- Audio
- Video
- 3D Cameras, Displays and Accessories
- Cable Adapters
- Cables and Accessories
- Camcorders and Accessories
- Cameras and Accessories
- Digital Signage
- Displays, TVs and Monitors
- Distribution Amplifiers
- Interactive Whiteboards and Accessories
- Video Conferencing
- Video Players and Recorders
- Video Scalers
- Video Switchers and Signal Processors
- Everything Else
- Cables and Accessories
- Cases and Bags
- Control Panels and Networking
- Furniture, Consoles and Cabinets
- Interactive Response Systems
- Keyboards and Input Devices
- Lighting Controls and Hardware
- Mounts, Racks and Stands
- Power Management
- Projector Accessories
- Projector Security
- Recording Media and Storage
- Screens and Shades
- Visual Presenters
- Wall Plates and Hardware
- AVpedia
- Social
- Visit Projector People
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube1-877-233-4950
Projector Screens Buyer's Guide
There are a number of uses for a projector screen - home theaters, churches and schools, sports bars, presentations and more. Before you buy one, you need to consider how you'll use it and what your needs are.
Front or Rear Projection Screens
Front projection is the most common setup, as well as the easiest. Basically, you set up your projector directly in front of your screen to display images onto it.
Rear projectors are set up out of sight, mounted behind a screen facing the audience in order to project images onto it from the back. This setup is more complicated and works best in larger rooms. Also, since the projector will be set up right behind the screen, you'll want a short throw projector that is able to project large images from a short distance.
Learn more about short throw projectors »
Projection Screen Mount Type
The two most common ways to mount your projector screen is on the wall or ceiling. Ceiling mounted screens pull down when you need to use them and are popular for classroom use. In a more professional setting, there are ceiling mounted screens that electronically lower from the ceiling by remote control.
Wall mounted screens are more permanent fixtures fixed directly on a wall and are great for home entertainment systems.
Projector Screen Surfaces
The finish on your screen's surface plays a large role in determining its viewing angle, the angle at which a displayed image can be seen; and gain, the reflectivity of a viewing surface. The two main surface types you'll find are matte white or matte gray.
Matte white, the more common of the two, offers high gain and a wide viewing angle. Matte gray screens display higher contrast images when used with high-quality projectors. They also have a lower gain, reflecting the light uniformly from the center to the edges of the screen, and a tighter viewing angle.
These are the four most common finishes you'll find while shopping for a projector screen:
- Standard matte white - gain of 1
- High contrast gray - gain from .7 - 1.1
- High contrast white - gain from 1.1 - 1.5
- High gain screens without high contrast - gain from 1.3 - 2.0
Projector Screen Size
It would be easy to get overzealous when setting up a home theater and buy the biggest screen available. This isn't necessarily the best choice for your setup though.
A good rule of thumb is to fit your screen to your audience, not the size of your room. When determining a minimum screen width, you should consider the people who will be sitting in the back of the room. Your screen should be at least as wide as 1/6 of the distance from the person sitting farthest away from it.
The other thing you'll need to keep in mind is the aspect ratio - the fractional ratio of the width of the image you're projecting to its height. The most common aspect ratios are 4:3 and 16:9, with wider screens becoming more and more popular. You'll want a screen's aspect ratio to match the resolution of the projector being used. These days, most projectors can handle both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios.
We recommend buying your projector and setting it up before ordering your screen. This way you can make the most informed decision about your screen needs.