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Short Throw Projectors, Short Throw Projector Lenses, and the Pros and Cons of a Short Throw Projector

There are two major types of short throw projectors – that of short throw and that of ultra short throw.

Short throw projectors are projectors that typically have a throw ratio of between 0.4 and 1.0 whereas ultra short throw typically have a projector throw ratio of between 0.15 to 0.4.  They’re a little bit different in design.

What is projector throw ratio?

The projector throw ratio is the distance from the projector divided by the horizontal size of the screen.  For example, if a projector is 100” from the screen and the screen size is 40” then the throw ratio of this projector is 2.5. 

Separately if a projector is just 50” from the screen size is 100” then this projector has a throw ratio of 0.5 making it a short throw projector.

How is projector short throw achieved?

For short-throw projectors, the short throw project uses a lens design that allows a much larger image.  This is similar to a camera’s “wide angle lens” where a short focus distance allows a larger field of view.  The same is true for projectors.  Generally speaking short-throw optics are more expensive to produce because the lenses need to be larger, the curvature greater, and the precision higher. 

What are the benefits of a short throw lens?

A short throw lens allows the projector to be closer to the screen compared to a standard-throw projector.  In other words, for a fixed distance the image is much larger on a short throw projector.  This is very useful when one’s space is limited, and where one wants to avoid walking in front of the projected image – such as in a ceiling mounted classroom environment.

What are the negatives of a short throw lens?

Generally speaking, there are three downsides to a short throw projectors.  One the brightness of a short throw system is typically lower than its standard throw counterpart – sometimes up to 20% less.  Two the short throw lens is more expensive – adding additional cost to the entire projector.  Third a short throw lens is typically larger than a standard throw lens, making the projector larger.

What is an Ultra-Short throw Projector?

An ultra short throw projector is a projector featuring a throw ratio of less than 0.40.  Today current technology allows for the manufacturing of ultra-short throw projectors up to 0.15 throw ratio.  Meaning one can project a 100” width (~115” screen size!) at just 15” from the screen!  This is typically the throw ratio found in the latest “projection TVs”.  The ultra-short-throw projector is a little bit different from the standard short throw projector as typically the ultra-short throw relies on a mirror and lens system to achieve such ultra short throws.

What are the benefits of an ultra short throw projector?

An ultra-short throw projector allows the projector to be very close to the screen compared to a standard-throw projector.  In other words, one can usually mount the projector right up against the wall without fear of having the image blocked by someone walking by.  Additionally with a little bit of room the projected image can become very large (dark areas needed!).

 What are the negatives of an ultra-short-throw projector?

Generally speaking, there are four downsides to ultra-short throw projectors.  One the brightness of an ultra-short throw system is typically lower than its standard throw counterpart – sometimes up to 35% less.  Two the ultra-short throw lens sets are quite expensive – adding additional cost to the entire projector.  Third an ultra-short-throw lens is typically larger than a standard throw lens, making the projector larger.  Finally, an ultra-short-throw lens is very sensitive to image distortion.  Care must be taken in lens-set production and lens-set installation.  With bad designs sustained vibration or thermal warping can permanently distort the image as some competitors have experienced in the recent past.

How to Choose Your First Short Throw Projector

In today’s blog, we will talk about short throw projector. Choosing a projector can be a difficult decision when you are a first timer because you have to learn about projectors’ features such as brightness (lumen), contrast ratio, resolution, throw ratio, and so on. When shopping for a projector, one of the most important decisions that you have to make is picking between short throw or long throw. So, what is a throw ratio? The throw ratio is the relation between the throw distance and the width if the projected image. In short, the smaller the throw ratio, the larger the image that a projector will project at a shorter distance. A short throw projector has a throw ratio between 0.4 – 1, and the ultra-short throw has a throw ratio between 0.1 – 0.4.

Pros and cons of short throw projector.

Pros: When you are in a small space area, a short throw projector will come in handy as it will save you more space than a long throw projector. Its ability to project much larger image will be great to replace your regular TV.

Cons: There are some disadvantages of a short throw projector. Cost is one of them, a short throw projector tends to be more expensive. And brightness is also an issue because projectors can’t go as bright as a TV.

Here are some of the best short throw projectors that we hand-picked for you to consider:

  • Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300

The Epson LS300 short throw projector is the most expensive short throw projector in this list, MSRP at $1,999.99. It delivers picture up to 120” at 1080P (accepts 4K format). With an incredible 3,600 lumens, the LS300 short throw projector produces vivid picture even with some ambient light in the room. The Audiophile 2.1 sound system by Yamaha is nothing like others, it provides a unique experience. All in all, you can’t go wrong with the Epson LS300 projector, it’s an ideal short throw projector that could be a replacement for your TV.

Pros: High lumen brightness, loud speaker, high contrast ratio

Cons: Expensive for 1080P native resolution

Amazon Link for the Epson EpiqVision LS300 short throw projector

  • AAXA P400­­

The AAXA P400 is a budget short throw projector. It’s the most portable and affordable mini short throw projector in the list with the price tag of $269 MSRP and the dimension of 4.5″ x 4″ x 2.3″, and weighs at 19.8 ounces. It can easily fit in your palm. Even though the P400 short throw projector is small, it’s a powerful unit which can project a vivid 100″ screen with 1080P resolution at just 5.25 feet from wall and holds up to 2 hours of battery in one charge. If you are in a position where money is short, and want a short throw projector that can get the job done, you can’t go wrong with the P400 since it offers almost everything that you need in a short throw projector.

Pros: Portable, native 1080P FHD, inexpensive, best value for money

Cons: Lack of smart features

Amazon Link for The AAXA P400 short throw projector

  • BenQ TK700STi

The BenQ TK700STi short throw projector is made for gamers with a low input lag 16ms at 4K/60Hz, you can experience your gameplay with unnoticeable lag. It’s compatible with major consoles such as Xbox, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and a few more. This short throw projector is an incredible entertainment powerhouse. The only downside of the TK700STi is the throw ratio of 0.9 so you will need to place it a little far away from your wall in order to have a big screen.

Pro: Low latency, great for gaming, 4K resolution

Cons: 0.9 Throw ratio, not great black level

Amazon Link for The BenQ TK700STi short throw projector

Should you get a short throw projector?

Deciding what kind of projector is best fits for you need depends on numerous of factors. The most important characteristic that you should consider when purchasing a projector is space. If you are setting up a home theater in a small room, then you should consider a short throw projector. Not only it will save you more space, but also preventing unwanted shadows. And if space is not an issue for you, then you should consider getting yourself a long throw since it will save you some cash.

Top 3 Short-Throw Projectors for Home Entertainment Setup



If you are serious about setting up a home theater entertainment system, you should consider getting a short-throw projector. A short-throw projector typically produces a brighter, more vibrant picture than a standard projector. A short-throw projector or ultra-short-throw projector (UST) can cast a brilliant and clear image from only a few feet or inches away. Short-throw projectors have many advantages over traditional standard throw or long-throw projectors. The main advantage of a short-throw projector is the ability to cast an over 100-inch image even in a tight space. If you want a projector in your living room or bedroom, a short-throw projector/ultra-short throw projector is perfect in situations with limited space. 

  1. Optoma X309ST Projector – $599

The Optoma X309ST Projector is the cheapest option out of the three short-throw projectors. The 0.62:1 short-throw ratio, 3,700 ANSI Lumens brightness, and 25,000:1 contrast ratio, enable 100-inch projection from several feet away. This is ideal for small conference rooms, bed rooms, living rooms, and other space-constrained environments. The speaker is a clear, powerful audio 10W speaker, which will sound great in a small room. The main downside of this short-throw projector is the 1024×768 resolution, which is somewhat offset by the amazing 3,700 ANSI Lumens brightness at a short distance. 

  1. BenQ TH671ST– $799

BenQ  is a major player in the monitor and projector space, and its TH671ST gaming and cinema projector is perfect for users looking for a short-throw projector at lower and more competitive prices. The BenQ TH671ST short-throw projector can easily replace a large TV in your living room, and it’s capable of equally delivering a satisfying gaming or cinema experience. The projector has a 1920×1080(FHD) resolution with a 3,000 ANSI lumens brightness and can project up to 100-inch picture at 5 feet away. In addition to the long list of premium features, this unit is lightweight and portable enough to take on the road or game with friends. Best of all, this projector’s price starts at $699 and comes with a three years warranty. However, I wished that the projector would come with USB-C, allowing for different options to connect and play movies from different USB-C devices.  

  1. PowerLite 530 XGA 3LCD Projector$949

The PowerLite 530 XGA 3LCD Projector from Epson starts at $949. This short-throw projector offers 3200 lumens of color brightness (color light output) and 3200 lumens of white brightness (white light output). This short-throw projector can be mounted 4 feet away from the board or wall, and the projected image can get as large as 108″ diagonal. The PowerLite 530 also features management software which allows users to wirelessly share and play movies/pictures from the computers, as well as iOS and Android devices.