Will that projector fit your room?
Enter your screen size to find exactly how far the projector must sit from the screen — then pick a model for its real numbers and the right ALR/CLR screen.
Throw-distance calculator
Distance for a 100″ screen
8.7–10.9 ft
Lens-to-screen distance. Zoom (if any) lets you fine-tune within the range.
Projectors
Click a model for its exact throw distance at your screen size, full specs, and screen guidance.
| Model | Throw ratio | Lumens | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson Home Cinema 2350 | 1.32–2.15 | 2,800 | lamp |
| BenQ TK700 | 1.13–1.46 | 3,200 | lamp |
| Optoma UHD55 | 1.21–1.59 | 3,600 | lamp |
| Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 | 0.16 | 4,000 | UST |
| Hisense PX3-PRO | 0.22 | 3,000 | UST |
| XGIMI Horizon Ultra | 1.2–1.5 | 2,300 | laser |
How projector placement works
Throw distance is the one number that decides where a projector can sit. Here's how it works — and how to pick the matching screen.
distance = throw ratio × image width
What is throw ratio?
Throw ratio is the lens-to-screen distance divided by the image width. A 16:9 100″ screen is ~87″ (2.21 m) wide, so a 1.2-throw projector sits ~8.7 ft (2.65 m) back. Zoom lenses give a range (e.g. 1.32–2.15), letting you place the projector anywhere in that window — the calculator above does the math for any model and screen size.
~0.2 throw ratio
Sits on a console inches below the screen. Plug-and-play and furniture-friendly — ideal for living rooms with no room to mount across. Needs a matched CLR screen and costs more.
~1.1–2.2 throw ratio
Sits several feet back or ceiling-mounted. Cheaper for the same brightness and more flexible on screens — but you need the room depth to hit your image size.
Match the screen to the projector
In any room with ambient light the screen matters as much as the projector. CLR (Fresnel) screens are built for UST and reject overhead light; standard ALR suits long-throw in moderate light; a plain matte-white screen gives the most accurate color in a dark room. Mismatching causes hotspotting and washed-out contrast.
Frequently asked questions
Found a projector you like? Check its exact throw distance for your room.
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