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Choose a screen size that suits your room and viewing position, then use the projector’s own throw ratio to calculate how far its lens must sit from the screen. The key is to calculate from the image’s width, not its diagonal, and to verify mounting geometry in the exact model’s manual before installing a permanent mount.

What size projector screen fits your room?

Start with the usable screen wall and the seats from which people will watch. A screen should fit the wall and feel comfortable from the intended viewing position; choosing the largest size that physically fits is not automatically the best choice. BenQ’s screen guide discusses 16:9, 4:3, and 2.35:1 aspect ratios and gives viewing-angle suggestions, but these are guidance rather than universal standards for every room or viewer. BenQ’s screen-size guide

Choose the aspect ratio and a candidate diagonal

Match the aspect ratio to your content and the screen area you can use. Then choose a candidate diagonal that fits the wall and works from your seat. A diagonal describes the distance from one corner of the image to the opposite corner; it is not the horizontal width needed in the throw-distance calculation.

As viewing-angle guidance, BenQ attributes a 30-degree minimum field of view to SMPTE and a 40-degree cinematic recommendation to THX. The same guide gives rough viewing-distance heuristics of screen diagonal multiplied by 1.6 for standard viewing and by 1.2 for cinematic viewing. Treat these as recommendations reported by BenQ, not as guarantees or universal medical or ergonomic rules. BenQ’s screen-size guide

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How do I calculate throw distance?

Throw ratio is the distance from the projector lens to the screen divided by the projected image’s horizontal width. Rearranged, the calculation is:

Throw distance = image width × throw ratio

Use the ratio for the exact projector and lens. Sony states that its throw distance is measured from the lens reference point; check your model’s manual for its measurement reference and installation definitions. Sony Support: How to calculate throw distance

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Convert diagonal size to image width

First convert the chosen diagonal to horizontal width using the selected aspect ratio. For a 16:9 image, BenQ’s example gives an approximate width of 7.2 feet for a 100-inch diagonal. That is the width to use in the equation—not 100 inches. BenQ US: Projector screen size and distance

Apply the projector’s throw ratio

For a fixed throw ratio, multiply the image width by that ratio. For a zoom lens with a minimum-to-maximum ratio, multiply the width by both ends of the range to find the supported distance interval, then confirm the placement in the model-specific calculator or table.

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For example, Sony’s VPL-FHZ75 example uses a 100-inch-wide image and a lens throw range of 1.39:1 to 2.23:1. It calculates a lens-to-screen distance of 139 to 223 inches (3.53 to 5.66 m). This is a worked example for that projector and lens range, not a general recommendation. Sony Support: How to calculate throw distance

How far should my projector be from a 100-inch screen?

There is no single distance for every 100-inch screen: the diagonal alone does not specify image width unless you also know the aspect ratio, and different projectors have different throw ratios and zoom ranges. For a 100-inch diagonal 16:9 image, BenQ’s example uses an approximate width of 7.2 feet and a throw ratio of 1.13:1 to give a distance of 8.2 feet. That figure applies to BenQ’s example, not to projectors generally. BenQ US: Projector screen size and distance

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To determine the distance for your setup, convert the diagonal to width for your aspect ratio, then use the exact projector’s published ratio or distance table. A short-throw projector may reduce the required room depth, but the supported image sizes and distances depend on the specific model and lens.

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Why the throw equation is not enough to plan a mount

The equation gives a lens-to-screen distance; it does not determine the image’s vertical position, lens shift, offset, projector-body clearance, or cable space. Manufacturer tables can list different distance ranges and offsets for different screen sizes, so use the table or calculator for your exact projector rather than treating another model’s figures as universal.

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For example, Epson’s EB-992F reference table lists a 100-inch 16:9 image at 134–181 cm projection distance with a 23 cm offset. Its 150-inch entry lists 202–273 cm and a 35 cm offset. Those values apply to the EB-992F table, not to other projectors. Epson Support: EB-992F projection distance and offset table

Measure the usable screen wall and available lens-to-screen distance, allowing for the projector body, cables, seating, doors, windows, and any mount. Before drilling, check the actual model’s manual or calculator for placement reference points, offsets, lens shift, and clearance requirements. A zoom range provides a distance interval, but installation constraints still need to be checked at the intended position.

A practical setup sequence

  1. Measure the room. Note the usable screen wall and maximum available distance from the planned lens position to the screen. Keep body depth, rear clearance, cables, and other obstacles in mind.
  2. Choose an aspect ratio. Select one that suits the content and the screen area available, such as 16:9, 4:3, or 2.35:1.
  3. Pick a candidate diagonal. Check that it fits the wall and suits the viewing position rather than choosing only by maximum wall capacity.
  4. Calculate the image width. Convert the diagonal using the selected aspect ratio.
  5. Find the exact projector’s specification. Use its published throw ratio or projection-distance table. For a fixed ratio, multiply width by ratio; for a zoom range, calculate the minimum and maximum distances.
  6. Confirm geometry before installation. Check the manufacturer’s model-specific table, calculator, or manual for offset, lens shift, reference points, and clearances before fixing a mount or drilling.

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