Privacy fence screens are sold by weight: GSM, or grams per square meter. The number tells you how dense the knitted HDPE fabric is, and that one spec decides most of what you will notice after it is up: how much you can see through it, how it behaves in wind, and how long it lasts. Here is how our two weights compare.
The short answer
- Choose 170 GSM for most backyards, balconies, deck railings and dog runs. It gives about 90% privacy and lets plenty of air through.
- Choose 220 GSM for windy, open or commercial sites: pools, tennis and pickleball courts, job sites and long runs of chain link. It blocks up to 98% of the view and uses heavier binding and grommets.
Side-by-side comparison
| 170 GSM standard | 220 GSM PLUS | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | About 90% | Up to 98% |
| Fabric | Commercial-grade HDPE, UV and water resistant | 100% virgin (non-recycled) HDPE with UV stabilizer |
| Edges | Heavy duty black binding | 4-inch binding folded over every edge |
| Grommets | Brass, 4 per corner; every 12" on short sides, every 24" on long sides | Larger brass grommets, same spacing |
| Sizes | 3' to 8' high, 3' to 50' long (50+ sizes) | 4', 5', 6' and 8' high, 50' long |
| Colors | Black, beige, brown, white, grey, green | Green, brown, black, beige, grey |
| Warranty | 3-year limited | 4-year |
Privacy: 90% vs 98%
At 90%, a 170 GSM screen stops people from casually seeing into your yard from the street or the next lot. You may still see shapes and movement up close in bright light. A 220 GSM screen is knit much tighter and blocks almost all of the view, which matters around pools, hot tubs and anywhere you want the space to feel fully closed off.
Wind: why heavier is not the same as solid
Both weights are breathable mesh, so wind and rain pass through instead of pushing on the fence like a solid tarp. The difference is in how the screen holds up over time on an exposed fence. The 220 GSM screen pairs denser fabric with wider binding and larger grommets, so the edges and attachment points take wind load better. On long, open runs of chain link, that is what keeps a screen tight instead of tearing at the grommets.
Durability
Our 220 GSM screen uses virgin HDPE with a UV stabilizer. In 20,000 hours of lab UV testing it held up 70% longer than recycled HDPE. If the screen will sit in full sun all year, that is the safer choice.
Sizing tip for both
Screens are made slightly smaller than the listed size so they sit tight on the fence: our 170 GSM screens are about 1 inch smaller, and 220 GSM screens are about 3 inches shorter than the listed height. Order the size of your fence, not the size of the opening plus extra.
Need a length that is not listed?
We make privacy screens to order in any height and length. Custom screens are made in 1–3 business days and ship within 3–7 business days from California.
Shop 170 GSM privacy fence screens · Shop 220 GSM PLUS screens · Order a custom size
Related: How to choose a privacy fence screen · How to install a privacy fence screen
