Calculate the exact projector placement and throw ratio for your screen size. Find out if you need a standard, short throw, or ultra-short throw projector for your home theater, gaming room, or golf simulator.
Enter your room dimensions and desired screen size to find the perfect projector placement.
You need a 1.15-1.62 throw ratio projector
Standard throw projector will work for your setup
With your 120" screen and 10-14 foot mounting range, you need a projector with a throw ratio between 1.15 and 1.62.
Quick reference for projector distance by screen size and throw type
| Screen Size | Screen Width | Standard Throw 1.5 ratio |
Short Throw 0.5 ratio |
UST 0.25 ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100" | 87" | 10.9 ft | 3.6 ft | 1.8 ft |
| 110" | 96" | 12.0 ft | 4.0 ft | 2.0 ft |
| 120" | 104" | 13.0 ft | 4.3 ft | 2.2 ft |
| 135" | 118" | 14.8 ft | 4.9 ft | 2.5 ft |
| 150" | 131" | 16.4 ft | 5.5 ft | 2.7 ft |
| 180" | 157" | 19.6 ft | 6.5 ft | 3.3 ft |
Distances are approximate. Check your specific projector's throw ratio range for exact placement.
Throw ratio defines the relationship between projector distance and screen width. The formula is:
Throw Ratio = Distance / Screen Width
A throw ratio of 1.5 means the projector must be positioned at a distance equal to 1.5 times the screen width. Lower ratios mean the projector can be closer to the screen.
Follow these steps to calculate your projector distance:
Example: 120" screen = 104" wide. With 1.5 ratio: 104" x 1.5 = 156" = 13 feet
Standard Throw: Best value, widest selection, ideal for ceiling mount in dedicated rooms with 12+ feet of depth.
Short Throw: Good for rooms with 8-12 feet of depth, conference rooms, or when ceiling mounting isn't possible.
Ultra-Short Throw: Perfect for living rooms, golf simulators, apartments, or any space where the projector needs to sit on furniture below the screen.
Recommended: Standard or Short Throw
Typical distance: 10-16 feet
Dedicated home theaters usually have enough depth for standard throw projectors, which offer the best value and image quality. Ceiling mount for clean cable routing.
Home Theater GuideRecommended: Ultra-Short Throw
Typical distance: 1-3 feet
UST projectors work best in living rooms where ceiling mounting isn't practical. Place on a media console below the screen for a clean, TV-like setup.
TV vs Projector GuideRecommended: Ultra-Short Throw (Required)
Typical distance: 1-2 feet
Golf sims require UST projectors to avoid ball interference and shadow issues. The projector mounts close to or on the floor, projecting up onto the impact screen.
Golf Simulator GuideRecommended: Short or Ultra-Short Throw
Typical distance: 3-8 feet
Gamers benefit from short throw to avoid shadows when sitting close to the screen. UST is ideal if you want to game on a couch without a ceiling mount.
Gaming Room GuideThrow ratio is the relationship between projector distance and screen width. It's calculated as: Throw Ratio = Distance to Screen / Screen Width. A ratio of 1.5 means the projector sits 1.5 times the screen width away. Standard throw is 1.0-2.0, short throw is 0.4-0.9, and ultra-short throw (UST) is under 0.4.
To calculate throw distance: 1) Find your screen width (for 16:9, width = diagonal x 0.87). 2) Multiply screen width by the projector's throw ratio. For example, a 120-inch screen is 104 inches wide. With a 1.5 throw ratio projector: 104" x 1.5 = 156" (13 feet) from screen to projector lens.
For a 120-inch 16:9 screen (104" wide): Standard throw projector (1.5 ratio): 13 feet. Short throw projector (0.5 ratio): 4.3 feet. Ultra-short throw projector (0.25 ratio): 2.2 feet (26 inches). The exact distance depends on your specific projector's throw ratio range.
Short throw projectors have a throw ratio between 0.4-0.9, meaning they can project a large image from a few feet away. Ultra-short throw (UST) projectors have a ratio under 0.4, sitting inches from the screen. UST projectors are ideal when you can't ceiling mount, have limited room depth, or want the projector on furniture below the screen.
It depends on your room depth and desired screen size. A standard throw projector typically needs 1.2-1.8x the screen width in distance. For a 100" screen in a 10-foot room, you might not have enough depth. Use our calculator above to check if short throw or UST would be better for your space.
Golf simulators typically need ultra-short throw (UST) projectors with throw ratios under 0.4. This allows the projector to sit close to the impact screen without interfering with your swing or getting hit by balls. Popular golf sim UST projectors include the BenQ V5000i, Hisense PX2-PRO, and AWOL Vision LTV-3500.
No, lens shift does not affect throw distance. Lens shift allows you to move the projected image up, down, left, or right without moving the projector, useful for off-center mounting. The throw distance remains determined by the throw ratio and screen width. Lens shift is measured separately as a percentage of image height/width.
A 100-inch 16:9 screen is 87 inches (7.25 feet) wide. Standard throw (1.5 ratio): 10.9 feet. Short throw (0.5 ratio): 3.6 feet. Ultra-short throw (0.25 ratio): 1.8 feet. Check your projector's specific throw ratio for exact placement.
If your room depth is limited, consider: 1) Short throw projector - projects from 4-8 feet for most screen sizes. 2) Ultra-short throw projector - sits inches from screen on furniture or floor. 3) Smaller screen size - reduces required distance proportionally. 4) Ceiling mount with downward angle - can save some horizontal distance.
Measure your available projector distance in inches and your desired screen width in inches. Divide distance by width to get your required throw ratio. Example: 144" distance / 104" screen width = 1.38 throw ratio. You need a projector that includes 1.38 in its throw ratio range.
Complete your projector setup with these tools