---
title: Projector Screen Size and Distance: How Far from the Wall? | Visyon
url: https://visyon.uk/guides/projector-screen-size-and-distance
description: How far should a projector be from the wall? Work out picture size from throw ratio, with a quick table for 60 to 120 inch pictures in metres.
---

# Projector screen size and distance

How far from the wall should the projector go, and how big will the picture be? One number answers both: the throw ratio.

## The throw ratio

A projector's **throw ratio** tells you how far away it must be for a picture of a given width:

**Distance to the wall = throw ratio × picture width**
For a widescreen (16:9) picture, the width is about 0.87 × the diagonal size.

So with a throw ratio of 1.2:1, a picture 2 metres wide needs the projector about 2.4 metres from the wall.

## Quick table

Distances for two common throw ratios. Your projector's manual gives its own throw ratio; the further away, the bigger the picture.

| Picture (diagonal) | Picture width | Distance at 1.2:1 | Distance at 1.5:1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 60 in (152 cm) | 1.33 m | 1.6 m | 2.0 m |
| 80 in (203 cm) | 1.77 m | 2.1 m | 2.7 m |
| 100 in (254 cm) | 2.21 m | 2.7 m | 3.3 m |
| 120 in (305 cm) | 2.66 m | 3.2 m | 4.0 m |

## Bigger isn't always better

The same light spread over a bigger picture looks dimmer. In a typical UK living room or bedroom, **60 to 100 inches** is the sweet spot for a mini projector. Go bigger only in a properly dark room.

## Too big for the wall?

- Move the projector closer.

- Use digital zoom (HY300 Ultra: 40–100%) to shrink the picture without moving it. Zooming in a long way lowers sharpness and brightness a little.

## What to project onto

A smooth, white or light grey matt wall works well. Avoid textured or coloured walls. A pull-down or tripod screen gives the cleanest picture, and a tightly hung white sheet works for one-off garden film nights.

## Seating distance

A comfortable seating distance is roughly 1.5 times the picture width. For a 2.2 m wide (100 inch) picture, sit about 3.3 m away.

Updated 6 November 2026

## More guides

- [A Christmas movie night with a projector](https://visyon.uk/guides/christmas-movie-night-with-a-projector)
- [How to choose a mini projector](https://visyon.uk/guides/how-to-choose-a-mini-projector)
- [How to project onto the ceiling](https://visyon.uk/guides/how-to-project-on-the-ceiling)
- [Connect a phone, TV stick or console to a projector](https://visyon.uk/guides/connect-phone-fire-stick-console-to-projector)

[See Visyon projectors](https://visyon.uk/#range)

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Visyon is a brand of Savvies Limited (UK company no. 15862159). Buy on Amazon UK: Turn 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DPDVMYWZ, HY300 Ultra https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FFZHT2LM, J500 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GK2L8VNV | Amazon.ie: same ASINs on amazon.ie | Contact: info@visyon.uk