Projector Screen Sizes and Dimensions

What are the dimensions of a 16:9 projector screen?

The width is the diagonal × 0.872, and the height is the diagonal × 0.490. The sizes are the viewing area only, so add the frame or border to get the size on the wall.

What size projector screen do I need?

Start from where you sit, not from the wall. These three checks give you the right size:

1. Measure from your seat to the screen wall.
2. Find that distance in the last column of the table, and note the sizes that suit it.
3. Check the width of the biggest one against your wall, leaving room for the frame and speakers.

For example, from 12.0 ft3.7 m to 16.3 ft5.0 m away, a 120 inch screen fills 30 to 40 degrees of your view.

How does the screen shape change the size?

For the same diagonal, a wider shape is shorter and has less area. The table compares four shapes at 120 in (305 cm).

Pick 16:9 for TV, sport and games, and 2.35:1 if you mostly watch widescreen films.

How far should the projector be from the screen?

It depends on the projector’s throw ratio, which is on its spec sheet. Distance = throw ratio × screen width.

Our projector screen size calculator works it out for any size and shape, in either direction.

How high should a projector screen hang?

Keep the center of the picture close to seated eye level, so you do not tilt your head back. With rows of seats, raise it until the back row can see the bottom edge over heads in front.

What size screen suits a small or large room?

Your seating distance decides it. From the chart above, these sizes fill 30 to 40 degrees of your view:

• 8 ft (2.4 m) away: 60 to 80 in.
• 10 ft (3.0 m) away: 80 to 100 in.
• 12 ft (3.7 m) away: 92 to 120 in.

Compare with the TV sizes for the same distance on our 8 feet, 10 feet and 12 feet pages.

How much bigger is a 120 inch screen than a 100 inch one?

A 120 inch screen is 17.4 in (44.3 cm)44.3 cm (17.4 in) wider and 9.8 in (24.9 cm)24.9 cm (9.8 in) taller. It has 44% more area, which feels much bigger than the 20 inch jump suggests.

The same projector spreads its light over that extra area, so the picture is dimmer. In a room with some light, the smaller screen often looks better.

What types of projector screens are there?

Screens differ in how they hang and how they store. The main types are:

• Fixed frame: stretched tight on a frame for the flattest picture, best for a dedicated room.
• Pull down: rolls up into a case on the wall or ceiling, pulled by hand.
• Motorized: rolls up and down at the press of a button.
• Portable: folds onto a tripod or floor stand, for travel and outdoor nights.

What does screen gain mean?

Gain is how much light the screen sends back toward you, compared with a plain matte white surface at 1.0. Above 1.0 the picture looks brighter from straight ahead.

The catch is a narrower viewing angle, so side seats see a dimmer picture. Gray and ambient light rejecting screens help in rooms that are not fully dark.

How do I measure my wall for a projector screen?

Measure the space you have, then check the screen’s full size, frame included. Follow these steps:

1. Measure the clear wall width between corners, doors and windows.
2. Measure the height from the floor to the ceiling.
3. Take the screen’s viewing area from the chart, and add the frame border from its spec sheet.
4. Check the bottom edge clears furniture and heads in the front row.

The same method works for a TV, as our guide on how to measure a TV shows.

Can I use a projector screen outdoors?

Yes, with a portable screen on a stand. Wait until after sunset, because daylight washes out the picture on any screen.

Stake the stand down or weigh its feet, since a big screen catches the wind like a sail. Pack it away dry to keep the surface clean.

Do I need a 4K projector for a big screen?

It depends on how close you sit. On a 120 inch screen, 1080p pixels stop showing beyond about 15.6 ft4.8 m, while 4K pixels vanish beyond 7.8 ft2.4 m.

If your seats are further back than the 1080p distance, a 1080p projector will look just as sharp. Closer than that, 4K is worth the extra cost. Our 4K resolution page explains the pixel counts.

Does a bigger screen make the picture dimmer?

Yes. The projector’s light is spread over the whole screen, so a larger screen gets less light on each part.

A 120 inch screen has 44% more area than a 100 inch one, so the same projector looks about that much dimmer on it. In a room with daylight, a smaller screen or a brighter projector helps.

Can I project onto a wall instead of a screen?

Yes. A smooth, flat wall painted white or light gray works for a start. Bumps and texture show up as shadows across the picture.

A screen gives a more even picture and cleaner edges. Measure the wall first using the steps above, then compare the size with our projector screen size calculator.

Is a projector screen better than a large TV?

A projector gives the biggest picture for the money and folds away when not in use. A TV is brighter, easier to set up and works well in daylight.

If you want the TV route, the largest sizes reach 98 and 100 inches. See our largest TV sizes guide and the 100 inch TV dimensions page.