The definitive guide
How to Choose a Urinal Screen
Most facilities buy urinal screens on price and fragrance. The ones that get it right buy on performance. Here is what to look for — and what the manufacturers do not tell you.
The problem with how urinal screens are sold
Walk into any janitorial supply catalogue and urinal screens are listed by fragrance and price. That is it. No mention of splash performance, uric salt control, or floor contamination. The industry has trained buyers to think of urinal screens as air fresheners in a plastic tray.
The result: facilities spend money on screens, still get odour complaints, still mop wet floors, and still deal with uric salt damage to grout and drains. The screen is not the problem — the wrong screen is.
6 questions to ask before you buy
Splash prevention
Does it physically redirect urine, or just sit in the drain?
Uric salt control
Does it address the chemistry that causes persistent odour?
Floor contamination
Does it stop drips reaching the floor, reducing slip risk?
Patent or test evidence
Is the performance claim backed by a patent or independent data?
Format compatibility
Circular bowl or elongated/trough — confirm before ordering in volume.
Total hygiene cost
Unit price plus cleaning labour saved, not just the catalogue price.
U-R-IN® lavender urinal screen installed — patented splash prevention and odour control in a commercial setting
The screen that meets every criterion
U-R-IN® is the only urinal screen on the market that addresses all six buying criteria — backed by a US patent and European Utility Patent Pending EP4370749.
Buying guide FAQ
How often should urinal screens be replaced?
Standard urinal screens should be replaced every 30 days, or sooner if fragrance is depleted or the screen becomes visibly soiled. High-traffic facilities may require more frequent replacement. Always follow the manufacturer's recommended service interval.
What size urinal screen do I need?
Urinal screens come in two main formats: circular (for standard bowl urinals) and elongated (for trough or waterfall urinals). Measure your drain opening and confirm the screen format before ordering. U-R-IN® is available in both formats.
Do urinal screens really reduce cleaning costs?
Yes — when the screen addresses splash prevention and floor contamination, mopping frequency decreases. Facilities using U-R-IN® report reduced wet floor incidents and lower labour time per shift. The unit cost premium is typically recovered within the first month of use.
What causes persistent urinal odour even with a screen in place?
Persistent odour after fitting a screen almost always means the screen is fragrance-only and is not addressing uric salt build-up in the drain. Uric salts crystallise and produce ammonia-based odour continuously. A fragrance screen masks this temporarily. A screen with active uric salt control eliminates the source.
Are there urinal screens with no fragrance?
Yes — some facilities prefer unscented screens for environments where fragrance may cause complaints (healthcare, allergy-sensitive settings). U-R-IN® can be supplied in unscented variants. Contact us for details.
Where can I buy professional urinal screens in bulk?
U-R-IN® is available through Zoro in the USA and The Urinal Shop in Australia. UK and European trade buyers can enquire directly for volume pricing and distribution terms via our UK trade enquiries page.