Free calculator
Home Theater Size Calculator: Screen, Seating and Speakers
Enter the room and how many rows of seats. Get the screen size from proper viewing angles, TV or projector, where the projector mounts, riser heights, the Dolby Atmos speaker layout, the receiver channels it needs, the running cost at your state's rate, and a kit whose parts work together.
Updated Oct 16, 2026
- Answer a few questions
- See the math behind every number
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Every TV, projector, screen, receiver and speaker this tool can recommend
TVs, projectors and screens, then receivers, speakers by position, subs and soundbars. Sizes, throw ratios, channels and sensitivity come from each listing or the maker's spec sheet.
Hisense 65 inch U8 Mini-LED TV (65U8QG)
- Up to 5000 nits
- Up to 5600 dimming zones
- Native 165 Hz
- Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+
+1 moreFewer
- Google TV
A very bright 65 inch Mini-LED TV for a living room or a small media room you cannot fully darken.
- Up to 5000 nits, up to 5600 dimming zones
- Native 165 Hz, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+
- Anti-reflection screen coating
- Built-in 4.1.2 speakers still benefit from a real sound system
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
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Hisense 75 inch U8 Mini-LED TV (75U8QG)
- Up to 5000 nits
- Up to 5600 dimming zones
- Native 165 Hz
- Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+
+1 moreFewer
- Google TV
The 75 inch U8: the same bright Mini-LED panel for seats about 8 to 10 feet back.
- Up to 5000 nits, up to 5600 dimming zones
- Native 165 Hz, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+
- IMAX Enhanced, Filmmaker Mode
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
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LG 65 inch C6 OLED evo TV (2026)
- Self-lit OLED
- Up to 165 Hz
- Dolby Vision
- Filmmaker Mode
+1 moreFewer
- 56.7 in wide
A 65 inch OLED for a darkened room: every pixel lights itself, so black is truly black.
- Self-lit OLED pixels, perfect black
- Up to 165 Hz, G-Sync, FreeSync Premium, VRR
- Dolby Vision, Filmmaker Mode
- Not as bright as Mini-LED in a sunny room
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
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Hisense 85 inch U8 Mini-LED TV (85U8QG)
- Up to 5000 nits
- Up to 5600 dimming zones
- Native 165 Hz
- Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+
+1 moreFewer
- Google TV
An 85 inch Mini-LED TV, about the biggest picture that still beats a projector in a room with daylight.
- Up to 5000 nits, up to 5600 dimming zones
- Native 165 Hz, VRR for consoles
- Anti-reflection screen coating
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
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Show all 43 modelsShow fewer
TCL 98 inch QM7L Mini-LED TV (98QM7L)
- Up to 2,100+ dimming zones
- 144 Hz
- Anti-reflective panel
- Google TV
+1 moreFewer
- Audio by Bang & Olufsen
A 98 inch Mini-LED TV for a big picture in a room that is too bright for a projector.
- 98 inch class, 2026 model
- Up to 2,100+ local dimming zones, 144 Hz
- Anti-reflective HVA panel
- Heavy: plan the wall mount or stand before it arrives
Over $2,000, live price on Amazon
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Epson Home Cinema 2350 4K PRO-UHD Projector
- 3-chip 3LCD
- 1.32 to 2.15 throw ratio
- HDR10, HLG
- Android TV
A 3LCD projector with a 1.62x zoom lens, so it fits a wide range of mounting distances.
- 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
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Formovie Theater 4K UST laser projector
- 4K UHD
- Triple laser (ALPD 4.0)
- Dolby Vision
- HDR10+
+3 moreFewer
- 2 x 15W speakers
- Android TV 11
- 3000:1 contrast
A 4K ultra short throw laser projector with 1800 ISO lumens, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and built-in Android TV 11, for a big picture from a low cabinet.
- 1800 ISO lumens, ALPD 4.0 triple laser light source
- Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos support
- Dual 15W speakers tuned by Bowers & Wilkins
- Android TV 11, an older smart platform than Google TV
- Lowest brightness of the three projectors here
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
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JMGO N1S Ultra 4K Laser Projector
- 4K
- 4K triple laser
- 2,800 ISO lumens
- Gimbal stand
A 4K laser projector at 2,800 lumens that sits on a rear shelf or table and throws across the room.
- 4K triple laser, 2,800 ISO lumens
- Gimbal stand aims anywhere, auto keystone
- Google TV built in
- Fixed 1.21 throw ratio: the lens distance sets the picture size
About $1,089 at JMGO, checked Oct 14, 2026
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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
A 4K RGB triple laser ultra short throw projector rated 2000 ISO lumens that throws a 100 inch picture from 7.6 inches away, with Google TV built in.
- 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
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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
A true 4K DLP projector with factory color calibration and a short 1.0 to 1.3 throw, for rooms without much depth.
- 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
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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
A 4K triple laser ultra short throw projector for screens up to 150 inches, with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, active 3D and a built-in center channel speaker.
- 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
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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
A laser projector for a dedicated theater, with a motorized lens that zooms, focuses and shifts to fit almost any room.
- 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
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Silver Ticket STR 120 inch White Screen
- 104.5 in wide
- 1.1 gain white
- 160 degree viewing angle
A lower cost 120 inch fixed frame screen for a standard throw projector.
- 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
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Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 105 inch Screen
- 91.5 in wide
- 1.3 gain
- UST compatible
- Black velvet frame
A 105 inch fixed frame screen, CineWhite UHD-B, that works with standard, short and ultra short throw projectors.
- 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
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Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 120 inch Screen
- 104.7 in wide
- 1.3 gain
- UST compatible
- Black velvet frame
A 120 inch fixed frame screen that works with standard, short and ultra short throw projectors.
- 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
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Elite Screens Sable Frame 2 138 inch Screen
- 120.3 in wide
- 1.3 gain
- ISF certified
- Black velvet frame
A 138 inch fixed frame screen for a dedicated room with a ceiling or shelf mounted projector.
- 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
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Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 150 inch Screen
- 130.7 in wide
- 1.3 gain
- UST compatible
- Black velvet frame
A 150 inch fixed frame screen, the largest size most home projectors are rated for.
- 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
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NothingProjector 120 inch ALR Screen for UST Projectors
- 85% ambient light rejection
- 160 degree viewing
- Fixed frame
An ambient light rejecting fixed frame screen made for ultra short throw projectors in rooms with daylight.
- Rejects up to 85% of ambient light (maker figure)
- Made for UST projectors
- 160 degree viewing angle
- Only for UST projectors: light from a ceiling projector is rejected too
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
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Denon AVR-S770H 7.2 Channel Receiver
- 75 W x 7
- 5.2.2 Atmos
- 8K/60, 4K/120
- HEOS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
A 7 channel receiver for a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos or 7.1 system in a small to medium room.
- 75 W x 7 channels
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, 5.2.2 or 7.2
- 8K/60 and 4K/120 passthrough, HEOS
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
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Onkyo TX-NR6100 7.2 Channel THX Receiver
- THX Select
- 5.2.2 Atmos
- 8K HDMI 2.1
- Zone 2
A THX Certified Select 7 channel receiver for 5.2.2 Atmos.
- THX Certified Select
- 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
- 8K HDMI 2.1, Zone 2 audio and video
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
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Yamaha RX-V6A 7.2 Channel Receiver
- 7 inputs, 3 x 8K
- Atmos, DTS:X
- YPAO
- MusicCast, AirPlay 2
A 7 channel Yamaha receiver with YPAO room calibration and MusicCast streaming.
- 7.2 channels, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
- HDMI 2.1, 4K/120 and 8K/60, eARC
- YPAO room calibration, MusicCast
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
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Onkyo TX-NR7100 9.2 Channel THX Receiver
- 100 W x 9
- 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 Atmos
- THX Certified
- Dirac Live
A 9 channel THX Certified receiver for 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 Atmos without an external amp.
- 9 amplified channels, 100 W per channel (maker rating)
- THX Certified, Dirac Live
- Two sub outputs
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
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Denon AVR-X1800H 7.2 Channel Receiver
- 80 W x 7
- 5.2.2 Atmos
- 3 x 8K inputs
- HEOS, AirPlay 2
Denon's X series step up: 7 channels for 5.2.2 Atmos, with three 8K inputs.
- 80 W x 7 channels
- Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, 7.2 or 5.2.2
- 3 x 8K HDMI inputs, HEOS
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
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Denon AVR-X3900H 9.4 Channel Receiver
- 105 W x 9
- 7.1.4 with external amp
- 4 sub outputs
- XT32, Dirac ready
A 9 channel receiver with 11 channel processing: 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 on its own, 7.1.4 with a 2 channel amp.
- 105 W per channel, 9 amplified channels
- Up to 7.1.4 or 5.1.6 layouts
- Audyssey MultEQ XT32, Dirac Live upgrade
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
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Denon AVR-X6800H 11.4 Channel Receiver
- 140 W x 11
- 7.1.4 built in
- 13.4 processing
- XT32
Eleven amplified channels, so a full 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos room runs from one box.
- 140 W x 11 channels
- 13.4 channel processing, 4 sub outputs
- Audyssey MultEQ XT32, 8K on all 7 inputs
Over $2,000, live price on Amazon
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Polk Monitor XT60 Tower Speaker (each)
- Sold each
- 6.5 in woofer + 2 radiators
- Dolby Atmos ready
A slim tower for the left and right front channels of a budget Polk system. Sold one at a time.
- 1 in tweeter, 6.5 in woofer, two 6.5 in passive radiators
- Timbre matched with XT30, XT15, XT90 and XT12
- 4 and 8 ohm receiver compatible
- 86 dB sensitivity, so it needs more amplifier power than horn speakers
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
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Klipsch Reference R-620F Tower Speakers (pair)
- Pair
- Tractrix horn tweeter
- 100 W / 400 W peak
A pair of horn-loaded towers for the front left and right: loud and clear without a big amplifier.
- Sold as a pair
- 96 dB sensitivity, dual 6.5 in woofers
- 38 Hz to 21 kHz
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
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Polk Monitor XT30 Center Speaker
- Two 5.25 in woofers
- Timbre matched XT
The matching center channel for the Polk Monitor XT system, sized to fit an AV console.
- 1 in tweeter, two 5.25 in woofers
- 4 and 8 ohm compatible
- Fits most AV consoles
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
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Klipsch Reference R-52C Center Speaker
- Tractrix horn
- Dual 5.25 in woofers
The matching horn-loaded center for clear dialogue in a Klipsch Reference system.
- 95 dB sensitivity
- Dual 5.25 in woofers
- 400 W peak power handling
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
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Klipsch Reference R-41M Surround Speakers (pair)
- 90 dB
- 8 ohm
- 7 lb each
A compact horn-loaded pair for side or rear surrounds.
- Sold as a pair
- 90 dB sensitivity, 4 in woofer
- 11.3 in tall, wall or stand
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
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Polk Monitor XT15 Surround Speakers (pair)
- 5.25 in woofer
- Shelf or stand
A compact pair for side or rear surrounds in a Polk Monitor XT system.
- Sold as a pair
- 1 in tweeter, 5.25 in woofer
- Front, surround or rear use
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
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Polk Monitor XT90 Height Speakers (pair)
- Atmos certified
- Keyhole wall mount
Dolby Atmos certified height modules that sit on the XT60 towers or mount on the wall.
- Sold as a pair
- Dolby Atmos certified, 4 in woofer
- Sits on XT60 towers or wall mounts
- Up-firing needs a flat ceiling to bounce sound from
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
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Klipsch Reference R-41SA Atmos Elevation Speakers (pair)
- Atmos enabled
- Tractrix horn
Dolby Atmos elevation speakers that sit on the R-620F towers or mount on the wall as heights.
- Sold as a pair
- Dolby Atmos enabled, Tractrix horn
- Sits on towers or wall mounts
- Up-firing needs a flat ceiling to bounce sound from
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
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Klipsch Reference R-1800-C In-Ceiling Speaker (each)
- Reference series
- Paintable
- Sold each
An 8 inch Klipsch Reference in-ceiling speaker for overhead Atmos channels with Klipsch Reference towers.
- Klipsch Reference series, matches the R towers
- Paintable to match the ceiling
- Sold individually
- Cut-in install: plan wire runs before drywall if you can
Under $100, live price on Amazon
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Polk Audio RC80i In-Ceiling Speakers (pair)
- Aimable tweeter
- Paintable grille
An 8 inch in-ceiling pair for true overhead Dolby Atmos channels in a dedicated room.
- Sold as a pair
- 8 in woofer, 1 in aimable tweeter
- Paintable grilles, moisture seal
- Cut-in install: plan wire runs before drywall if you can
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
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Polk Monitor XT12 12 inch Subwoofer
- 100 W
- Down to 24 Hz
- LFE input
The Monitor XT system's 12 inch sub; add a second for even bass across two rows.
- 12 in woofer, 100 W Class A/B amp
- Bass down to 24 Hz
- LFE and speaker-level inputs
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
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Klipsch Reference R-120SW 12 inch Subwoofer
- 200 W
- Down to 29 Hz
- 116 dB max
The Reference system's 12 inch sub, rated to 116 dB.
- 12 in woofer, 200 W / 400 W peak
- 29 Hz to 120 Hz
- 116 dB max output
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
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SVS PB-1000 Pro 12 inch Ported Subwoofer
- Ported
- DSP app
- 12 in driver
A ported 12 inch sub with 325 W RMS and app control, for deeper bass in a dedicated room.
- 325 W RMS, 820+ W peak
- 12 in high excursion driver, dual ports
- DSP app for room tuning
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
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Samsung HW-Q600F 3.1.2 Soundbar with Wireless Sub
- Wireless sub
- Dolby Atmos
- Q-Symphony
A 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar with a wireless subwoofer: one HDMI eARC cable, no receiver.
- True 3.1.2 channels with up-firing drivers
- Wireless subwoofer included
- Dolby Atmos
- No rear speakers in the box
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
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Samsung HW-Q990F 11.1.4 Soundbar with Sub and Rears
- Sub + rears included
- Wireless Dolby Atmos
- Auto room calibration
A complete 11.1.4 channel soundbar system with a wireless sub and rear speakers in one box.
- 11.1.4 channels incl. rear speakers and sub
- 4 up-firing channels, Dolby Atmos
- Room calibration with built-in mic
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
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Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar + Sub 4
- Dolby Atmos
- Speech Enhancement
- Wireless sub
- Trueplay
Sonos's top soundbar with its wireless sub; add Era rears later.
- Arc Ultra: 9.1.4 spatial audio with Dolby Atmos
- Sub 4 connects over Wi-Fi, place it anywhere
- Trueplay room tuning
- Rear surrounds are a separate purchase
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
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VIVO Universal Ceiling Projector Mount (30 lb)
- 6 in drop
- Tilt and swivel
- Universal arms
A low profile universal ceiling mount for projectors up to 30 lb.
- Holds up to 30 lb
- Tilt, swivel and 360 degree rotation
- Arms fit 5.25 to 12.5 in hole spacing
- Maker lists some Epson models it does not fit; check your hole spacing
Under $100, live price on Amazon
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Amazon Basics 14 Gauge Speaker Wire, 100 ft
- Oxygen-free copper
- Color coded
100 feet of 14 gauge oxygen-free copper speaker wire for receiver to speaker runs.
- 14 gauge, 99.9% oxygen-free copper
- Polarity color coded
- 100 ft spool
Under $100, live price on Amazon
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Some of these links pay us a commission and some do not; each card says which. Commissions do not affect which models the tool picks or how it ranks them. See our disclosure.
How this calculator works
- Seats. One row sits 62% of the way back (the 38% rule keeps it off the back wall and the room center). With more rows, the back row's eyes are 3.5 ft from the back wall and rows step forward 6.5 ft for recliners. The main seat is the middle row, or the back row of two.
- Screen size. Picture width = 2 x distance x tan(angle / 2), using SMPTE EG-18's 30 degree minimum or THX's 36 and 40 degrees; the 16:9 diagonal is width x 1.147. The front row of a multi-row room is held to 50 degrees. The wall caps it: 12 in for a speaker each side, and the top 6 in under the ceiling.
- TV or projector. Under about 92 in, a TV. Up to about 110 in in a room with daylight, a 98 in TV. Bigger, a projector and screen; an ultra short throw for living rooms, a ceiling mount for a dedicated room. Throw distance = throw ratio x picture width, and the lens has to fit between 3 ft from the screen and 1 ft from the back wall.
- Risers. Seated eye height 40 in, 5 in from eye to top of head. Each row is raised until its eye line to the bottom of the screen clears the head in front.
- Speakers. Rear surrounds when there is 5 ft or more behind the main seat. 2 heights, or 4 in rooms 16 ft or deeper or with two rows, under a 7.5 ft or higher ceiling, placed as Dolby recommends. Two subs for two or more rows or over 3,000 cu ft. Receiver channels = speakers, capped at 7, 9 or 11 by budget.
- Amplifier power. Peak watts = 10^((target dB - sensitivity + 20 log10(distance in m)) / 10), at 95 dB (reference minus 10) and 105 dB reference, one speaker, no room gain.
- Cost. Projector about 300 W or a TV at about 0.05 W per square inch of picture, plus receiver about 100 W and 40 W per sub (or a 60 W soundbar), x hours a day x 30, at your state's average rate.
Worked examples
A 13 x 18 ft basement theater, one row
- 13 x 18 ft, 8 ft ceiling, one row
- Mostly movies (THX 36 degrees), mid range
- 4 hours a day, US average 17.3 cents/kWh
A 105 inch screen, a projector on a rear shelf with its lens 9 ft 3 in from it, and 7.1.2 sound. About $9 a month.
The seat goes 62% of the way back, 11.2 ft from the screen. At 36 degrees that supports a picture about 100 in diagonal, so the 105 in screen (91.5 in wide) fills about 38 degrees. The JMGO N1S Ultra's fixed 1.21 throw ratio x 91.5 in puts its lens 9 ft 3 in from the screen, on a rear shelf on its gimbal stand. 6.8 ft behind the seat leaves room for rear surrounds, so 7 speakers plus 2 top middle ceiling speakers: 9 amplified channels, which a 9 channel receiver runs on its own. Projector about 300 W plus receiver and sub about 140 W for 4 hours is 1.76 kWh a day, about $9.13 a month.
A 14 x 15 ft family room with a TV
- 14 x 15 ft living room, 8 ft ceiling, one row
- Mixed TV and sports (SMPTE 30 degrees), budget
- 5 hours a day
A 65 inch TV and a 5.1.2 Polk system on a 7 channel receiver. About $6 a month.
The couch sits about 9.3 ft back. 30 degrees from there is a 69 in picture, which is TV territory, so a 65 in Mini-LED that stays bright with daylight. A budget 7 channel receiver like the Denon AVR-S770H runs either 7.1 or 5.1.2, and the calculator spends the two channels on Atmos height modules on the towers rather than rear surrounds. The 86 dB Polk towers need about 64 W peaks for 95 dB at that distance. TV about 90 W plus 140 W of audio for 5 hours is about $5.97 a month.
Two rows in a 15 x 22 ft room
- 15 x 22 ft, 9 ft ceiling, two rows of recliners
- Mostly movies, premium
- 4 hours a day
A 120 inch screen, a 10 in riser for row two, and 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos. About $10 a month.
The back row's eyes sit 3.5 ft from the back wall (18.5 ft) and the front row 6.5 ft ahead (12 ft). With the screen bottom 36 in up, the back row needs a 10 in riser to see over the front row's heads. The 9 ft ceiling caps the picture near 135 in, so a 120 in screen: 40 degrees from row one and 27 from row two. Two rows call for two subs and 4 ceiling heights about 5.5 ft ahead of and behind the main row, 11 channels, which the Denon AVR-X6800H runs on its own.
Frequently asked questions
What size screen do I need for my seating distance?
Multiply your distance in inches by 0.65 for 36 degrees (THX) or 0.54 for 30 degrees (SMPTE) to get the picture width, then multiply by 1.15 for the 16:9 diagonal. At 10 ft (120 in) that is about 90 in diagonal at 36 degrees and 74 in at 30 degrees.
How far should I sit from a 100 inch screen?
A 100 in 16:9 screen is about 87 in wide. For the THX 36 degree angle sit about 11.2 ft back, for the SMPTE 30 degree minimum about 13.5 ft, and for the most immersive THX 40 degrees about 10 ft.
TV or projector for a home theater?
Up to about 85 to 98 in a TV is brighter and easier, and it works with daylight. Past about 98 in a projector and screen cost far less than a TV of the same size, but they need a room you can darken. Ultra short throw projectors sit on a cabinet a few inches from the wall and suit living rooms.
How do I work out projector throw distance?
Throw distance = throw ratio x picture width. A 1.2 throw ratio on a 104.7 in wide (120 in diagonal) screen puts the lens 125.6 in, about 10.5 ft, from the screen. A zoom lens gives a range; an ultra short throw at 0.25 sits about 26 in from the wall for that screen.
How high should a riser be for a second row?
Usually 10 to 14 in. The second row's eye line to the bottom of the screen has to pass over the heads in front. With 40 in seated eye height, 5 in from eye to top of head, the screen bottom at 36 in and rows at 12 and 18.5 ft, the back row needs 10 in.
5.1.2, 7.1.2 or 7.1.4: which Dolby Atmos layout do I need?
Add rear surrounds (7.1) when there is about 5 ft or more behind the main seat. Add 2 overhead speakers in rooms up to about 15 ft deep with one row, and 4 in deeper rooms or with two rows. Overhead speakers need a ceiling of at least 7.5 ft; up-firing modules also need it flat.
Where do Dolby Atmos ceiling speakers go?
For 4 heights, top front and top rear pairs about 45 degrees up from the main seat, in line with the front speakers: in an 8 ft ceiling with ears at 3.5 ft, about 4.5 ft in front of and behind the seat. For 2 heights, one pair just in front of the seats (Dolby's top middle position).
How many channels does my receiver need?
One amplified channel per speaker, not counting subs. 5.1.2 and 7.1 need 7, 7.1.2 and 5.1.4 need 9, 7.1.4 needs 11 (or a 9 channel receiver plus a 2 channel amp).
Do I need two subwoofers?
For more than one row of seats, yes if you can. Harman's research (Todd Welti) found that two or more subs, placed at the middle of opposite walls or in the front corners, give much more even bass from seat to seat than one.
How much does a home theater cost to run?
A laser projector draws roughly 300 W, a 65 in TV around 90 W on average, a receiver about 100 W at normal volume and each sub about 40 W. Four hours a day of a projector setup is about 1.8 kWh, around $9 a month at 17.3 cents.
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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