s site.
• Flexible order sizes, from single rolls to full pallets for bulk jobs.
• Storage and handling solutions like racks and accessories to protect and organize inventory.

With SONCO, you can sell screens confidently while giving customers a quick, professional experience.

 

“We know the challenges rental companies face. SONCO was a rental company for 20 years, so we have the products and guidance to help these businesses grow.”

— Andrew Hession, SONCO’s Specialist in Rental Business 

Hear From One of Our Customers

 "I've been with SONCO for a while, and what keeps me coming back is the service they provide and the availability of products when we need them.”

Watch full testimonial: 

Wrap-Up

Fence screens aren’t extras, they’re the profit center hiding in plain sight.

Companies that treat them as standard add-ons grow faster, win more bids, and strengthen customer loyalty. 

A Partner Who Knows Rentals

SONCO isn’t just a supplier. We spent 20 years as a rental company, so we understand the challenges you face every day.

That experience gives us the expertise to support your business with more than just products.

And when rental customers in your area come to us, we forward them to you.

Email us at sales@soncostore.com or call 866-254-6510 for a quick quote or any help you need.

Our rental experts are here to guide you and help your company thrive.