Top 7 Best Projectors for a Small Room in 2023 Review & Buying Guide

Are you one of these people who cannot enjoy a movie theater experience in your home due to small space? Maybe you want a better projector for your little space? Are you tired of missing scenes of your favorite movie when you share the screen with others?

If any of these questions have an affirmative answer, let us help you. We have gathered here a list of the top 7 best projectors for a small room for you. We’ll help you clear up the confusion between a short-throw and ultra-short-throw projector as well.

If you are worried about cost, we’ll review some best budget options too. Lastly, a buying guide will give you some helpful tips.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s look at some of these game-changers of the entertainment industry.

Best Projectors for a small room 2022 Reviewed

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1.LG HF85LA Projector – HD Ultra-short throw projector for a small room

Another good projector for small rooms from LG. The full HD resolution, Smart TV interface, and wireless connectivity are some of its best features.

LG HF85LA Projector

Specifications:
  • Connectivity: HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-fi
  • Brightness: 1500 ANSI lumens
  • Resolution: 1920 × 1080
  • Contrast: 150,000:1
  • Throw distance: 8 inches for 120 inches
  • Projection size: 90 to 120 inches
  • Lamp life: 20,000 hours
  • Dimension: 13.9 x 4.7 x 7.5 inches
  • Weight: 6.6 lbs

This 1080p small room projector comes with high contrast to display brilliant colors. It offers Bluetooth and wi-fi input options, in addition to the usual HDMI and VGA.

You will love these inputs for connecting external speakers or streaming wirelessly. However, the wireless connection is not for Apple devices.

The 1500 lumens brighten the image enough if you project it in a room after closing blinds. It doesn’t need a pitch-black room, though. Set it up just 8 inches away from the screen to display 120 inches of an image. This is really a cool projector for small room.

The lamp life ensures more than 13 years of usage with daily 4 hours viewing. It is longer than most projectors. You can update newer firmware too.


The device has a smart TV interface. However, it does not download Netflix or Amazon Prime on it. You can purchase Google Chrome Cast for using their content, which is a hassle, though.

The device is lightweight and smaller than a laptop. The keystone correction and focus are available but not automatic. Another thing that annoyed us is the extensive configuration. The device does not display a perfect image out of the box. Otherwise it can be an options as a projector for small rooms.

Pros

  • Image quality is excellent
  • Bright enough
  • User-friendly interface
  • Multiple connectivity options
  • Quiet
  • Decent sound quality

Cons

  • Keystone and focus are manual
  • Difficult to adjust the image according to your liking
  • Netflix and Amazon Prime are not available on it
  • It cannot connect to Apple devices wirelessly
2

2.BenQ MW632ST Projector – Best budget projector for a small room

If you want to buy a small room projector, and you have a small budget for the projector, here’s an affordable option for you. BenQ is known for reliable projectors, and this is no different.

BenQ MW632ST Projector

Specifications:
  • Connectivity: HDMI, VGA, USB type mini-B
  • Brightness: 3200 lumens
  • Resolution: 1280 × 800
  • Contrast: 13,000:1
  • Throw distance: 7.9 ft for 120 inches
  • Projection size: 60 to 120 inches diagonal
  • Lamp life: 10,000 hours on Smart Eco mode
  • Dimension: 11.3 x 9.15 x 4.5 inches
  • Weight: 5.7 lbs

The price of the projector allows for a lower resolution than full HD. The image quality is better than 720p, and it works for a small room. It can display 3D content as well.

This is a DLP small room projector, so you need not worry about the filter maintenance and replacement costs. The image is bright enough for daytime viewing, but we recommend watching with closed curtains.

The various input options are definitely a plus. No wireless connectivity is available.

The throw distance is short, and it can project a large image up to 120 inches. This is the cheapest small room projector on our list with only 4000 hours of lamp life on regular mode.

You can plug any content into it, and it turns itself on to project. The lens allows low light dispersion, so you’ll have no blurred words. The vertical keystone is a boon, just like the three years warranty.

Pros

  • It displays clear and readable words
  • Bright
  • Short throw
  • Perfect for presentations
  • Cheaper
Cons
  • Fan noise is loud
  • For gaming, it has a 60Hz refresh rate only
  • Speakers have poor sound
  • Only two leveling adjustments instead of four on the bottom
3

3.Optoma GT5600 Projector – Best 3D projector for a small room

Do you love watching 3D movies? Is your budget in the mid-range? If both of these answers are yes, this home cinema projector is made for your small room space.

Optoma GT5600 Projector

Specifications:
  • Connectivity: HDMI, VGA, USB, Wi-fi
  • Brightness: 3600 lumens
  • Resolution: 1920 × 1080
  • Contrast: 20,000:1
  • Throw distance: 10.3 inches for 100 inches
  • Projection size: up to 100 inches diagonal
  • Lamp life: 15,000 hours
  • Dimension: 15 x 13.5 x 4.8 inches
  • Weight: 8.7 lbs

This is a full HD projector for small room. It uses DLP technology. You’ll not have images with a screen door effect. The image quality and contrast are high-quality. You can view every detail, even with lights on.

The ultra-short throw technology is a boon. You can spend no extra cost on a table or ceiling mount. With just 10.3 inches away from the wall, it can work effectively in cramped rooms.

If you use it daily for 4 hours, it can still last more than a decade. Its size is just about a laptop with a little more weight.


You get this device with the best projector screen of 100 inches (max). To display any content, connect any device using HDMI or VGA inputs. To go wireless, use USB or wi-fi options. With HDMI input of 1080p resolution, it works at a 144Hz refresh rate.

You can achieve screen mirroring by a wired or wireless connection. The keystone and four corners correction help in a trouble-free setup.

Although the input lag is negligible, it will need external speakers to work as a gaming unit. The internal 16W speakers need an upgrade.

Pros

  • Short throw
  • Vibrant colors with high contrast
  • Can display in the daytime
  • Keystone correction
  • Negligible input lag
Cons
  • Short throw
  • Vibrant colors with high contrast
  • Can display in the daytime
  • Keystone correction
  • Negligible input lag
4

4.Optoma GT1090HDR Projector – Best projector for a small room with a long lamp life

If you are looking for a mid-range short-throw projector with a long lamp life, you have got one right here. It comes with a 1080p resolution, supports 4k input, and is very bright.

Optoma GT1090HDR Projector

Specifications:
  • Connectivity: HDMI, VGA
  • Brightness: 4200 lumens
  • Resolution: 1920 × 1080, supports 4k with HDR
  • Contrast: 300,000:1
  • Throw distance: 4.3 ft for 120 inches
  • Projection size: up to 120 inches diagonal
  • Lamp life: 30,000 hours
  • Dimension: 10.50 x 13.26 x 4.25 inches
  • Weight: 10 lbs

As for other projectors in a similar price range, this HD projector comes with HDMI and VGA input options. The USB port is for power only. No wireless or Bluetooth connectivity is available.

With 4200 lumens, we could watch anything during the day. Your screen should not have direct light on it, though. From a little above 4 feet away, you can pull a large image of 120 inches. The image quality is excellent and supports 4k with HDR10 too.

This is a DLP projector with high contrast and long lamp life. This means no filter cleaning as it is DLP and no lamp replacement costs. You can view 4 hours daily for more than two decades.


You can watch 3D content on it. The noise is 32dB in Eco mode, which is still a little more than desired. The vertical keystone correction is ±30°.

The 1.3x zoom and the ability to control it with a remote are a bonus. The device supports any content with a high 120Hz refresh rate.

Pros

  • Excellent image resolution
  • Short throw
  • Bright and vibrant picture
  • 3D display
  • Long lamp life
Cons
  • No wireless connectivity
  • Rainbow effect
  • Lens shift is useless
  • The keystone correction and zoom have narrow limits
5

5.Optoma GT1080HDR Projector – Best short-throw projector for small space

This Optoma projector is a compact, lightweight device with a high resolution. The best feature is its minimal display lag with a high refresh rate.

Optoma GT1080HDR Projector

Specifications:
  • Connectivity: dual HDMI, VGA, Audio
  • Brightness: 3800 lumens
  • Resolution: 1920 × 1080, supports 4k with HDR
  • Contrast: 50,000:1
  • Throw distance: 4.3 ft for 120 inches
  • Projection size: up to 300 inches diagonal
  • Lamp life: 15,000 hours
  • Dimension: 12.4 x 9.5 x 4.5 inches
  • Weight: 7.70 lbs
]

This device is similar to the Optoma projector at number 5. It comes with a full HD resolution. It supports 4k input with HDR 10. Do you know what this means? This means more bright and vibrant colors.

The high contrast and brightness are commended by every user. Moreover, it can enlarge an image up to 300 inches. This may not be useful to you if you’re intending it for indoor use.

The HD gaming projector comes with an 8.4ms delay when working with a 1080p resolution at 120 Hz. If you’re a PS4 or Xbox gamer, you will love this.


As for input options, the standard HDMI and VGA are available. That’s it. You don’t get any Bluetooth or wireless options for connecting speakers. The 10W speakers make you long for external audio.

The lamp life is long, and the zoom range is 0.8 to 2.0x. You can set up an image using the vertical keystone correction if ±40°. So, if you play a lot of games and want a projector to fit in your small space, this is one of the best projectors for small rooms for you.

Pros

  • Minimal response time
  • Short throw
  • High resolution with 4k input support
  • Bright enough for daytime viewing
  • Long lamp life
Cons
  • It needs a lot of calibration
  • The keystone and zoom do not work in enhanced gaming mode
  • Not reliable
  • No wireless connectivity
5

6.Optoma EH412ST Projector - Best office projector for a small conference room

Last but not least is an office short-throw projector. This one comes with a 1080p resolution displaying a high contrast and brightness.

Optoma EH412ST Projector

Specifications:
  • Connectivity: dual HDMI, VGA, USB
  • Brightness: 4000 lumens
  • Resolution: 1920 × 1080, supports 4k with HDR
  • Contrast: 50,000:1
  • Throw distance: 4.5 ft for 120 inches
  • Projection size: up to 300 inches diagonal
  • Lamp life: 15,000 hours
  • Dimension: 12.4 x 9.5 x 4.5 inches
  • Weight: 7.69 lbs

This is another mid-range projector for small room that comes with a full HD resolution. It has DLP technology, which makes it prone to the rainbow effect.

You can connect any device using the HDMI and VGA input options. USB for wireless connectivity is available. However, you cannot use the internet for wireless projection.

The high contrast ratio and a large number of lumens attribute to a bright and sharp image. Do you want to connect your UHD TV to the projector? This one supports your choice.


You get a vertical keystone correction of ±40°. The throw distance is best for a small meeting room.

You can use it daily for 4 hours for more than a decade. The speakers of 10W are not enough for gaming and movies.

There is a manual lever to help focus the image on the screen. It displays 3D content as well. You need to place it accurately, and this makes it hard to setup.

Pros

  • Bright
  • Quiet
  • Short-throw
  • 1080p resolution with 4k input support
  • Long lamp life
Cons
  • No Bluetooth connectivity
  • No lens covers
  • It is hard to set up and needs a precise placement
  • It needs better foot adjustments

How to Choose The Best Projector for a Small Room?

A projector can be a great addition to any home theater. They allow you to watch movies and TV shows on a much larger screen than you would get with a regular television. If you are looking for a projector to use in a small room, there are a few things you should consider before making your purchase.

One important thing to keep in mind is the brightness of the projector. A projector that is too bright can be overwhelming in a small room.

Best Projectors for Small Rooms

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7.VAVA Projector - High-quality projector for a small room

Topping the list is our most popular small room projector with wireless connectivity and 4k resolution. The image quality and brightness totally justify the cost.

High-quality projector for a small

Specifications:
  • Connectivity: 3xHDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-fi
  • Brightness: 2500 ANSI lumens
  • Resolution: 4k (3840 × 2160) with HDR 10
  • Contrast: 3000:1
  • Throw distance: 7.2 inches for 100 inches
  • Projection size: 80 to 150 inches
  • Lamp life: 25,000 hours
  • Dimension: 20.98 x 14.49 x 4.21 inches
  • Weight: 23.81 lbs

This DLP projector is an ultra-short-throw projector with a projection of 100 inches from just 7.2 inches away. This helps you avoid the hassle of cables and mounting. The 4k resolution with HDR gives a broad range of color and brightness.

You will absolutely love the image quality. As for brightness, you can watch anything during the day with blinds on the window.

This Bluetooth small room projector comes with a patented ALPD technology. This makes a brighter image using less power. Moreover, this is easier on the eyes. As for user-friendly features, the hardware comes with thumbscrews for rapid access to filters.

The hardware is a bulky piece and comes with 60W speakers. This 4k projector needs a projector screen to work best. The fan noise is less than 32dB, which is much less than other UST projectors.

The long lamp life means that it can last for 17 years or more with a 4-hour daily usage. The keystone correction and electric focus are a boon. Overall, this is the best projector for small room if you have some good amount to invest.

Pros

  • 4k resolution with HDR 10
  • Ultra-short-throw
  • Bluetooth for connecting external speakers
  • Wireless connectivity
  • Long lamp life
  • Quiet
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Simpler interface
  • Larger footprint
  • The response time is longer than desired for hardcore gamers

Let us help you answer some of these to make the ideal choice for your small room.

Throw Distance:

The most important decision when selecting a small room projector is the throw distance. First, determine your maximum screen size, and then you’ll get the throw distance.

Short throw projectors have this distance in 3-4 feet, while ultra-short-throw projectors will need 3-20 inches. The size of your screen and the projector placement will influence this choice.

Connectivity:

Like any other projector, you have to consider the input options before buying. All projectors usually have an HDMI and VGA input. Some increase the number of these ports.

If you want wireless connectivity, you can have Bluetooth, USB, SD card, and most importantly, Wi-fi connectivity. Nowadays, they are available in many affordable projectors too.

Resolution:

Of course, for resolution, the higher, the better. Right? Well, actually, it can be a little tricky. For small spaces, you don’t get large screen size. This means that you may not feel much difference between a Full HD and 4k projector.

So how low can you go? We’d recommend at least 720p. However, if you’ve got the money, go for 1080p or even 4k. They’ll help if you want to use your projector outdoors.

Zoom Range:

Usually, for small rooms, the projectors don’t have a lens shift or zoom range. This is true for ultra-short-throw projectors, at least. For short-throw projectors, you can get between 0.8 to 1.2 zoom. The higher the zoom, the more you have control over the projection.

Lumens:

As for brightness, usually small room projectors have 3500 lumens. They are enough for these spaces. As low as 3000 lumens work for them, even for daytime viewing.

Lamp life:

If you want to enjoy daytime viewing, go for at least 2500 lumens. For watching in rooms with minimum ambient light, 1500 lumens are good.

Frequently Asked Questions about Projectors for small room

1. Should I go for a UST or Short throw projector?

Selecting one of the two depends on several factors. Remember that a UST projector can display 100 inches from just 3-20 inches away. For short-throw, the distance is 3-4 feet.

The choice depends on:

Room space:

Can your room place a projector in the center, a few feet away from the screen? Will this come in your way of viewing? If yes and no, then short-throw projector it is.

Where is the socket in the room? Can you run a cable to it? If no, then UST it is.

Screen size:

The screen size is measured three feet above the ground at least. The throw distance will depend on your screen size and the space available.

Placement:

You can multiply the throw ratio by the width of the screen to get the throw distance. This determines where you are going to place the projector.

Some options for placement are floor, shelf, or wall-mounted. You don’t need any table or mount for UST projectors.

2.What about the cheapest options available?

Short-throw projectors usually cost more than standard or long-throw devices. However, the cheapest options start at 600$. You can refer to the number 3 on our list for the best budget projector.

3.Why are the projectors on your list expensive?

The short-throw projectors start from a higher price range than long-throw ones. As our list has the best short-throw projectors, they are all expensive.

Let’s know how these projectors work. Short-throw projectors use a powerful lens. For UST devices, there is also a mirror. It reflects light from the lens to the projector screen.

This advanced technology costs much larger than the simpler one behind other projectors.

Conclusion

Short-throw projectors are a new rage. They have revolutionized the cinema experience and have brought the theatre home. It is now possible to have a full wall-sized image in a small room.

However, they may not have the best image quality and cost higher than long-throw projectors. Still, their use is for small spaces mainly. They work excellent when used for their designated purpose.

We have listed the best projectors for a small room for you. If you want a 4k resolution, the number one is your pick. The cheapest projector is the one at number 3.

The best for gamers is number 6 and for classrooms and offices is number 7. If you want the best value for money, look at the Optoma at number 5. All in all, our favorite small room projector is the VAVA at number 1.
Do you like short-throw or UST projectors? Why do you want a projector in a small room? Lastly, did you make your choice?

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