Understanding Throw Ratio in Projectors

Why It Matters and How to Choose the Right One for Your Space

When selecting a projector for home or business use, most people focus on brightness and resolution. However, one equally important but often overlooked factor is the throw ratio. If you don’t consider throw ratio during purchase, you may end up with a projector that simply can’t fit your available space.

In this guide, we’ll explain what throw ratio means, how it affects image size and distance, and how to choose the right type for your environment.

What Is Throw Ratio?

Throw ratio describes the relationship between the distance from the projector to the screen (throw distance) and the width of the projected image.

Example: A throw ratio of 1.5 means the projector must be placed 1.5 meters away from the screen to produce an image that is 1 meter wide.

This ratio directly affects how large the image can be in a given room.

Common Throw Ratio Types

Shorter throw ratios require less distance to project large images, making them ideal for small spaces or rooms where the projector must be placed close to the screen.

How Throw Ratio Affects Installation

Choosing the wrong throw ratio can result in an image that’s too large or too small for your wall—or one that doesn’t fit at all.

Example Scenarios:

• Living room: You want a 100-inch image, and you have 3 meters of space. You’ll need a throw ratio of around 1.2–1.5.
• Bedroom or dorm: Limited space (1.5 meters), but still want a 90-inch image. You need a short throw projector with a throw ratio under 1.0.
• Ceiling-mounted setup: Ultra short throw projectors (UST) can be mounted just 20–40cm from the wall and still project a 100-inch image.

Beware of Ignoring Throw Ratio

Many projector shoppers mistakenly assume they can just "zoom" the image to fit. But most entry-level LCD projectors have fixed lenses, meaning you must physically move the projector to adjust image size.

Before buying, always check:

• Throw ratio range in the specs
• Recommended projection distance for desired screen size
• Whether zoom/focus is manual or motorized

Transparent Specs Matter

At Ehomm, all our product pages clearly indicate the throw ratio and recommended screen sizes for different distances.

This allows customers to confidently choose a projector that fits their room—without trial and error.

We’re committed to transparency and provide test photos, demo videos, and real-world installation examples for every model.

Final Tips for Buyers

• Measure your room before buying
• Check both throw ratio and projection distance
• Avoid vague listings that don’t mention throw ratio
• Short throw ≠ low quality—some of the best home-use projectors today are short throw or ultra short throw

Still unsure which model fits your space? Contact our team for a tailored recommendation based on your room dimensions and usage habits.

Choosing the right throw ratio ensures the projector works in your actual space—not just in theory.