Gathering the family to watch a film everyone agrees on (Cats?) under the stars: Now that's a summer night. To turn your yard into a home theater, though, you'll need a projector — one that works just as well outside as it does in.
While the vast majority of projectors aren't marketed exclusively for outdoor use, there are plenty of options that will suit backyards, rooftops, and porches with no issues. You'll even be able to take super portable projectors on camping trips.
You'll just need to keep a few attributes in mind, including brightness, portability, throw distance, and sound. Whatever the particular needs of your outdoor space, there's likely a projector on this list for you.
What features to look for
It's pretty easy to control the light level indoors: If you want it to be darker, turn the lights off and close the blinds. Outdoors, brightness is largely out of your hands — all you can do is wait for the sun to set and hope there isn't too much ambient light for your picture to handle.
Keep your yard's brightness level in mind while choosing a projector. If you aren't worried about ambient light — like you live in a rural area with very little light pollution, for example, or your backyard is far away from your neighbors — brightness may not be your biggest concern. If you anticipate environmental light getting in the way, though, go for one of the brighter options on the list. (Here, brightness is recorded in lumens.)
Then, there's throw distance, which refers to the distance between the projector's lens and the screen. A projector with a long throw distance is able to project a high-quality image while sitting farther from the screen; a projector with a shorter throw distance should sit closer to the screen. If you're in a big backyard, you may want a longer throw distance. For a rooftop or tiny porch, a shorter throw distance will be ideal.
Choosing the right projector for your space's size can be tricky, so we've tried our best to specify the locations in which our picks will work best. If you'd like to read further, there are several informative guides out there. Our favorite is on the Epson blog and includes a useful throw distance calculator.
You can't store a projector outside, of course, so we've made sure to feature relatively lightweight options that are easy to lug out to the backyard. Each of our picks weighs under 10 pounds; still, If you want to travel with your projector, you'll probably want the lightest option possible.
What other supplies will I need?
The projector will do lots of the work for you, as well it should. But if you're building an outdoor theater from scratch, there are a few other supplies you'll need as well, including:
A screen on which to project. This could be anything from an an actual screen intended for outdoor use to a white sheet to a wall to the side of your garage. Just be sure you're projecting onto your own property!
A separate sound system, potentially. A lot of projectors — including and especially lightweight ones — don't have great built-in speakers. We suggest purchasing a separate set of external speakers in many cases, especially if the projector's built-in speakers provide less than 5 watts of sound.
A power strip and extension cords, if your projector doesn't run on battery. Extra batteries if it does!
Seating for guests, preferably unobtrusive options like pillows and low-to-the-ground folding chairs. You'll also want to keep a stash of blankets nearby in case it gets cold.
Snacks, obviously.
Here are our picks for the best outdoor projectors. Better start polling the fam about that movie. Or maybe everyone can just play Mario Kart.
Best overall
1. Epson Home Cinema 2100 1080p Projector
For outdoor viewing at home, this projector delivers the sound, picture, and features you need.- Weight: 7.5 pounds
- Brightness: 2500 lumens
- Resolution: 1080p
- Projection size: 29.9" - 300"
- Throw distance: 3' - 29'
- Speakers: 10W
Reviewers also report that it's a good option for gaming. "Games look amazing on a big screen, hard to go back to a 55 [inches] after playing on 110 [inches]. Hooked up to a PS4, no apparent lag to complain about," writes one Amazon reviewer. "Resolution looks crisp, kids love the big screen for games that do split-screen."
This projector isn't Bluetooth compatible. It does, however, have two HDMI ports, so you'll be able to hook up two devices at once.
Bonus: You'll be able to watch 3D movies with the Epson 2100, provided you already have the other equipment necessary. You know what that means: It's time to put on those fashionable glasses.
Best for gaming
2. Optoma HD146X 1080p DLP Projector
This projector's "enhanced gaming mode" will help gamers play without pesky delays.- Weight: 6.19 pounds
- Brightness: 3600 lumens
- Resolution: 1080p
- Projection size: 28" - 301"
- Throw distance: 3.2' - 35'
- Speakers: 3W
The projector is equipped with a setting called Enhanced Gaming Mode, which cuts back on lags for an input response time of 16 milliseconds. (That means your actions will be reflected onscreen after 16 milliseconds.) There's also Game Display Mode, which makes shadows and dark scenes easier to see. "I use this projector for gaming on my PS4 and can compete against Call of Duty PC users with [a] monitor," one Amazon reviewer writes. "No noticeable lag at all!"
The Optoma HD146X is not just for games, though. It's also a really solid option for streaming movies and TV — especially medium-scale uses like backyard movie nights. You'll be able to project onto screens up to 300 inches, though keep in mind you'll need to do this from a distance of about 13-14 feet. So you'll need some space, but it'll pay off.
Best wireless option
3. LG PF50 KA Wireless Portable Projector
Reviewers love this projector's portability, lightness, and ease of use.- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Brightness: 600 lumens
- Resolution: 1080p
- Projection size: 25" - 100"
- Speakers: 1W
Best Buy reviewer EagleCroft writes:
"I found each of the apps to perform perfectly well, with no lag or hesitation. I also plugged my FireStick in one of the two HDMI ports on the back, and it performed like a champ too. HD video content was awesome, with little to no banding noticeable.The LG PF50's screen size maxes out at 100 inches, which is best for small to medium spaces. Its brightness isn't the best on this list — you'll certainly struggle to use it if there's lots of ambient light — but what it lacks in lumens in makes up for in portability.
This projector does have built-in speakers, but they're fairly weak. You'll probably want to find external sound for this one.
Best for camping
4. Anker Nebula II Capsule Projector
If you're looking for a light, portable projector with good built-in speakers, the Nebula II is for you.- Weight: 1.6 pounds
- Brightness: 200 lumens
- Resolution: 720p
- Projection size: 20" - 100"
- Throw distance: 2' - 10'
- Speakers: 8W
Writes one reviewer:
"The Capsule II is quiet, runs smooth and fast, and overall is a joy to use. Setup is a breeze with the integrated Android TV and it seems to have plenty of processing power."Where the Nebula II struggles the most is brightness. At 200 lumens, it's best for use in dark environments where there's little ambient light. Still, if you're looking for something super portable that doesn't require separate speakers and looks like a cute little soda can ... here you go.
According to the company, the Nebula II can project a 100-foot image from about 10.5 feet away. That's as big as it can get, though, so look elsewhere if you want an enormous projection.
Best budget option
5. AAXA P2-A Smart Pico Wireless Projector
This cute pico projector is an affordable, reliable option for beginners.- Weight: 0.55 pounds
- Brightness: 130 lumens
- Resolution: 854 x 480p
- Projection size: 8" - 100"
- Throw distance: 0.8' - 10'
- Speakers: 1.5W
This projector is fully portable, claims to be able to hold a charge for about 2.5 hours, and can deliver 130 lumens of brightness. For the price that's fine, but note that it's the lowest brightness on this list. It'll do best in very dark environments.
For casual nighttime use, though, the AAXA P2-A is an inarguably great value: It's incredibly light, features an easy-to-use touchpad, and is Bluetooth compatible. It's also a smart projector, and it runs Android 5.1. (Some reviewers have noted that the software can feel clunky to use.)
If you've got a small backyard or a porch that you want to watch movies on — but don't want to shell out $600 — this pico projector is a good bet.
You might need some extra speakers, but you already knew that.
Best for big backyards
6. ViewSonic PX747-4K 4K DLP Projector
This 4K projector will replicate a home theater experience effectively — for a price.- Weight: 9.3 pounds
- Brightness: 3500 lumens
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160p
- Projection size: 30" - 300"
- Throw distance: 3.2' - 38.4'
- Speakers: 10W
In terms of features, though, this option is hard to beat for the price. It's super bright — 3500 lumens — and has an impressive set of 10W speakers, so you can get away with not purchasing a separate set. 4K fanatics will also be pleased to know this is a true 4K projector, and a surprisingly affordable one at that.
According to reviewers, the projector does tend to take a while to turn on and off — up to 15 seconds in some cases. A few folks also noticed some distracting noise from the fan, which may or may not be a concern for you depending on how much ambient noise you anticipate around your setup.
Despite these relatively small issues, though, the ViewSonic PX7474-4K appears to be well worth the price.
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