Watching movies inside a house is another thing, but watching it in the open while enjoying the climate is a completely different experience. However, our Projectors should emit very bright light to beat the brightness outside. So, how many Lumens for Outdoor Projector is required? In this article, we will figure out How many Lumens you need to use the Projector outdoors, depending on various weather conditions.
If you haven’t already, check out the article on What is Lumens in Projector, where we have also explained the difference between Lumens, ANSI Lumens, White Lumens, and Color Lumens.
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How Many Lumens for Outdoor Projector?
If you are in a hurry, the short answer is: you need at least a 5000 Lumens Projector for using Outdoors, on an 8 feet long screen (approx).
You should never buy Projector based on its specifications. You should choose the Best Projector that is suitable for your environment. We have also differentiated between TV Vs Projector in our previous article. And to be honest, in some cases, it is better to have a TV instead of Projector.
How to Choose an Outdoor Projector?
So, let’s understand How Many Lumens for Outdoor Projector is actually required.
Outdoor Projector Screen Type:
When using an Outdoor Projector, you need a really bright image. For that, you need a better surface to project on. You can even project on a white cloth, but that won’t give you the best experience. While using the Projector Outdoor you should also consider the Wind. The cloth could wave when the wind blows, causing lots of disturbance.
Here we suggest having a fixed frame with a black border. Having a black border will absorb the ambient light. If you don’t have the budget to get a fixed screen, you can get tensioned cloth so that it stays rigid. So, the Outdoor Projector Screen also matters.
There are several Types of Projector Screens available in the market. But, you should choose the one that is suitable for your environment. For instance, you can also get Portable Projector Screens.
Screen Size:
As we said, you can use a 5000 Lumens Projector for 8 Feet Long Screen. However, as the screen size increases, you need more Lumens. So, for 15 Feet, 20 Feet screen, you may need a 7000-10000 Lumens Projector.
Short-Throw or Long Throw:
Another thing you can do is, get a short-throw projector. When you have bright Ambient Light, you should use a Short-Throw Projector or Ultra Short Throw Projector, whether it’s outside or inside.
When you use a long throw projector, the outside light will interfere with the Projection and produce a dull picture. On the other hand, ultra-short-throw Projectors are placed close to the screen, so there isn’t much light interference.
It is not mandatory, but we suggest having an ultra-short-throw projector for outdoor use.
Check out the Difference Between Ultra Short Throw vs Short Throw vs Long Throw Projectors
Type of Content:
Most people do not think about this, but the content type you are using also matters especially when using in an Ambient Environment. If you are Projecting an old video recorded from a digital camera or mobile phone, you need a Projector with more Color Lumens.
On the other hand, projecting animated videos would require fewer Color Lumens. Also, movies with bright colors like Life of Pie, National Geographics Documentaries, etc. require fewer Lumens. But if you wish to watch movies like Batman, Paranormal Activities, etc. you would need more Lumens as the movies are mostly shot during the night.
So, depending on the Content-Type, you should decide whether you need fewer Lumens or More Lumens.
Speakers:
Some Projectors have built-in speakers and some don’t. However, when you are using a Projector for Outdoors, you still need external speakers. Because the sound from the built-in speakers would be low and not audible when used outdoors. So, it is advised to buy a Projector without speakers, and save money, because you should definitely buy speakers for outdoor use.
Time of the Day:
When using a Projector, the time of the day matters a lot. If you are planning to use Projector Outdoors on a sunny day, without any shade, it is a bad idea. The Sun emits around 125000 Lumens of brightness. There is No Projector on earth that can beat the brightness of the Sun. The most expensive Projectors used in Movie Theatres can emit only up to 20000 Lumens.
Therefore, if you are planning to use it in the open sky during the daytime, then you better use a TV setup. However, you can use a Projector if you have enough shade, and the day isn’t sunny. Also, the Lumens of Brightness during Sunset is 400. So, you can plan to use the Projector after the sunset.
You can read a few tips on How to Use a Projector Outside During the Day?
Final Words on Outdoor Projector:
So, if you are using the Projector in the daylight you should get the maximum Lumens as possible, considering your budget. Also, go for an ultra-short-throw projector. Moreover, as I mentioned previously, you can use a Projector in daylight if you have enough shade for the Projector screen.
Here are some of the Best Outdoor Projector Under 300 Dollars, for budget users.
Using the Projector Outside during the night is a better idea. You can have a great experience. Even on a Moonlight night, a 5000 Lumens Projector is more than enough. But, it also depends on the screen size.
So, How Many Lumens for Outdoor Projector depends on the Time of the day, Screen Type, Type of Content, and Ambient Lighting. Therefore, you have to analyze your surroundings before buying a Projector for the best results. And then, you can alter it a little if possible by providing shade to the Projector screen and other methods to make the surroundings in favor of the Projector.