A projector only works if it fits the room. Its throw ratio decides where it mounts: throw distance = throw ratio x picture width. A 120 inch 16:9 screen is 104.7 inches wide, so a 1.2 throw ratio puts the lens about 10.5 ft from the screen, and a 2.0 throw puts it 17.5 ft away.
Our picks at a glance
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Fits the most rooms
Epson Home Cinema 2350 4K PRO-UHD Projector
2,800 lumens
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Shelf or table, no ceiling mount
JMGO N1S Ultra 4K Laser Projector
1.21 throw ratio
Check price at JMGOPaid link
- 3
Dedicated theater
Epson Home Cinema LS11000 4K Laser Projector
2,500 lumens, laser
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 4
Screen
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 120 inch Screen
120 in, 16:9
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Pick the screen size from where you sit, not the other way round. THX recommends a picture that fills 36 to 40 degrees of your view; SMPTE says at least 30. From 12 ft back that is roughly a 105 to 120 inch screen.
The picks below cover a zoom lens that fits almost any depth, a fixed lens triple laser that sits on a shelf, a short throw true 4K for shallow rooms and a motorized laser for a dedicated theater, plus the screens that suit them. Our home theater calculator works out the screen size, mount distance and speaker layout for your room.
Top picks, and why
Epson Home Cinema 2350 4K PRO-UHD Projector
- 3-chip 3LCD
- 1.32 to 2.15 throw ratio
- HDR10, HLG
- Android TV
A 1.62x zoom lens, 1.32 to 2.15 throw ratio: a 120 in picture from about 11.5 to 18.8 ft. 2,800 lumens, 3LCD. $500 to $1,000.
- 2,800 lumens color and white brightness
- Throw ratio 1.32 to 2.15 (1.62x zoom)
- Input lag under 20 ms
- 4K PRO-UHD is pixel shift, not native 4K
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
JMGO N1S Ultra 4K Laser Projector
- 4K
- 4K triple laser
- 2,800 ISO lumens
- Gimbal stand
2800 ISO lumen RGB triple laser on a built-in gimbal that tilts to the screen, with auto focus and keystone. Fixed 1.21 throw ratio. about $1,089.
- 4K triple laser, 2,800 ISO lumens
- Gimbal stand aims anywhere, auto keystone
- Google TV built in
- 1.21 throw ratio: mounts behind the golfer, so shadows are possible
- Only fits deep rooms or smaller screens
About $1,089 at JMGO, checked Oct 14, 2026
Check price at JMGOPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Epson Home Cinema LS11000 4K Laser Projector
- 4K, 3-chip 3LCD
- 1.35 to 2.84 throw ratio
- Lens shift +/-96% V
- HDR10+
+1 moreFewer
- 120 Hz
Laser light, motorized zoom, focus and lens shift (+/-96% vertical), 1.35 to 2.84 throw ratio and 120 Hz. over $2,000.
- 2,500 lumens, laser light source
- Motorized lens shift, zoom and focus
- 1,200,000:1 dynamic contrast, 120 Hz
- Needs a dark room to show its contrast
Over $2,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 120 inch Screen
- 104.7 in wide
- 1.3 gain
- UST compatible
- Black velvet frame
120 in, 104.7 in wide, 1.3 gain CineWhite UHD-B, rated for standard, short and ultra short throw projectors. $250 to $500.
- 120 in diagonal, 104.7 x 58.7 in picture
- 1.3 gain CineWhite UHD-B
- Works with UST projectors
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Compare every pick
Paid links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you. Amazon prices change often, so we show a range and link to the live price.
Throw distance: check this before anything else
Multiply the throw ratio by your screen width. For the 120 in Elite Sable Frame B2 (104.7 in wide): the BenQ W2720i's 1.0 to 1.3 lens needs 8.7 to 11.3 ft, the JMGO N1S Ultra's fixed 1.21 needs about 10.6 ft, the Epson Home Cinema 2350's 1.32 to 2.15 needs 11.5 to 18.8 ft and the Epson LS11000's 1.35 to 2.84 needs 11.8 to 24.8 ft.
Mount the lens somewhere between about 3 ft from the screen and 1 ft short of the back wall, ideally just behind or above the main row, where the fan noise and the beam stay out of the way. A zoom lens gives you a range; a fixed lens means the distance sets the picture size.
BenQ W2720i 4K Home Theater Projector
- True 4K UHD
- 1.0 to 1.3 throw ratio
- 90% DCI-P3
- 3 x HDMI 2.1, eARC
+1 moreFewer
- Android TV
True 4K UHD DLP with a short 1.0 to 1.3 throw, 2500 ANSI lumens and factory calibration to Delta E under 3. $1,000 to $2,000.
- True 4K UHD, 2500 ANSI lumens
- Throw ratio 1.0 to 1.3 (1.3x zoom)
- Factory calibrated, Delta E under 3
- Made for dark or controlled-light rooms
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Epson Home Cinema 2350 4K PRO-UHD Projector
- 3-chip 3LCD
- 1.32 to 2.15 throw ratio
- HDR10, HLG
- Android TV
1.32 to 2.15 zoom, 2,800 lumens and input lag under 20 ms. 4K PRO-UHD is pixel shift rather than native 4K. $500 to $1,000.
- 2,800 lumens color and white brightness
- Throw ratio 1.32 to 2.15 (1.62x zoom)
- Input lag under 20 ms
- 4K PRO-UHD is pixel shift, not native 4K
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
No ceiling mount: shelf and table projectors
If you rent, or cannot run power and HDMI to the ceiling, a projector on a rear shelf or a coffee table works the same way as long as the lens is the right distance from the screen. A gimbal lets it tilt up to the screen without throwing the picture out of shape.
JMGO N1S Ultra 4K Laser Projector
- 4K
- 4K triple laser
- 2,800 ISO lumens
- Gimbal stand
RGB triple laser, 2800 ISO lumens, HDMI 2.1 with eARC to a receiver or soundbar, and Google TV built in. about $1,089.
- 4K triple laser, 2,800 ISO lumens
- Gimbal stand aims anywhere, auto keystone
- Google TV built in
- 1.21 throw ratio: mounts behind the golfer, so shadows are possible
- Only fits deep rooms or smaller screens
About $1,089 at JMGO, checked Oct 14, 2026
Check price at JMGOPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Living rooms: ultra short throw
An ultra short throw projector sits on a low cabinet a few inches from the wall, so there is no mount, no cable across the room and no one walks through the beam. Throw ratios run about 0.17 to 0.25: roughly 18 to 26 in from the wall for a 120 in picture. See our ultra short throw guide for the full comparison.
Check that the screen is rated for UST. Some screens and frames are not, and some ambient light rejecting screens made for single laser UST projectors are not rated for triple laser models.
AWOL VISION LTV-3000 Pro 4K 3D UST laser projector
- 4K UHD
- Triple laser, no color wheel
- 0.25:1 throw ratio
- Dolby Vision
+4 moreFewer
- HDR10+
- Active 3D
- Built-in center channel speaker
- PJLink control
Triple laser, 0.25 throw ratio, pictures up to 150 in, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and active 3D. $1,000 to $2,000.
- Picture sizes to 150 inches, 0.25:1 throw ratio
- Active 3D plus Dolby Vision and HDR10+
- PJLink IP control for Control4 style home automation
- Maker says it works best in darker rooms without an ALR screen
- No streaming platform named in the listing
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
XGIMI MIRA 4K triple laser UST projector
- 4K UHD
- RGB triple laser
- 0.175:1 throw ratio
- Dolby Vision
+4 moreFewer
- HDR10+
- 36W Harman Kardon audio
- Google TV
- Auto focus and keystone
0.175 throw ratio and 2000 ISO lumens, with Google TV and Harman Kardon audio. $1,000 to $2,000.
- 0.175:1 throw ratio, 100 inch picture from 7.6 inches
- 2000 ISO lumens, 110% BT.2020 color gamut
- 1ms input lag, VRR and ALLM for gaming
- Listing describes a 120 inch experience, not 150 inch
- Built-in sound is 36W total, no center channel
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Screens that fit
Buy the screen size the calculator gives for your seats, then check its visible width against the projector's throw. A fixed frame, tensioned screen stays flat, which a pull-down screen often does not, and the black velvet border absorbs overshoot so the picture edge looks crisp.
Leave about 12 in each side for the front left and right speakers, and keep the bottom of the screen about 24 in up for one row, or 36 in when a second row has to see over the first.
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 105 inch Screen
- 91.5 in wide
- 1.3 gain
- UST compatible
- Black velvet frame
91.5 in wide, 1.3 gain, UST rated: the size for a main seat about 11 to 13 ft back. $250 to $500.
- 105 in diagonal, 91.5 x 51.5 in picture
- 1.3 gain CineWhite UHD-B
- Works with UST projectors
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Elite Screens Sable Frame 2 138 inch Screen
- 120.3 in wide
- 1.3 gain
- ISF certified
- Black velvet frame
120.3 in wide, 1.3 gain, for a dedicated room with a ceiling or shelf projector. The listing does not rate it for UST. $250 to $500.
- 138 in diagonal, 120.3 x 67.6 in picture
- 1.3 gain CineWhite UHD-B
- Black backed, black velvet frame
- Listing does not say it suits ultra short throw projectors
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 150 inch Screen
- 130.7 in wide
- 1.3 gain
- UST compatible
- Black velvet frame
130.7 in wide: the largest size most home projectors are rated for. Needs about 11.5 ft of wall with speakers beside it. $500 to $1,000.
- 150 in diagonal, 130.7 x 73.5 in picture
- 1.3 gain CineWhite UHD-B
- Works with UST projectors
- Needs about 11.5 ft of wall width with speakers beside it
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Silver Ticket STR 120 inch White Screen
- 104.5 in wide
- 1.1 gain white
- 160 degree viewing angle
1.1 gain white, 104.5 in wide, for a standard throw projector; the maker says some UST projectors do not suit this frame. $250 to $500.
- 120 in diagonal, 104.5 x 58.9 in picture
- 1.1 gain white, 160 degree viewing angle
- Tension rod frame, black velvet
- Maker says some UST projectors do not suit this frame
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
The bottom line
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Fits the most rooms
Epson Home Cinema 2350 4K PRO-UHD Projector
2,800 lumens
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Shelf or table, no ceiling mount
JMGO N1S Ultra 4K Laser Projector
1.21 throw ratio
Check price at JMGOPaid link
- 3
Dedicated theater
Epson Home Cinema LS11000 4K Laser Projector
2,500 lumens, laser
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 4
Screen
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 120 inch Screen
120 in, 16:9
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Frequently asked questions
What throw ratio do I need?
Divide the distance you can mount the lens from the screen by the screen's width. With 12 ft (144 in) to a 104.7 in wide screen you need a 1.38 throw ratio, which the Epson Home Cinema 2350 (1.32 to 2.15) and LS11000 (1.35 to 2.84) both cover.
What size projector screen for my room?
From your main seat, a screen that fills 30 to 40 degrees: picture width = 2 x distance x tan(angle / 2). At 12 ft that is about a 107 in diagonal at 36 degrees and 120 in at 40 degrees. Then check it fits the wall with 12 in for a speaker each side.
How far back should a projector be for a 120 inch screen?
Throw ratio x 104.7 in. 1.0 is 8.7 ft, 1.2 is 10.5 ft, 1.5 is 13.1 ft, 2.0 is 17.5 ft. An ultra short throw at 0.25 sits about 26 in from the wall.
Projector or a 98 inch TV?
A 98 in TV is the brighter choice in a room with daylight and needs no screen. Past about 100 in, or in a room you can darken, a projector and screen give a bigger picture for less money.
How many lumens do I need for a home theater?
In a darkened room, 2,000 to 2,500 lumens is plenty for a 120 in screen. With some room light, more lumens and a gray or ambient light rejecting screen help; in daylight a TV is still easier.
Where should the bottom of the screen be?
About 24 in off the floor for a single row and 36 in when a second row on a riser has to see over the first, with the top at least 6 in under the ceiling.
13 products are linked on this page. We have not lab-tested these products; picks are based on published specifications and our sizing rules. Amazon prices change, so we show a range and link to the live price. See our disclosure.
Size it for your home
Marcus Reed
Founder and Editor, CrunchYourDollars
Marcus Reed builds the sizing tools on CrunchYourDollars. He is a software engineer with a long-running PC hardware and power supply habit, which is where the watts, watt-hours and surge math on this site comes from. Product specs are pulled from manufacturer data sheets, electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and water chemistry rules from the Water Quality Association. He is not a licensed electrician or plumber: the tools show the math and the matching models so you can make the call, and anything involving your electrical panel should be checked by a licensed pro.
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