www.makeuseof.com What Is the Best Projector Screen Height?

Smart projector screens can be misleadingly convenient—we've got plenty of portable video projectors that we can recommend, but higher-end models are also great as a fixed staple of your home entertainment system.

If you love movie projectors and want to make the most of yours in your home theater, you shouldn't just toss the picture up on the wall. Instead, you should take some time to find the best projector screen height for the room. Here's how you can get started.

Projector Screen Height: Getting Started

The best projector screen height, in a general sense, is about one-third of the distance between the "optimal" viewing position and the surface of the projected image. In this case, "optimal" will usually refer to the middle-most seat, especially if your home theater set-up resembles a high-end private viewing theater. In plain-jane numbers, this may equate to a projector screen height anywhere from 24 to 48 inches off of the ground, depending on many things.

You don't need rows of theater seating to take advantage of this projector screen tip, however—if you use a few couches in front of your seating area, for example, you would likely use the couch seat front-and-center to the screen as your initial point of reference. Is this the only parameter through which you should be laying out this decision, though?

Many smart projectors come included with instructions on how to achieve a perfectly-tuned screen of 100 inches. This value is measured in the manner described above and will certainly be one factor to consider when choosing an optimal projector screen height. One thing worth mentioning here: before doing any thinking, remember that projector screens (like screens of any type) are measured diagonally through the center from corner to corner.

Many DIY experts peg the best horizontal distance between viewer and projector screen as being approximately twice the size of the screen. It's essentially the same thought process: take the best seat in the house, choose your ideal projector screen size, and work outward to projector screen height from there.

Other Important Aspects of Your Home Theater

While the walkthrough above is a great baseline, there are other practical considerations that your projector screen height will need to account for. How many people are you hoping to entertain with each session, for example? The more people watching, the higher the screen should.

Your projector's design and capacity for performance is also highly relevant. If you plan on mounting it somewhere permanently, the projector's native throw—as well as whether or not it allows you to adjust its vertical shift from the head— may limit your options significantly. A ceiling-mounted projector, for example, may consequently leave you with a much higher screen than you would prefer.

Clearly, some homework before choosing a smart projector for your home will help you make an informed decision. Take some measurements and crunch the numbers, or you might be trapped in a nightmare world of neck cramps and dissatisfied guests forever.

The height of your ceiling might also present its own set of unique advantages or challenges when setting up a home theater. If you love the idea of a huge projection screen fit for many viewers at once, you should actively choose the room in your home with the highest ceilings, more room to play with when figuring out your home theater set up. Low drop ceilings may limit you significantly.

What Is the Best Height for Projector Screens?

The answer to this question will be different for every movie projector and every home theater set-up—we recommend starting anywhere from 28 to 38 inches off of the ground and adjusting the entire configuration according to taste.

Once you have something up and running, take a seat and check it out. If you love it, you're on the right track, but we advise anybody doing it themselves to test out the arrangement for a week or two before making anything permanent. Ask your friends.

Ask your kids. Is diplomacy the way to go? Your audience and your own instinct won't lie. Build the entertainment oasis that your family deserves, minus the discomfort of that sitting-too-close-at-the-movies feeling.

I learn for a living.

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