Display Privacy Filters Price Comparison 2026
Compare 1,929 display privacy filters from Kensington, 3M and DICOTA. Find the best price across top UK retailers and protect your screen from prying eyes.
Privacy filters occupy a curious corner of the accessories market — unglamorous, often overlooked, yet genuinely essential for anyone working in open-plan offices, on trains, or in airport lounges. Our catalogue of 1,929 products spans everything from budget frameless panels to premium magnetic systems, with prices ranging from 16 £ to 141 £. The spread tells its own story: most buyers land somewhere between 36 £ and 46 £, which is where the real competition happens.
DICOTA dominates by sheer volume with over 600 references, making it the go-to brand for corporate IT buyers who need to cover dozens of screen sizes in one procurement sweep. Kensington, meanwhile, punches harder on quality — its MagPro™ magnetic attachment system is genuinely the most convenient on the market, snapping on and off in seconds without adhesive residue or fiddly clips. 3M sits at the premium end, averaging notably higher than the rest, and the price is justified by superior micro-louvre optics that deliver a tighter viewing angle than most competitors manage.
One thing worth flagging: screen size compatibility is non-negotiable. A filter cut for a 15.6" 16:9 panel will not fit a 15.6" 16:10 display — the aspect ratio matters just as much as the diagonal. We see a lot of returns stem from this confusion, so always double-check both figures before comparing prices. If you're equipping a monitor accessory setup, it's also worth considering whether a monitor mount or stand might change your viewing angle enough to affect which filter attachment type suits you best.
Blue-light reduction is increasingly bundled into mid-range and premium filters — useful for long working days, though the effect is subtler than dedicated screen settings. Anti-glare coatings vary considerably: matte finishes reduce reflections in bright offices but can soften image sharpness slightly, while glossy-treated filters look crisper but bounce light back at you under fluorescent strip lighting. Worth thinking about before you buy, especially if your desk faces a window. For corporate buyers, many DICOTA and Origin Storage models ship with bulk-friendly packaging and are available through standard procurement channels — a practical advantage that partly explains their strong presence in this catalogue.
How to Choose the Right Privacy Filter for Your Screen
With 1,929 products on the market and prices that vary wildly depending on brand and screen size, picking the right privacy filter is less obvious than it looks. The wrong size is the most common — and most avoidable — mistake. Here's what actually matters.
Exact screen size and aspect ratio match
This is the single most important criterion, and the one most often ignored. Privacy filters are precision-cut to specific diagonals and aspect ratios. A 15.6" filter exists in both 16:9 and 16:10 variants — they are not interchangeable. Check your laptop lid or monitor spec sheet for both figures before searching. Getting this wrong means gaps at the edges, which defeats the entire purpose of the filter.
Attachment system: magnetic vs. clips vs. adhesive
Magnetic systems (Kensington's MagPro™ being the benchmark) are the most convenient — on in seconds, off in seconds, no residue. They require a compatible metal bezel, which most modern laptops have. Clip-on systems work on a wider range of frames but can scratch bezels over time. Adhesive strips are the most secure but essentially permanent; fine for a fixed workstation, a poor choice if you move between desks. Two-way removable designs offer a useful middle ground: privacy mode one way, standard screen the other.
Privacy angle: how narrow is narrow enough?
Most filters quote a viewing angle — typically 30° to 60° either side of centre. A 60° filter is visible to someone sitting at a moderate angle; a 30° filter blacks out almost entirely unless you're directly in front. For open-plan offices or public transport, aim for 30°–45°. The trade-off is brightness loss: tighter angles mean darker screens, often requiring you to push brightness up by 20–30%, which affects battery life on laptops.
Brightness loss and optical clarity
All privacy filters reduce screen brightness — typically between 25% and 50%. Budget filters tend toward the higher end of that range, which can make screens uncomfortably dim in bright environments. Premium options from 3M and Kensington's MagPro Elite line manage closer to 25–30% loss. If you work in a well-lit office or outdoors, this matters more than it might seem. Check whether the filter has a matte or glossy anti-glare coating too: matte suits bright rooms, glossy suits darker environments where colour accuracy is a priority.
Touchscreen compatibility
If your laptop or monitor has a touchscreen — Surface devices being the obvious example — you need a filter explicitly rated as touch-compatible. Standard filters add enough surface resistance to make touch input unreliable or unresponsive. Kensington's MagPro Elite for Surface is one of the few options specifically engineered for this. It costs more, but there's no point buying a cheaper filter that makes your touchscreen unusable.
Budget reality: what each price band actually delivers
Below 36 £, you're mostly looking at frameless clip-on filters from lesser-known brands — functional for occasional use, but expect noticeable brightness loss and limited anti-glare treatment. The 36 £ to 46 £ range is where Origin Storage, Fellowes, and entry-level Kensington sit: solid build, decent optics, reliable sizing. Above 46 £, you get into magnetic attachment, blue-light filtering, and tighter privacy angles. The 3M and eSTUFF premium tier — often over 70 £ — is genuinely better optically, but the gap narrows for everyday office use.
- Entry-level — functional but basic (From 16 £ to 36 £) : Frameless clip-on or adhesive filters from generic brands and budget Origin Storage lines. Adequate for occasional privacy needs, but expect 40–50% brightness loss and minimal anti-glare treatment. Fine for a home office where you're not constantly removing and reattaching the filter.
- The sweet spot — most buyers land here (From 36 £ to 46 £) : This is where Fellowes PrivaScreen, StarTech.com, and mid-range Kensington models compete. Better optical clarity, reliable sizing across common screen dimensions, and more attachment options. Good value for regular office use — we'd start here for anyone buying their first privacy filter.
- Premium performance (From 46 £ to 70 £) : Kensington MagPro™ magnetic systems, Targus, and DICOTA's higher-spec lines dominate this band. Magnetic attachment, tighter viewing angles, and noticeably less brightness loss. Worth the step up if you're in a busy open-plan environment or travel frequently.
- Professional and large-format (Over 70 £) : 3M's premium micro-louvre filters and eSTUFF's high-spec range. Also where large-format filters (27", 32", 34" ultrawide) sit regardless of brand — size drives cost as much as quality here. Justified for security-sensitive roles or large desktop monitors; overkill for a standard 14" laptop.
Top products
- Kensington MagPro™ Magnetic Privacy Screen Filter for Laptops 15.6" (16:9) (Kensington) : The most practical everyday privacy filter for 15.6" laptops — the magnetic attachment is genuinely effortless and the optics are solid. Not the cheapest, but the convenience factor is hard to argue with for daily commuters.
- Fellowes PrivaScreen 39.1 cm (15.4") Laptop Frameless display privacy filter (Fellowes) : The best-value option in this top 15 by a clear margin — Fellowes delivers reliable privacy performance at a price well below the category average. A sensible first filter if you're not yet sure how often you'll use it.
- Kensington Privacy Screen Filter for 14" Laptops 16:10 - 2-Way Removable (Kensington) : A strong pick for 14" 16:10 users — the 2-way removable design adds real flexibility, and the 16:10 format compatibility is rarer than 16:9, making this one of the few well-specified options for that screen ratio.
- Kensington MagPro Elite Privacy Screen Filter for Surface Laptop 3 13" (Kensington) : The only credible choice for Surface Laptop 3 owners who need touchscreen compatibility preserved. It costs more than a generic 13" filter, but buying a cheaper alternative that kills your touchscreen is a false economy.
- Fellowes PrivaScreen 61 cm (24") Monitor Frameless display privacy filter (Fellowes) : Solid 24" monitor coverage at a fair price — Fellowes keeps things simple with a frameless design that fits most standard bezels. Not as premium as Kensington's magnetic equivalent, but considerably easier on the budget for a large-format filter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does a privacy filter have to match my screen size exactly?
Yes — an exact match on both diagonal size and aspect ratio is essential. A filter that's even slightly too large or too small will leave gaps at the edges, which completely undermines its privacy function. Always check your screen's diagonal (e.g. 15.6") and its aspect ratio (16:9 or 16:10) — these are not the same thing, and filters are cut to both dimensions. When in doubt, check the manufacturer's spec sheet rather than relying on the laptop model name alone.
What's the difference between a 2-way removable filter and a standard one?
A 2-way removable filter can be flipped to switch between privacy mode (dark from the sides) and a standard transparent mode with anti-glare properties. This is genuinely useful if you sometimes need colleagues to see your screen during collaboration, then want privacy back for sensitive work. Standard (1-way) filters are fixed in privacy mode and are typically cheaper, but offer no flexibility. For most office workers, the 2-way option is worth the modest price premium.
Will a privacy filter work on a touchscreen laptop like a Surface?
Not all privacy filters are compatible with touchscreens — most standard filters add enough surface resistance to degrade touch sensitivity noticeably. You need a filter explicitly rated as touch-compatible. Kensington's MagPro Elite range for Surface devices is the most widely available option in the UK for this use case. Check the product specification carefully; "compatible with touchscreen" should be stated explicitly, not implied.
Are cheap privacy filters worth buying, or should I avoid them?
Cheap filters below 36 £ are worth considering only for occasional, low-stakes use — think working from a coffee shop once a week rather than daily open-plan office work. The main issues are excessive brightness loss (making the screen genuinely uncomfortable to use), poor anti-glare coatings, and inconsistent sizing that can leave gaps. For daily use, spending up to 46 £ gets you a filter that won't frustrate you every time you sit down at your desk.
How much brightness will I lose with a privacy filter fitted?
Expect to lose between 25% and 50% of screen brightness, depending on the filter. Budget options typically sit at the 40–50% loss end; premium filters from 3M and Kensington's MagPro Elite line manage closer to 25–30%. In practice, most users compensate by increasing screen brightness, which reduces battery life on laptops. If you work in a bright environment, prioritise filters that specify lower brightness reduction in their technical specs.
Is 3M really worth the premium over Kensington or DICOTA?
For the tightest privacy angles and best optical clarity, yes — 3M's micro-louvre technology is genuinely superior and the brand averages notably higher than Kensington or DICOTA for good reason. That said, for everyday office use where you just need to stop the person next to you reading your emails, a mid-range Kensington MagPro™ delivers excellent results at a lower price. 3M makes most sense for security-sensitive roles (finance, legal, healthcare) or large-format monitors where optical quality is more noticeable.
Can I use a monitor privacy filter on a laptop screen?
No — monitor filters and laptop filters are different products, even at the same diagonal size. Monitor filters are designed for flat-panel displays with specific bezel depths and attachment points; laptop filters account for the thinner bezels and different frame geometry of portable screens. Always buy a filter explicitly listed for your device type (laptop or monitor), and check the brand's compatibility list if you're unsure.