Top pick

Epson Home Cinema LS11000

The best 4K projector under $5,000

The LS11000 is a great 4K laser projector that can deliver a big, bright, beautiful image, and it has almost all the features you need—except 3D support.

Buying Options

$4000$3500 from Best Buy

You save $500 (13%)

$4000$3500 from Amazon

You save $500 (13%)

$23 from Dell

If you want to set up a high-performance home theater in a basement or spare room and need a 4K projector that can handle high dynamic range video and wide-color-gamut material, choose the Epson Home Cinema LS11000. This LCD laser projector offers a combination of performance and features that you won’t find in any other projector priced lower than $5,000. It’s an excellent 4K movie projector, but it also looks great with games, sports, and HDTV when some room lights are on.

Why we like it

• The LS11000 has great detail, is bright enough to produce satisfying high dynamic range (HDR) video, and has wonderfully accurate color in the Natural picture mode.
• This LCD projector uses a laser light source that should see you through the next decade (or longer), with no need to pay for replacement bulbs.
• It’s one of only a few 120-hertz projectors that has high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 inputs to work with the most advanced 4K gaming consoles and any future 8K sources that might emerge.
• A motorized lens with generous zoom and lens-shifting capabilities makes this projector easier to set up than many others.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The LS11000 doesn’t support 3D video playback, so people who have a large collection of 3D discs may want to look at the BenQ HT4550i.
• Projectors aren’t bright enough to show HDR video at its full brightness, so they have to adjust the HDR signal to show it in the brightness range they’re capable of. The LS11000 does not do this automatically; you have to manually adjust the HDR brightness setting.

Read more about the Epson LS11000 in our guide to the best 4K projector.

Top pick

BenQ HT2060

The best budget projector around $1,000

This projector produces a bright, rich-looking image with more accurate color than most competitors can offer. It’s easy to set up and quiet in operation, but it lacks features like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Buying Options

$900 from Amazon

$899 from Walmart

$900 from Best Buy

If you want to create a big-screen movie experience at home on a modest budget, the BenQ HT2060 is the best performer in the $1,000-and-under price range.

Why we like it

• It offers great image contrast and color accuracy.
• It’s bright enough to pair with a large screen for a more immersive home theater experience.
• Out of the box this projector can produce a good image with very little adjustment, which means it’s good for people new to projectors.
• It’s easy to set up and quiet in operation.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The HT2060 produced some digital noise in mid to dark grays during our tests.
• It lacks features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and built-in streaming apps—but you can easily add those features by connecting a media streamer.
• Because it uses DLP projection technology, some people might see the rainbow effect.

Read more about this pick and others in our guide to the best budget projector for a home theater.

Top pick

BenQ TK860i

The best 4K projector for a living room

This 4K projector’s high light output, good-sounding speaker, and Android TV system make it a nice option for a living room.

Buying Options

$1,899 from Amazon

$1,550 from Walmart

May be out of stock

The BenQ TK860i’s high brightness, rich color, razor-sharp image, and solid HDR performance are well suited for everyday TV and movie watching in a brighter viewing environment. It can’t compete with the best 4K home theater projector in contrast and accuracy, but its high brightness makes it a better choice for use in a living room or family room where you can’t block out all the light.

Why we like it

• The BenQ TK860i is quite bright, so the image will pop even in a room with a good amount of light.
• The TK860i comes with an Android TV dongle that hides in a recessed chamber, and it gives you three additional HDMI 2.0 inputs to connect other video sources.
• The built-in speakers sound fuller and more balanced than those of many competitors, and the fan noise is not excessively loud.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• It uses a bulb instead of a laser, so it lacks instant on/off capability, and you’ll have to replace the bulb down the line.
• Precise image positioning requires more effort because of this model’s 1.3x zoom, manual controls, and 10% vertical lens shifting.

You can read more about this projector in our full guide to 4K projectors.

Top pick

Nebula Mars 3 Air

Best portable mini projector

This compact, 1080p projector offers good image brightness and contrast, above-average sound, easy setup, and a built-in battery. But mounting it on a tripod may prove tricky.

Buying Options

$600$420 from Amazon

You save $180 (30%)

If you need a small, compact projector that you can easily move around your home, the Nebula Mars 3 Air offers almost everything we could ask for. The Mars 3 Air is an LED projector that has a 1080p resolution and supports HDR video in the HDR10 format (though it isn’t bright enough to show off what HDR can do). It also includes a built-in battery, built-in Google TV and speakers, automatic focus and image shaping, and support for Bluetooth audio.

Why we like it

• The Nebula Mars 3 Air offers good brightness and contrast, rich color, and a 1080p resolution.
• Its internal speaker system delivers good sound. You can also connect an external speaker via Bluetooth.
• The projector automatically focuses and shapes the image so that it’s always optimized for your desired throw distance and angle, no matter where you place it.
• Its Google TV operating system gives you direct access to streaming apps such as those for Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The Mars 3 Air’s shallow tripod socket and ridged underside make it incompatible with some mounts and tripods.
• This model doesn’t have a USB-C port, so you might need an HDMI adapter cable to connect a mobile device.
• The black level, brightness, and color accuracy are lacking in comparison with a traditional home theater projector, so it isn’t an ideal choice for big-screen movie watching or gaming.

You can read more about this projector and others in our full guide to portable mini projectors.

Top pick

BenQ X500i

Best 4K short-throw projector for smaller spaces

This 4K projector casts a larger image from a shorter distance, so it’s good for smaller spaces. As long as the room has light control, this projector’s excellent contrast, color, and detail make it good for all content types.

Buying Options

$1,499 from Amazon

BenQ HT2150ST

Best HD short-throw projector for smaller spaces

This 1080p projector can produce a 100-inch image from less than 5 feet away. But the picture quality isn’t quite as good as that of the X500i.

Buying Options

$1,099 from Walmart

$1,149 from Amazon

In order to create a large image, most projectors need to be positioned far from the screen. This distance is called the throw distance, and it can be anywhere from 8 to 15 feet, depending on the projector and desired image size. Short-throw projectors are convenient for small rooms or other situations where space is limited. Both the 4K BenQ X500i and the 1080p BenQ HT2150ST can sit much closer to the screen than standard projectors.

Why we like them

• Both work in spaces other projectors can’t. The X500i can produce a 4K, 100-inch image from a distance of 5 feet, and the HT2150ST can produce a 1080p, 100-inch image 36 to 43 inches from the screen.
• The X500i is targeted at gamers, with gaming-specific picture modes, a higher refresh rate, and lower input lag. However, its image contrast and bright colors make it suitable for any genre.
• The HT2150ST’s integrated speaker and small size make it easy to store when it’s not being used, and its bright image can work in a room that gets some ambient light.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The short-throw lens of the HT2150ST can cause some fringing artifacts that you might notice.
• The X500i’s lens adjustments are limited. The amount of zoom is just 1.2x, and this model has no vertical or horizontal lens shifting.
• The older HT2150ST has only a 1080p resolution and uses a bulb instead of an LED light source.
• The X500i doesn’t have a powered USB-A port, so if you want to use a different streaming stick than the supplied Android TV dongle, you have to plug it into a power outlet.

You can read more about the BenQ X500i in our 4K projector guide and the BenQ HT2150ST in our guide to the best budget projector for a home theater.

Top pick

Nebula Mars 3

Best outdoor projector

This portable 1080p projector offers the good brightness, long battery life, and convenient features we want in an outdoor projector, but it’s bulkier than we’d prefer.

Buying Options

$900 from Amazon

$1,050 from Walmart

While nearly any projector can work for the occasional backyard movie night, a more rugged and portable model is advisable if you plan to use it outdoors a lot. The Nebula Mars 3 is the brightest portable projector we’ve tested, and while its 1080p resolution doesn’t measure up to a 4K projector (currently there are no battery-powered 4K options) it still provides good contrast and decent accuracy. Its built-in speakers performed admirably, and outdoor-friendly features like weatherproofing make it an ideal option for the perfect backyard movie night.

Why we like it

• The Nebula Mars 3 is built for the outdoors because of its IPX3 weatherproof rating, drop resistance, and built-in LED lantern.
• This projector had the longest battery life out of any other we tested, lasting around 2 hours on 100% brightness and 4 hours and 45 minutes on eco mode (20% brightness).
• The Mars 3’s image contrast and color accuracy are pretty solid, and it supports 3D playback and has MEMC motion smoothing.
• What makes this outdoor projector stand out is its built-in sound system, which produces a full and balanced sound that can fill a large space.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• This projector measures 6.3 by 10.2 by 9.8 inches and weighs 9.9 pounds, so it’s bulkier than most. If you want to mount it, you’ll need a sturdy tripod like the Vanguard Alto Pro 2+.
• The Mars 3 lacks USB video ports, so you’ll want an HDMI adapter cable like this Insignia model.

You can read more about this projector in our guide to the best outdoor projector.

Ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors are often marketed as TV replacements because they can deliver a massive image from a very short distance and have a footprint smaller than any TV. But the truth is, these are still projectors, and expensive ones at that.

We tested four UST projectors at varying prices and performance levels and concluded that the vast majority of people are better off getting either a large TV or a traditional projector. You’ll either get better performance or spend less—oftentimes both. You can read more about this in our piece Is an Ultra-Short-Throw Projector a Good Substitute for a Big-Screen TV?

A great screen

Top pick

Silver Ticket STR Series (White Material, 100-Inch)

Best fixed-frame screen

This inexpensive screen offers performance comparable to that of others costing much more, plus it’s easy to install.

Buying Options

$230 from Amazon

Most modern projectors are bright enough to throw a decent image on just about any close-enough-to-white surface, but you won’t get accurate colors without a proper screen. A screen has less texture than a wall, plus it will add pop to the image, because paint almost always has less gain (that is, it reflects less light) than a screen, meaning the image will appear dimmer than is ideal.

The fixed-frame Silver Ticket STR Series performs as well as screens costing thousands of dollars, and it’s available in a variety of screen sizes. If you prefer an affordable pull-down screen, we recommend the Elite Screens Manual Series. You can read about screen materials and our testing methods in our guide to the best projector screen.

Top pick

Elite Screens Yard Master Plus

The best outdoor screen

This outdoor screen’s rigid frame, highly reflective screen, and adjustable height make it the best choice for creating a movie-like outdoor-theater experience. But it carries a high price.

Buying Options

$331 from Amazon
(100-inch)

$314 from Adorama
(100-inch)

Elite Screens Yard Master 2

The best outdoor screen

If you don’t need an adjustable-height frame or an extra-large screen size, this rigid frame uses the same material as the pricier Yard Master Plus.

Buying Options

Buy from Amazon
(100-inch)

$174 from Wayfair

While projecting an image against an outdoor wall or garage door is an option, a dedicated projector screen like the Elite Screens Yard Master Plus or the Elite Screens Yard Master 2 provides better video quality. Both screens are made from the same ISF-certified material, which did a great job of preserving image brightness and color accuracy in our testing. Assembly for their respective frames is straightforward, using button snaps to attach the screen to the frame.

The Yard Master 2 comes in sizes from 58 to 135 inches diagonally (in a 16:9 shape), while the Yard Master Plus comes in sizes from 100 to 200 inches. In addition, the Plus features an adjustable-height frame.

If you’re interested in an inflatable screen or something even more economical, check out our guide on outdoor projector screens.

A projector mount

Top pick

Peerless-AV PRGS-UNV Projector Mount

A good projector mount

This is the closest thing to the perfect projector mount we’ve used.

Buying Options

$199 from Amazon

$169 from Walmart

If you want to get your projector up and out of the way, you need a mount. The Peerless-AV PRGS-UNV Projector Mount is one of our favorites due to its flexibility and how easy it is to set up correctly. The mounting arms are highly adjustable and removable, so it can handle anything from a tiny DLP projector to the gigantic JVC D-ILA projectors that most mounts cannot fit. The dials let you easily make small adjustments to the projector to get it level with the screen and produce the best-quality image without much work. After years of using this mount and going through dozens of tested projectors, we have yet to find one that the Peerless-AV cannot handle.

Other AV gear

You’ll probably need some speakers, AV sources, and other accessories. Check out our recommendations in “The Best Gear for a Home Theater System.”