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10 Best Short Throw Projectors 2025 in the United States

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Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

LG HF85JA Ultra Short Throw Laser Smart Home Theater CineBeam Projector (2017 Model - Class 1 laser product)

The LG HF85JA Ultra Short Throw Laser Smart Home Theater CineBeam Projector is a compact and powerful option for those looking to create a home theater experience in a small space. One of its standout features is its ultra-short throw capability, which allows you to project a 100-inch image from just 17 inches away from the wall. This makes it an excellent choice for tight spaces where traditional projectors might be impractical. The projector offers a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, ensuring clear and detailed images, while the 150,000:1 contrast ratio allows for vivid and dynamic visuals, enhancing your viewing experience.

With a brightness of up to 1,500 lumens, it performs well in dimly lit environments but might struggle in very bright rooms. A significant advantage is its laser lamp, which has a long life of up to 20,000 hours, reducing the need for frequent replacements. Additionally, the projector is LG Smart TV enabled, providing access to a variety of streaming services without requiring additional devices. Keystone correction features help in adjusting the image to fit perfectly on the screen, ensuring flexibility in setup.

However, there are some downsides to consider. The projector's brightness might not be sufficient for rooms with a lot of ambient light. Also, being a 2017 model, it may lack some of the latest features found in newer projectors. Despite these minor drawbacks, the LG HF85JA is a highly capable short-throw projector that offers excellent image quality and convenience for home theater enthusiasts.

Customer Highlights

A summary of real customer reviews to highlight what shoppers are saying!
Throw Ratio
The projector's sensitivity to adjustments is a typical trait of ultra-short throw models but easily manageable.
Resolution
Picture quality is exceptional, especially when projected on a flat Universal Grey wall.
#2

EPSON PowerLite 810E Ultra Short-throw Laser Projector, Wifi Miracast, 5000 Lume

The EPSON PowerLite 810E Ultra Short-throw Laser Projector is a strong contender in the short-throw projector category, particularly appealing for home cinema enthusiasts. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080, it delivers sharp and clear images, making it suitable for watching movies and presentations. Its impressive brightness of 5000 lumens ensures that you can use it in various lighting conditions without losing picture quality, which is a significant advantage for those who may not have complete control over their viewing environment.

One of the standout features is its ultra-short throw capability, allowing you to project large images from a very short distance. This is especially beneficial for smaller rooms where space is limited. The inclusion of WiFi Miracast enhances connectivity options, making it easier to stream content wirelessly from compatible devices.

The projector offers good contrast, but potential buyers should consider the keystone correction feature; while it is common in projectors, checking its effectiveness on this model could determine how well it handles off-axis placement.

#3

ViewSonic LS921WU 6000 Lumens WUXGA Short Throw Laser Projector for 200 Inch Screen, Dual HDMI, 4K HDR HLG Support, 1.1x Optical Zoom for Business and Education, White

The ViewSonic LS921WU is a robust short-throw laser projector designed for large screen setups, making it suitable for both business presentations and educational environments. With a resolution of 1920 x 1200, it delivers sharp and clear images, ensuring detailed visuals. Its high brightness of 6000 lumens means it can perform well even in well-lit rooms, which is a significant advantage for versatile use.

The projector's lamp life is impressive, with the laser phosphor light source lasting up to 20,000 hours, reducing the need for frequent replacements and maintenance. Setup is user-friendly with features like 1.1x optical zoom, horizontal and vertical keystone correction, and wide lens shift, which help in achieving the perfect image alignment even in challenging setups. The 360-degree projection capability adds to its flexibility.

Connectivity options are extensive, including dual HDMI, USB, HDBT, and Ethernet LAN, ensuring compatibility with most devices. Remote management and scheduling are facilitated through LAN control, supporting Crestron and other systems, which is a handy feature for IT admins. While it supports 4K HDR HLG, the native resolution is not 4K, which might be a consideration for those specifically seeking ultra-high-definition content. This projector is an excellent choice for those needing a powerful, flexible, and long-lasting device, ideal for professional and educational settings rather than casual home cinema use.

Customer Highlights

A summary of real customer reviews to highlight what shoppers are saying!
Throw Ratio
Its performance in projecting large, clear images from a short distance makes it ideal for presentations and educational use.
Resolution
The projector's resolution, while not the highest, is more than adequate for clear and detailed visuals.
Brightness
The picture quality is impressive, with bright and vibrant colors that stand out even in well-lit rooms.

Buying Guide for the Best Short Throw Projectors

Choosing the right short-throw projector can significantly enhance your viewing experience, whether it's for home entertainment, business presentations, or educational purposes. Short-throw projectors are designed to project large images from a short distance, making them ideal for small spaces. To find the best fit for your needs, it's important to understand the key specifications and how they impact performance and usability.
Throw RatioThe throw ratio is the distance between the projector and the screen divided by the width of the projected image. This spec is crucial because it determines how close you can place the projector to the screen while still achieving the desired image size. Short-throw projectors typically have a throw ratio between 0.4:1 and 1.0:1. If you have limited space, look for a lower throw ratio, which allows you to place the projector closer to the screen. Consider your room size and how far you can place the projector from the screen to choose the right throw ratio for your setup.
ResolutionResolution refers to the number of pixels that make up the projected image, usually described as width x height (e.g., 1920x1080 for Full HD). Higher resolution means more detail and clarity. Common resolutions for short-throw projectors include 720p (HD), 1080p (Full HD), and 4K (Ultra HD). If you plan to use the projector for movies, gaming, or detailed presentations, a higher resolution like 1080p or 4K is recommended. For basic presentations or educational purposes, 720p may suffice.
BrightnessBrightness is measured in lumens and indicates how bright the projected image will be. This is important because it affects visibility, especially in well-lit rooms. Short-throw projectors typically range from 1,000 to 3,000 lumens. For dark or dimly lit rooms, 1,000 to 2,000 lumens may be adequate. For rooms with more ambient light, look for a projector with 2,500 lumens or more to ensure a clear and vibrant image.
Contrast RatioThe contrast ratio measures the difference between the darkest and brightest parts of the image. A higher contrast ratio means deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, which enhances image quality. Short-throw projectors often have contrast ratios ranging from 1,000:1 to 100,000:1. For home theater use, a higher contrast ratio is preferable to achieve better picture quality. For business or educational use, a moderate contrast ratio may be sufficient.
ConnectivityConnectivity options determine how you can connect your projector to other devices. Common inputs include HDMI, USB, VGA, and wireless options like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This spec is important because it affects the ease of setup and compatibility with your devices. If you plan to connect multiple devices, look for a projector with multiple HDMI ports and wireless connectivity. For simpler setups, a single HDMI port may be enough.
Keystone CorrectionKeystone correction allows you to adjust the image to be perfectly rectangular, even if the projector is not perfectly aligned with the screen. This is important for achieving a professional-looking image without distortion. Short-throw projectors often offer both vertical and horizontal keystone correction. If you anticipate placing the projector at an angle or off-center, look for a model with comprehensive keystone correction features to ensure a clear and properly aligned image.
Lamp LifeLamp life indicates how long the projector's lamp will last before it needs to be replaced, usually measured in hours. This is important for maintenance and long-term costs. Short-throw projectors typically have lamp lives ranging from 3,000 to 20,000 hours. If you plan to use the projector frequently, look for a model with a longer lamp life to reduce the need for replacements. For occasional use, a shorter lamp life may be acceptable.

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