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How far from the wall for a 100-inch projector picture?
Before buying a projector, the real question isn't “how big a picture?” but “how far from the wall can I put it?”. The two are linked by a single number: the throw ratio.
The calculation
The throw ratio tells you how many metres of distance you need for each metre of picture width.
Distance = throw ratio × picture width
A projector with a 1.07:1 ratio must therefore sit 1.07 m from the wall for a picture 1 m wide.
Width of a 16:9 picture by diagonal
| Diagonal | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 60 inches | 1.33 m | 0.75 m |
| 80 inches | 1.77 m | 1.00 m |
| 100 inches | 2.21 m | 1.25 m |
| 120 inches | 2.66 m | 1.49 m |
| 150 inches | 3.32 m | 1.87 m |
Example with the Titan
The Titan has a throw ratio of 1.07:1. For a 100-inch picture, you need 1.07 × 2.21 m, about 2.4 m between the lens and the wall. For 80 inches, about 1.9 m.
What if I don't have that much room?
In a bedroom or a small living room, it is often impossible to place the projector more than 2 m back. Two options: accept a smaller picture, or choose a short-throw model that sits close to the wall. The Lynx and the Solaris are made for that. We cover it in this article on ultra-short throw.
Three tips before you measure
- Measure from the lens, not from the back of the projector.
- Keep 10 to 20 cm of margin above and below the picture if you project above a piece of furniture.
- The bigger the picture, the dimmer it gets: in a bright room, an 80-inch picture will be more pleasant than a 150-inch one.
Still unsure? The projector buying guide compares our models by use.