It is the first question almost everyone asks before a Christmas projection show: where does the projector go? The answer comes from one number on the projector’s spec sheet, the throw ratio, and one measurement you can take with a tape measure.
The simple formula
Distance = throw ratio × image width.
If you want the image to cover a 30 ft wide house and your projector has a throw ratio of 1.2, the projector needs to be about 36 ft away. A short-throw projector with a ratio of 0.5 would cover the same 30 ft from about 15 ft.
Many projectors have a zoom lens with a range of throw ratios, which gives you some flexibility. Check the spec sheet for the minimum and maximum.
Step by step
- Measure the width of the area you want to cover: the whole facade, just the garage, or one gable.
- Find your projector’s throw ratio (or range).
- Multiply to get the distance, then walk it out from the house.
- Check that spot is on your property, is level, and has power nearby.
- Make sure nothing blocks the beam: trees, parked cars, bushes, people walking past.
If your yard is too small
- Use a short-throw projector. It covers the same width from much closer. See Projectors & Lenses.
- Cover less. Map the garage door or the center of the house instead of the whole width.
- Use two projectors. Each covers half the house, and the mapping software blends them.
Angle and height
Projecting from low on the lawn puts the image at an angle, which mapping software can correct. Raising the projector on a sturdy stand reduces distortion and keeps people from walking through the beam.
Brightness at that distance
The farther away the projector, the larger and dimmer the image. Street lights and porch lights wash out the picture, so turn off your own exterior lights during the show and choose a brighter projector if the street is well lit.
Christmas offer · only 20 available
Homeline projector enclosure: $799. Keep the projector protected on the lawn all season. Fan-cooled, a 1-year warranty, and a fit check for your projector model. Enclosure only; while the 20 last.
Protect it where it stands
Once you know the spot, the projector will sit there for weeks. A Homeline enclosure suits homeowners in milder climates; the climate-controlled Defender suits wet, freezing or coastal sites. And if windows fall inside the image, Window Mapping Film on the outside of the glass keeps them from going dark.
Need help with the numbers?
Send us your projector model, the width you want to cover and how far you can place it. Contact us or call 888-631-5880.
More reading: Christmas house projection mapping guide · 10-step Christmas projector checklist
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