Projectors are a great way to enjoy all your favorite movies, TV shows, and games at home. But if you don’t have enough room to provide the projector to do its job, then you won’t be able to make much use of it. However, with the best short throw projectors, you can build a complete home theater even in small spaces.
Short throw projectors have the capacity to project large images from close distances, making it ideal for small spaces like dorm rooms and studio apartments. You can even get your hands on ultra-short throw projectors that can project images as big as 100 inches from as little distance as 5 feet. These projectors don’t just, you know, project images — they also have built-in speakers and a lot of other advanced technologies that, in some cases, offer experiences better than a TV — this is nothing “short” of a technological marvel.
In this article, we’re going to talk about the best short throw projectors in the USA that were recommended by experts and are sure to bring a lot of value to the money you’ll be spending.
Are Short Throw Projectors Worth It?
Absolutely! Short throw projectors make a great entertainment companion for anyone who lives in a small space, traveling, or just prefers to save space by getting compact devices — they are compact and portable. Despite their build size, these devices still deliver stunning images with high resolution that rivals that of high-end TVs, but of course, there are different price ranges that you’ll have to choose from. Some of the short throw projectors are even integrated with built-in speakers, which eliminates the need for external speakers, saving even more space than you initially imagined. So, if these are a few things that you think you can benefit from, then you should definitely get one.
Best Short Throw Projectors in 2025
BEST OVERALL
AWOL Vision LTV-2500
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
3D support
4K image resolution
Triple Laser projection
Dedicated Game Mode
DTS:X and Dolby Atmos
HDR10 support and Dolby Vision
But…
Expensive
The AWOL Vision LTV-2500 is a high-end projector that may need you to dig deep into your pocket, but the features you get for it are worth it. It uses the Triple Laser projection technology and delivers an impressive 4K image that you can’t get enough of. With the support of Dolby Vision and HDR10, the colors produced are absolutely stunning! It has a contrast ratio of 2500:1 and supports over a billion colors, ensuring there is no color that you’re missing from the images. To complement the image quality, the projector is also integrated with Dolby Atmos, making it a complete package for the ultimate movie-watching experience at home. On top of that, it is not only a UST (Ultra-Short Throw) projector but also acts as the center channel when paired with the ThunderBeat 4.2.2 surround sound system.
BEST 4K
Hisense Laser Cinema PX3-PRO
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
3D ready
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
4K AI upscaling
IMAX Enhanced
High contrast ratio
But…
Harmon Kardon Speakers
The Hisense Laser Cinema PX3-PRO is what you get when you want the best and high-end projector for your home. It is designed purely to deliver a theater-like experience at home. PX3-PRO uses Triple Laser technology to project 4K images of the highest quality you need for the complete experience. It has a 3000:1 native contrast ratio for accurate color recreation. For all IMAX enthusiasts, it also has an IMAX Enhanced feature that lets you enjoy movies like Interstellar and The Dark Knight in all its glory. And with the inclusion of Dolby Atmos, it is a projector that is worth every penny you pay for.
BEST PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
4K support
Great design
Sound by Yamaha
Built-in Chromecast
2-year limited warranty
3600 lumens peak brightness
But…
No Netflix support
With 3600 lumens of peak brightness, the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 is one of the brightest short throw projectors out there. The image projection can be up to 120 inches in a full-HD 1080p resolution with 4K support. What it means it takes in 4K resolution input but translates it into a 1080p image without ever compromising on the quality. It also features Laser Array technology to achieve high brightness and deep black colors. To complement all of this, it has a 2.1 audio system with Dolby Audio support that makes watching movies extremely enjoyable. And with Epson’s brand attached to it, there is zero doubt that this is one of the best ultra-short throw projectors.
BEST MID-RANGE
Optoma GT3500HDR Projector
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
4K support
Compact build
Built-in speakers
Low latency for gaming
100-inch image projection
Up to 30,000 hours of lamp life
But…
Flimsy packaging
The Optoma GT3500HDR is a great mid-range projector for small home entertainment setups. It has a great 1080p output with a 100-inch projection size that allows you to enjoy pretty much everything from movies to games. It has plenty of connectivity options so that you can connect different devices for different needs. You can connect your gaming console and enjoy the benefits of 8ms response time and 120Hz refresh rate for a lag-free gaming experience. And with its 15W built-in speakers, you don’t have to worry about buying an external speaker if you’re out of budget. So bring home this Optoma short throw projector and enjoy movies the way you want.
BEST FOR GAMING
BenQ TK700STi 4K HDR Gaming Projector
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Low latency
Sleek design
Audio equalizer
Console compatibility
Dedicated Game Mode
But…
Occasional heating issues
BenQ is a name known for high-quality gaming products and the BenQ TK700STi is built with the same intention. It has gaming-friendly features like a dedicated Game Mode, low latency, and console compatibility. It delivers a 16ms response time when projecting in 4K 60Hz and 4.16ms at 1080p 240Hz. And when you’re not gaming, you can utilize the integrated GoogleTV features to stream movies and shows from your favorite app that you can download from the built-in Google Play app. You can enjoy all these on its 100-inch projection from just 8 feet of distance on any surface — all images are automatically adjusted according to the surface owing to its 2D keystone feature.
BEST BUDGET
BenQ TH671ST 1080p Projector
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Affordable
Low input lag
HDR10 and HLG
3-year limited warranty
100-inch projection from 5 feet
3000 lumens of peak brightness
But…
Low durability
Cramped space and cramped budget? No worries! The BenQ TH671ST has an affordable price tag with some amazing features that offer great value for your money. Unlike the previous BenQ projector, this one has a 1080p resolution with beautiful color recreation that keeps you hooked on the movies and games you’re playing. Additionally, it also supports HDR10 and HLG formats to deliver crisp and clear images. You won’t have to set up the projector too far — even from a distance of just 5 feet, it can project images of up to 100 inches.
BEST LARGE IMAGE PROJECTION
WEMAX Nova 4K UHD Laser TV Projector
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
4 projection sizes
150-inch 4K images
Android TV integration
8-point keystone correction
ALPD 3.0 and TI DLP support
Dolby Audio DTS HD speakers
But…
Not ideal for brightly-lit rooms
The WEMAX Nova 4K is a high-quality projector that can deliver sharp and clear 4K images of up to 150 inches on any surface. It features industry-leading patented technologies ALPD 3.0 and TI DLP that make the images look bright and vibrant for a life-like quality. And with the inclusion of 30W Dolby Audio DTS HD speakers, you get to experience a complete immersive movie-watching experience at home! You can either stream from external devices that can be connected via HDMI ports or just browse through your favorite apps with its Android TV integration. All of this is smartly designed and integrated into its simple and sleek design that blends into any modern setup.
What Are the Disadvantages of Short Throw Projectors?
Despite their many functionality advantages, here are a few disadvantages that you should know about before buying them.
- Cost: Short throw projectors can tend to be more expensive than traditional projectors as they use more advanced technology and parts, which are pricey to begin with.
- Flexibility: Just like regular projectors, the image quality can be compromised if it is not placed at a particular distance. Too close or too far will cause image distortion.
- Screen Size: Given their design, there is a limit to the image size that they can project. The average projection size for short throw projectors is 100-120 inches.
- Noise: Some short throw projectors, especially the more compact models, might have fans that are relatively noisy.
How We Chose the Best Short Throw Projectors
These projectors were chosen by our in-house experts who have spent years researching and testing different kinds of home entertainment products. For this list, they began by researching the various short throw projectors in the market and tested them for various factors like image quality, projection distance, speaker clarity, and so much more. Additionally, they even contacted other industry professionals to understand their perspectives and experience with these devices. After thorough testing and research, the team finalized the above-mentioned projectors.
FAQ
What is the lifespan of a short throw projector?
The lifespan depends on the usage of the projector, but with an average use of a 3-4 hours every day, it could last anywhere from 8-12 years.
What is the best projector to buy?
The AWOL Vision LTV-2500 is one of the best projectors you could get be it a short throw projector or otherwise.
Why are ultra-short throw projectors so expensive?
Ultra-short throw projectors are expensive due to advanced and expensive parts, compact design, and higher production costs.
