Free Tool
Projector Calculator
Get your projection sized and bright enough before you buy or set up. Enter what you know — the geometry is exact optics; the brightness figure is a margined estimate for outdoor conditions.
On the spec sheet, often a range like 1.2–1.6. Use a value in that range.
Projected image
14.3
width (ft)
8
height (ft)
16.4
diagonal (ft)
≈ 114.8 sq ft of surface
Recommended brightness
5,700+ lumens
Comfortable target: ~8,000 ANSI lumens
Estimate using 40 fL target and 0.8 surface gain. Real ambient light and content vary — when in doubt, go brighter. Look for honest ANSI lumens, not inflated “LED lumens.”
How it works
The image size comes from one optical relationship: throw ratio = distance ÷ image width. That number lives on every projector's spec sheet, so you supply it (or we solve for the ratio you should shop for). The brightness recommendation uses the standard luminance formula adjusted for outdoor ambient light and real-world surfaces like stucco and garage doors — treat it as guidance with built-in headroom, not a guarantee.