If you are thinking of setting a home theater at home, you probably have many questions about it. How big the projector screen should be;  what speakers are the most suitable for the room, what lighting is the best, etc.

The design of the room is very important. Knowing where everything should be installed will make the difference between an enjoyable room and a room that can be improved until it can offer the quality of image and sound you are looking for.

In this article, we are going to talk about projector to screen calculator tools. What calculator you should use, what are the differences between them and how you can achieve the best of your home theater.  

Does projector distance matter?

The projector to the screen distance does matter. In fact, it is a very important element in planning your home theater. By definition, the further the projector is from the screen, the larger the image will be. However, it is not just having the projector to the back of the room to get the largest image possible. The further the distance between the projector and screen, the less bright the image will be.

Screen Types

Projector Screen can be fixed on the wall, or projector screen pull down (or retractable screen). For households wanting to replicate the theater atmosphere, the fixed screen is the way to go. However, if you do not have a dedicated TV room, you might want to use a retractable projector screen; if you are not watching TV, you can fully retract the screen and you will not even notice you have a projector set up in the room.

The retractable projector screen can be manual operated or motorized. Both have the same performance. The only difference is the way you will pull down and retract the screen.

Projector To Screen Calculator - Which One To Use

If you search for the term “Projector To Screen Calculator” on the internet you will find many websites offering free online tools. They can confuse you more than help, if you do not know which one you should use, as often they will give you different answers.

Although there are a few online projector to screen calculators that will be generic, by this I mean, it covers most of the projectors in the market today. So you can have the best advice about the distance between the projector and the screen, you should always refer to the projector instructions manual. Most projector brands will have a free online projector to screen calculator anyway, making it even easier to find out the exact distance you need.

We have made a selection of the most popular projector brands available in the market today, and also the best generic projector to screen calculator. The idea is saving you time searching what calculator you should use. We made the hard work for you.

Sony

Sony is one of the biggest projector manufacturers in the world. The company has designed a very straightforward and interactive projector to screen calculator. The tool calculates throw distance and image size for Sony projectors. By using this online free tool, you can see the variation of the projected image size and position, depending on the lens, screen size, aspect ratio, shift range and installation arrangements.

Click here to access Sony Calculator 

NEC / Sharp

This brand focuses on offering crystal clear image projector, for large and small rooms. NEC has many different models of 4K UHD projectors for home and businesses. They have projectors varying from 3,000 to 20,000 in Brightness (lumens), and resolution from XGA to 4K UHD.

 Click here to access NEC Calculator

Panasonic

This brand brings innovative features to the projector industry. It has a focus on business and residential customers. Panasonic has introduced to the market significant image enhanced features, such as Quad Pixel Drive, Smooth Pixel Drive, Real Motion Processor, Dynamic Contrast analyzes and many more. For detailed information on the features Panasonic’s projector can offer, go to the website Panasonic Feature Guide. 

Click here to access Panasonic Calculator

Epson

This is another brand that is very popular in the Australia market. It offers a great quality projector designed for home theater and businesses. Epson has a very explanatory website with tons of useful information to help you plan your business conference room, or home theater.

Epson manufacturers projectors that feature a dedicated 4K resolution enhancement processor, dedicated digital imaging processor, unique 3-chip projection technology, precision cinema lens, precision-built light source and many more.

Click here to access Epson Calculator

Generic Projector To Screen Calculator

As written before, it is recommended that you check the website of the projector’s brand you are interested in to have accurate information about the distance between the screen and the projector. However, if you are not sure which brand you are going to buy yet, Projector Central has a comprehensive calculator available. You can even select the model and brand of the projector you are interested in. Bear in mind that this is a third party calculator, so the result given it is not certified by the manufacturer of the projector.

Click here to access Generic Calculator  

More Than Just Distance

The distance between the projector and screen is very important, so you can achieve the optimal image quality in your home theater. However, it is not the only thing you need to take into consideration before planning your own home cinema room.

The position of the chairs, speakers, and lighting also count. We have found a very impressive online tool that allows you to visualize the room and plan where everything should be to make your cinema at home the best possible, the Home Theater Designer!  

Related Article: Do I Need a Projector Screen If I can Use a White Smooth Wall?

How Big Should The Screen Be?

The answer is, as big as you can get! When using a projector at home size does matter. Large screen will allow you a fully immersive experience. The screen should cover most of your field of vision.

Before choosing your screen, you need to decide on the screen ratio. Home theater screens are 16:9, which is the ratio of broadcast and streamed TV. 2:4 ratio is the format of movies. The 16:9 ratio is the most popular in the households in Australia.   

For a 16:9 screen, a 30 to 35 degree viewing angle is recommended. The greater the viewing angle the closer to the screen you need to be sitting.

About TecnoTools

TecnoTools is an Australian supplier of business technology and specialized tools. We have different sizes and ratios of projector screens. Our screens are fixed and retractable (manual operated and motorized). 

We offer fast shipping Australia wide, click and collect in the main capital cities, and a 12 month warranty in all our products. If you would like to know more about our company or our products, do not hesitate to contact our responsive customer service team.