Guide to buying the best projector for your home

The best projector for home: What to consider

As you look into selecting the best projector for your home, we’ll take you through all the key elements you need to consider, including:

• Resolution

• Brightness

• Portability

• Price range

• Screen size

Epson offers a variety of projectors suited for different home projection needs, from high-definition home theatre setups, through to portable options ideal for much smaller spaces or taking away with you on holiday.

Projector resolution: Full HD or 4K?

Resolution is a key factor in picture quality. In simple terms, the higher the resolution, the sharper the image you’re likely to enjoy. The main projector options to consider when selecting your resolution are:

• Full HD: A great choice for budget-conscious buyers, HD projectors provide clear visuals for movies and gaming.

• 4K projectors: Delivering ultra-high-definition clarity ideal for large screens, 4K projectors offer an excellent home cinematic experience.

4K projectors: Crisp, ultra-HD viewing

If you want a premium cinema experience at home, choosing the best 4K projector offers unmatched detail and vibrant colours. Epson’s 4K Pro-UHD technology enhances sharpness and contrast, ensuring a true-to-life image quality.

Whether you want to bring the big screen cinema feel into your living room, or feel like you’re on the front row of a major sporting event, the quality of 4K projection is an ideal route to a truly immersive experience.

Projector brightness: How many lumens do you need?

Projector brightness is measured in lumens. Selecting the right brightness for your viewing needs will depend largely on your viewing environment:

• 500-1,500 lumens: the sweet spot for portable projectors used indoors or in controlled lighting.

• 1,500-2,500 lumens: This level of brightness is ideal for anyone looking to project in dark, dedicated home theatres.

• 2,500-3,500 lumens: This level of brightness is the right option for those looking to project in living rooms with some ambient light.

• 3,500+ lumens: This higher level of brightness is the perfect choice for anyone needing to project in bright rooms or looking to enjoy outdoor projection.

Projector light source: Laser or LED?

When it comes to selecting your projector light source, you have two main options, each with their own strengths:

• LED projectors: This choice is ideal for those prioritising portability and ease of use.

• Laser projectors: This choice can provide superior brightness, colour accuracy, and longevity. See our range of laser projectors.

Laser projectors: Long-lasting and high performance

For the latest in projection technology, selecting the best laser projector option can provide exceptional brightness, colour accuracy, and durability.

Laser projectors also tend to have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance than traditional lamp-based projectors, making them a more sustainable option.

LED projectors: Portability and efficiency

LED projectors can offer a compact and lightweight design. Because LED light sources produce significantly less heat than traditional lamps, they provide smaller, quieter units that are easy to transport and run.

Another strength is their speed and efficiency, with many LED projectors able to start up and shut down almost instantly, eliminating the warm-up and cool-down periods associated with traditional lamp systems. This again adds an extra level of convenience if you want to enjoy your home theatre setup in different areas of the home or garden.

Projector sound: a truly immersive soundscape

While the visual element of a projector is often focused on, if you’re looking to create a truly home cinema experience, you’ll want your audio offer equally high standards. With an Epson projector, there are two main routes to an ideal soundscape:

• Built-in speakers: A number of the Epson home projector range include built‑in speakers, range from a mono speaker, to stereo speakers, to integrated Dolby‑Audio speakers.

• Sound by Bose collaboration with Epson home Projectors: Co-engineered by Bose and Epson, the custom-designed Sound by Bose systems deliver audio performance that you can feel, delivering rich, balanced sound that pulls everyone into all the action.

Projector portability: Projection on the move

For those who value flexibility above all, finding the best portable projector for your home could be a great choice. These portable projector models are lightweight, easy to set up, and perfect for small apartments, frequent travellers, or those looking to set up impromptu movie nights with friends or family.

The mini projector: Small but mighty

Choosing the best mini projector could provide the perfect fit for bedroom setups or limited living room spaces. These compact models can still offer impressive brightness and resolution as well as immersive sound, making them a great choice for casual viewing in a smaller room.

Pocket and handheld projectors: Entertainment on the go

For the ultimate in projector portability, consider find the best pocket projector or best handheld projector for your needs. These ultra-compact devices will allow for easy, on-the-go projection without sacrificing image quality.

These are ideal for the film buff or gamer on the move, easy to slip into a larger pocket or a backpack and take with you wherever you need to be entertained.

Projector screen size: The ideal dimensions

The ideal projector screen size should be proportional to the room size and seating arrangement. A general rule of thumb is to ensure that the screen fills about 30% to 50% of your field of view from the primary seating area.

• Small rooms such as living rooms should have a screen size around 50” - 100” with an ideal viewing distance of 1.5m - 3m.

• Medium-sized rooms such a standard home theatre should have a screen size around 100” - 150” with an ideal viewing distance of 3m – 5m.

• Large home theatres should have a screen size around 150” - 300” with an ideal viewing distance of 5m – 10m.

For more detail, you can visit our guide to all things projector display size.

Projector throw distance: Know your space

Equally important as knowing the right screen size for your space, is knowing the ideal projector to fit within your space. Your three main choices are:

• Standard throw: Standard throw projectors require several metres of distance between the projector and the screen, making them best suited to bigger rooms where the projector can be mounted on the ceiling or placed at the back of the room.

• Short throw: Short throw projectors can create large images from a much shorter distance—typically around 1 to 2 metres from the screen, allowing them to be placed on a low table or shelf closer to the wall. This is ideal for medium-sized rooms or where space behind the seating area is limited.

• Ultra short throw: Ultra short throw projectors can project a large, crisp image even while sitting just centimetres from a wall or screen. This makes them perfect for even the smallest of home theatres.

For more details, you can view our projector throw distance calculator.

Projector prices: Finding the right fit for your budget

Epson offers projectors across a variety of different price points:

• Budget-friendly models: These are ideal for casual users who want a quality projector at an affordable price. Many of our HD home movie projectors are in the £400-800 range.

• Portable projectors: Offering enhanced resolution, brightness, and features in a smaller and more portable model, these options are £500 to £1,500.

• Premium models: Delivering 4K resolution or laser technology, with superior image quality for a truly immersive home cinema setup, these models come at a range of price points from £2,000 to £6,000.

We will often provide a number of different options within each price point, offering slightly different features in terms of resolution, brightness, portability and more, so it is worth looking at several possibilities and our specific descriptions for each.

Projector smart features: A new level of innovation

• Built-in apps: Many of our home theatre projectors come preloaded with popular streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video. This allows users to access content directly from the projector without needing a separate media player, delivering a true smart entertainment experience.

• Voice control: Epson smart projectors often include Google Assistant integration, enabling users to seamlessly control playback, search for content, or adjust settings using voice commands. With the remote’s built-in microphone, viewers can simply speak to navigate their projector hands-free.

• Smart TV functionality: The power of Android TV and Google TV can transform Epson projectors into full smart TV systems. Users can download apps, cast content from mobile devices via Chromecast, and enjoy a familiar interface that mirrors the experience of modern smart TVs, all without external devices.

The home movie projector: An immersive cinema experience

For a truly cinematic setup, hopefully it is becoming clear that your best home movie theatre projector option would be one that brings together these key qualities of high resolution, strong brightness, and excellent contrast.

Many consumers find their ideal home movie projector from within our range of high-performance models with superior image processing, ensuring a professional-quality home theatre experience that can be enjoyed time and time again.

For others, particularly who want the home cinema experience in a tight space, finding the best mini projector for a bedroom or smaller living is a fantastic option. These models are easy to set up and allow you to enjoy movies or shows without a bulky TV.

Whether you’re looking for a high-end 4K projector, a best portable projector, or a best laser projector, Epson offers a wide range of options to suit your needs. Explore our full selection of projectors for home and elevate your viewing experience today!