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Quick answer
The wood panel is 38 wide by 61 high with metal posts and no-dig ground stakes. The metal screen is 60 high by 36 wide with 12 interlocking panels and 12 inch stakes. The shade cloth is 3 feet 3 inches by 9 feet 9 inches, 80 percent shade, and hangs by grommets every 20 inches. If you want a freestanding panel for a trash can or an air conditioner, the wood or metal screens. If you want to cover a railing, the cloth.
Quick compare: the products in this guide
Sizes come from the Amazon listings as we read them; check the product page for the current details before you buy.
| Product | Listed details | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Privacy Fence Screen Outdoor Privacy Panels AC Trash Can Hider No Dig | 38 W x 61 H in; solid wood | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
| Metal Privacy Screen Outdoor – 60″ H X 36″ W Freestanding Privacy Fence… | 60 x 36 in; 12 in stakes | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
| Fence Privacy Screen Balcony Sun Shade Cloth 3’3″x9’9″ 80% Shade Fabric | 39 x 117 in; 0.51 kg | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
The three at a glance
| Wood privacy panel | Metal privacy screen | Shade cloth screen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size on the page | 38 W x 61 H in (table says 38 L x 61 W) | 60 H x 36 W in | 39 x 117 in (3 ft 3 in x 9 ft 9 in) |
| Material | Solid wood, metal posts | Metal | Polypropylene (page also says HDPE) |
| Fixing | No-dig metal ground stakes | 12 in ground stakes | Grommets every 20 in, ties |
| Weight | Not read | Not read | 0.51 kg |
| Privacy | Slatted | Perforated, airflow | 80 percent blockage, see-through |
| Colors | Two (orange and another) | Not read | Not read |
Wood Privacy Fence Screen Outdoor Privacy Panels
The bullets say 100 percent solid wood in warm and dark tones, a slatted design, rust-resistant metal posts and heavy-duty ground stakes for a no-dig setup, and uses to hide trash cans, air conditioners and pool equipment. The table calls the size 38 by 61 inches, while the bullet says 38 wide and 61 high, so we read it as 61 inches tall.
Metal Privacy Screen Outdoor, 60″ H x 36″ W
A set of 12 interlocking panels in metal, with 12 inch ground stakes. The page says the design balances airflow and privacy and that stakes anchor deeper than most. It is described as decorative.
Fence Privacy Screen Balcony Sun Shade Cloth, 3’3″ x 9’9″
A knitted fabric panel, 80 percent shade, with edges sewn in six threads and aluminum grommets every 20 inches. The table says polypropylene while a bullet says high-density polyethylene. It weighs 0.51 kilograms.
Worked example: coverage and wind
This is our own arithmetic.
| Item | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Wood panel area | 38 x 61 / 144 | 16.1 sq ft |
| Metal screen area | 36 x 60 / 144 | 15.0 sq ft |
| Shade cloth area | 39 x 117 / 144 | 31.7 sq ft |
| Cloth grommet spacing | 117 / 20 | About 6 spans |
| Cloth weight per sq ft | 0.51 kg = 1.12 lb / 31.7 | 0.035 lb |
The cloth covers twice the area of a panel at a fraction of the weight, which is why it is tied to a railing instead of standing on its own. A wall of cloth catches wind; the page says it lets breezes pass, and an 80 percent shade fabric still has a 20 percent opening. The solid and slatted panels stand on stakes in soil, and they will not stand on a patio slab unless you add a base, which the pages do not describe.
Where each one works
On a lawn or planter bed: the wood and metal screens, with stakes. On a concrete patio: a freestanding panel with a base, which these pages do not offer. On a balcony railing: the cloth. For indoor-outdoor use, see privacy screen indoor and folding screen room.
Questions to ask the seller before you order
- How much wind can the panel take, and what is the maximum height for stakes in soil?
- Is the wood treated for outdoor use, and how will it weather?
- For the metal screen: is the coating rust-resistant?
- For the cloth: is it UV stabilized, and what is the lifespan?
- Can the panels be joined for a longer run?
After it arrives
Set the stakes in damp soil and push straight down. Check after a storm. Tie the cloth at every grommet, not only at the corners, to reduce flapping. Do not use panels to block the exhaust of a heater or the vent of an air conditioner, since they need airflow.
A second worked scenario: a balcony railing
This is our own arithmetic. A balcony railing is 117 inches long, which matches the 9 foot 9 inch cloth, and the owner wants to block the view from a neighbouring window. The cloth is 39 inches high, so it covers the lower third of a 3 foot railing wall and the top of a railing 36 inches high only if it is hung at the top.
| Item | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Cloth grommet spans | 117 / 20 | About 6 |
| Ties needed | 6 spans + 1 | 7 ties minimum |
| Wind surface | 39 x 117 = 4,563 sq in | 31.7 sq ft |
| Shade passed | 100 – 80 percent | 20 percent of light |
A balcony with a 117 inch railing needs about seven ties to hold the cloth along its length, with grommets every 20 inches. A cloth of 31.7 square feet acts like a sail in wind, so tie it tight and check the ties after a storm. If you live on an upper floor, the cloth and ties must be secure; a cloth that comes loose can fall onto people below.
Reading the listings critically
The wood panel’s table says 38 by 61 inches as length by width and the bullet says 38 wide by 61 high, so the same numbers appear in a different order. The metal screen’s table reads 60 length by 36 width, and the title says 60 high by 36 wide; here again the table’s labels are not reliable. The cloth’s page says polypropylene in the table and a high-density polyethylene in a bullet. When the labels vary this much, the title and the bullets are usually the better guide, but ask for confirmation. None of the three gives a wind rating or a weight except the cloth, at 0.51 kilograms.
What suits which outdoor space
A lawn or a flower bed: stakes go into soil, so the wood and metal screens fit. A deck or concrete patio: stakes do not, so you need weighted bases or posts that bolt down, which the pages do not offer. A balcony: cloth tied to the railing, or a screen in planters filled with weight. A pool equipment area: the wood and metal pages mention hiding pool equipment and air conditioners. Always leave air space around a unit that gives off heat.
Weather
Wood weathers to grey unless it is treated. Metal can rust if the coating is damaged. Cloth fades in sun, even with UV stabilizers, and the pages give no lifespan. If you live in a windy area, a perforated screen lets wind through and takes less strain than a solid one, which is the metal screen’s pitch of airflow with privacy. We have no tests of any of these in wind.
Care
Clean wood with a stiff brush and treat it once a year if the maker advises it. Touch up chips in a metal coating. Take cloth down in a storm, wash it with mild soap and dry it before folding. For indoor dividers, see privacy screen indoor.
Mistakes to avoid
Standing a panel on a slab. Stakes need soil.
Blocking an air conditioner’s airflow. Leave space.
Tying cloth at only four points. It will flap.
Assuming solid wood outdoors lasts forever. It weathers.
Frequently asked questions
What is an outdoor panel divider?
A freestanding or hung panel for privacy on a patio, deck or balcony.
Can I use it on a concrete patio?
The pages describe ground stakes, not bases.
Will it block wind?
The cloth page says it lets breezes pass. The others do not say.
How tall are they?
61 and 60 inches for the panels, 39 inches for the cloth.
Can the panels hide a trash can?
The pages say so.
Do you recommend one?
We have not tested them. This guide reports what the pages say.
Products worth checking
We have not tested these products. Sizes and features come from the Amazon listings as we read them; where a listing does not say, we say so.
Wood Privacy Fence Screen Outdoor Privacy Panels AC Trash Can Hider No Dig
- Keep in mind: we have not tested it, and the listing may show more than one size or finish, so pick the variant that matches your numbers.
Metal Privacy Screen Outdoor – 60″ H X 36″ W Freestanding Privacy Fence Panels with Stakes
- Keep in mind: we have not tested it, and the listing may show more than one size or finish, so pick the variant that matches your numbers.
Fence Privacy Screen Balcony Sun Shade Cloth 3’3″x9’9″ 80% Shade Fabric
- Keep in mind: we have not tested it, and the listing may show more than one size or finish, so pick the variant that matches your numbers.
Sources checked
Specifications come from the Amazon listings as we read them for this guide. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.
