Projector Throw Distance Calculator
Enter your desired screen size and room distance. We'll tell you exactly what throw ratio to shop for — and which projectors in our catalog ship with it.
Your setup
Throw distance is from the projector lens to the screen. Measure flat — if you're shelf-mounting or tabletop, that's where the lens will sit.
Required throw ratio
100" screen at 10' distance
Throw ratio
1.38:1
Look for projectors with throw ratio 1.28–1.48 (or zoom range covering that).
Screen width
87.2"
Screen height
49"
Projectors that match a 1.38:1 throw
Sorted by closest throw-ratio match to your setup.
ViewSonic
ViewSonic LS741HD 5000 Lumens 1080p Laser Projector with H/V Keystone, 4 Corner Adjustment, 360 Degree Projection, 1.6X Optical Zoom, LAN Control, and 24/7 Operation
![[1500 ANSI/Google TV/Voice Control]Smart Projector with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth, 4K Support, Outdoor Movie Proyector, 1080P Home Ceiling Auto Focus Projector, PUTRIMS K12 Gray](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51uIa2p0JqL._SL500_.jpg)
PUTRIMS
[1500 ANSI/Google TV/Voice Control]Smart Projector with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth, 4K Support, Outdoor Movie Proyector, 1080P Home Ceiling Auto Focus Projector, PUTRIMS K12 Gray
How this calculator works
What is a projector throw ratio?
Throw ratio is the distance from the projector lens to the screen, divided by the screen width. A throw ratio of 1.5 means 1.5 feet of distance produces 1 foot of screen width. Lower throw ratio = projector can sit closer for the same screen size.
How do I measure for the calculator?
Screen diagonal is corner-to-corner (a 100" screen is 100" diagonal). Throw distance is the straight-line distance from where the lens will physically sit to the screen surface. Don't guess — measure with a tape or laser distance tool.
What's the difference between short, standard, and long throw?
Ultra-short throw (< 0.4): projector sits inches from the wall — great for living rooms with limited depth. Short throw (0.4–1.0): 3-6 feet for a 100" screen. Standard (1.0–2.0): typical home theater. Long (2.0+): mounted at the back of a large room.
My projector has a throw ratio range, not a single number — what does that mean?
Most projectors have an optical zoom lens, so they support a range like "1.2:1 – 1.6:1". As long as your required throw ratio falls within that range, the projector will work; you adjust the zoom to dial in the exact screen size.