Although televisions are the most common in living rooms, projectors provide an unrivaled cost-to-screen real estate. With a projector, you’ll be able to achieve a 100-inch or larger image depending on how much space you’ve got to work with. For a living room projector, you’ll need higher brightness to combat ambient lighting. Generally, around 2500 to 3000 ANSI lumens (a projector’s measure of light output) is recommended for viewing with ambient lighting. Check out the best projectors for daylight viewing and living room use! Show
Best Projector for Daylight Viewing Overall – BenQ TK850iBenQ’s TK850i is an outstanding 4K projector. It features 3000 ANSI lumens for a bright, vivid image that’s perfect for living room installation. With 98% Rec.709 color coverage, the TK850i features excellent color accuracy. Its 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) 3840 x 2160 4K resolution looks sharp and crisp. And with HDR10 as well as HLG, high dynamic range (HDR) performance is great. There’s lens shift alongside vertical keystone for flexible placement options. Dynamic Iris with a 30000:1 contrast ratio makes for a punchy image with good black levels. Connectivity is great with a pair of HDMI 2.2 ports, two USB hosts, an optical SPDIF TOSlink audio output, analog 3.5mm audio out jack, 12V trigger, and an RS-232 port. Onboard, you’ll find an Android TV dongle for smart streaming capabilities. Alternatively, the TK850 may be found without Android TV. The BenQ TK850i is nearly identical to the HT3550i. However, the HT3550 uses an RGBRGB color wheel and 2000 ANSI lumens of brightness whereas the TK850i utilizes an RGBW color wheel with 3000 ANSI lumens. As such, the HT3550 delivers more accurate colors at the expense of brightness, whereas the TK850i produces a much brighter image making it an excellent projector for living room use. Like all RGBW color wheels, the TK850i’s color wheel lets in more white light to increase the brightness which makes colors somewhat less accurate when compared with true home theatre projectors like the HT3550. Unfortunately, input lag is a bit high at around 70ms. 50ms and below is acceptable for casual gaming, competitive gamers will require 20ms or less. While the TK850i does feature an Android TV dongle, Netflix isn’t available natively. Therefore, I’d suggest using a streaming device such as an Android TV box, Apple TV, Roku, or Fire TV. Still, BenQ has drastically improved color accuracy on the TK850i over its predecessor in the TK800M. The TK850 delivers a bright image with good color reproduction that’s bright enough to withstand ambient lighting. If you don’t need the streaming capabilities, the TK850 non-i arrives without BenQ’s Android TV dongle. Or, if you can control the light in your viewing area more, the color accurate HT3550 or its HT3550i Android TV counterpart are fantastic choices despite the lower brightness. Overall, the BenQ TK850i is the best projector for daylight viewing for most people. Pros:
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Best Bright, Color Accurate Projector for Daytime Viewing – Epson Home Cinema 3800Sporting 3000 ANSI lumens of brightness, the Epson Home Cinema 3800 is an outstanding projector for daytime viewing. Sporting a 1920 x 1080 x 2 resolution as well as a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, the Epson 3800 generates a bright, lifelike image. Although the Epson 3800 does accept a 4K image, its pixel-shifting technology produces a 2K image instead of a 4K picture. Because of its 3LCD technology, the Epson HC 3800 avoids the rainbow effect when compared to DLP projectors. Out-of-the-box picture quality is impressive. Additionally, 10 memory positions allow you to create customized profiles for all of the Epson 3800’s viewing modes to account for different types of content or viewing environments. A slew of image adjustments including wide lens shift and a 1.62x zoom make for flexible placement. Input lag is low at 20.6ms. 3D performance is great with little to no evident crosstalk. 4K UHD HDR and 1080p SDR content look equally gorgeous. Despite its 2K image, the Epson HC 3800 handles 4K videos with aplomb. And with its HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range support, HDR content looks resplendent. The high 3000 lumens of brightness hold up well even with ambient lighting. But the Epson 3800 manages a lovely image thanks to its superb contrast ratio. Since the Home Cinema 3800 features a 1.62x zoom, +/-60% vertical lens shift, and +/-24% horizontal lens shift, it’s easy to set up virtually anywhere. Connectivity is solid with a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports a USB host, dual 10-watt speakers an analog 3.5mm audio output, plus Bluetooth with aptX. Unfortunately, the Epson HC 3800 doesn’t output a 4K image. Instead, it relies on pixel-shifting technology to generate a 2K image. While there is Bluetooth built-in for sending audio to a compatible receiver or speaker, you won’t find any smart streaming capabilities. Nevertheless, the Home Cinema 3800 is a fabulous projector for your living room. The 3000 ANSI lumens are more than enough for bright room viewing, its image quality is top-notch, low input lag makes it versatile for gaming and movies, plus its numerous image adjustment settings simplify installation. You may also consider the Epson Home Cinema 2200 which is a budget 1080p home theatre projector with 2700 ANSI lumens of brightness that punches well above its weight class. If you can live with the 2K image, the Epson 3800 is a great projector for daytime viewing that doesn’t sacrifice image quality at the expense of brightness. Pros:
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Best Bright Room 4K Gaming Projector – Optoma UHD38When it comes to gaming on a projector, you’ll want the lowest input lag possible. Boasting an ultra-low 4.2ms response time at 1080p, a 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 resolution, and whopping 4000 lumens, the Optoma UHD38 is a stupendous bright room 4K gaming projector. With its enhanced gaming mode on, the UHD38 delivers an impressive 240Hz refresh rate and 4.2ms at 1080p, with 16ms of input lag at 4K ultra-HD resolutions. This makes the Optoma UHD38 the best gaming projector for use with PCs or consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. You’ll find HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range and dynamic black technology with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Its 1.1x zoom and ±40° keystone correction make for a flexible installation. An 8-segment color wheel delivers a vivid, realistic image with excellent color reproduction. There’s fabulous connectivity including a pair of HDMI inputs, a VGA input, USB host, SPDIF TOSlink optical audio out, and analog audio output. Unfortunately, the Optoma UHD38’s low lag comes with a catch. The UHD38 can handle 4K UHD @ 60Hz 16.7ms, 1080P @ 60Hz 16.7ms, and 1080P @ 120Hz 8.9ms. While high refresh rate, low lag gaming is possible at 1080p, for low-lag 4K gaming you’re limited to 60Hz. Although this should be fine for most users, competitive gamers may be disappointed. Despite its claim of a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, the UHD38’s contrast isn’t as good as that of high lumens projectors like the Epson HD 3800. Sadly, toggling on its enhanced gaming mode disables all image adjustments. Thus, if you want to achieve the lowest input lag and highest refresh rate possible, you’ll have to position the UHD38 such that you don’t need to use its keystone. But its sharpness does help to compensate for its middling contrast. For gaming and movies, the Optoma UHD38 is a superb projector that offers low-lag, high-refresh rate game play. Alternatively, Optoma’s UHD35 is nearly-identical to its UHD38 older sibling but with a low price tag and 3600 lumens versus 4000. Pros:
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Best Short-throw Home Projector for Living Room Gaming and Movies – BenQ TK700STi The BenQ TK700STi fuses a low input lag with a short-throw making it a projector that’s friendly to smaller rooms. With its 3000 ANSI lumens, the TK700STi’s image holds up even with a decent amount of ambient lighting. You’ll find tons of different image adjustment settings including vertical as well as horizontal keystone, picture rotation capabilities, an Android TV streaming dongle, and smart voice remote. As a short-throw projector, the BenQ TK700STi can produce a 100-inch image from just 6.5 feet away from the screen. Boasting a 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution, the TK700STi manages 4K gaming at 60Hz with a mere 16ms of input lag. This makes it an excellent projector for 4K gaming in a smaller room. While the TK700STi is engineered for low-lag PC and console gaming, movies look fabulous as well. An 8-segment RGBWRGBW color wheel and 96% Rec.709 color coverage alongside HDR10 and HLG support makes for a crisp image. There’s a 10,000:1 contrast ratio for solid black levels. Connectivity is good with a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports, an RS-232 input, USB host, and 3.5mm audio output jack. HDMI port 2 includes ARC (aurio return channel) for piping audio from the projector to a compatible soundbar or receiver, and there’s HDMI-CEC. For smart streaming capabilities, the Android TV dongle offers a great experience that works with Hulu, Disney+, and many other popular Android TV apps. Unfortunately, Netflix doesn’t come pre-installed so you’ll either have to cast, sideload the app, or use another streaming box. Though the TK700STi does pump out 4K 60Hz 16ms gaming, you’ll have to drop down to 1080p for high-refresh rate, low-lag gaming. BenQ’s TK700STi can tackle 4K 30Hz with 33ms of input lag, 1080p 60Hz with 16.67ms of lag, 1080p 120Hz at 8.2ms, and 4ms at 1080p 240Hz in addition to 4K 60Hz 16ms gaming. That should be more than sufficient for most gamers, but serious video game enthusiasts seeking 4K low lag, high refresh rate gaming may be disappointed. Because of its RGBWRGBW color wheel, the TK700STi does prioritize brightness over color accuracy and black levels. While that’s fine for most users, hardcore cinephiles may seek a more color-accurate home cinema projector. The low lag, 4K capabilities, and Pros:
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Best Short-throw Laser Projector for a Bright Room – Optoma GT1090HDR
While the OptomaGT1090HDR accepts a 4K HDR signal and has HDR10 as well as HLG built-in, it’s video output resolution is limited to 1080p. Nevertheless, the picture quality is stunning thanks to its 300,000:1 contrast ratio. Auto keystone and four-corner correction streamline installation and set up. In its enhanced gaming mode, the GT1090HDR delivers a super low 16ms of input lag at up to 120Hz. Throw in an IPX6 dust-resistance rating, and the Optoma GT1090HDR is a fantastic short-throw projector with a long-lasting light source. Unfortunately, the GT1090HDR doesn’t output in 4K, though the high brightness, low-input lag, and high-refresh rate more than compensate. Able to produce a big, bright image, even dark scenes are watchable with the GT1090HDR’s impressive brightness, making it one of the best projectors for a living room. Pros:
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Best UST Bright-room Projector Overall – Epson EpiqVision LS500Epson’s EpiqVision LS500 is an outstanding ultra-short throw (UST) projector. Its 4,000 ANSI lumens of brightness are more than enough for daylight viewing in a living room or game room. Its 4K Pro-UHD capabilities rely on a trio of 1080p LCD imagers which use pixel-shifting technology. As such, the Epson LS500 isn’t a true 4K projector, although its image is gorgeous, and the difference from true 4K isn’t noticeable from a comfortable viewing distance. You’ll find HDR10 and HLG HDR standard support, top-notch tone-mapping, and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio with Dynamic Contrast enabled. Low 16.7ms input lag alongside a full 18Gbps HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 means that the Epson EpiqVision LS500 can handle 4K 60Hz gaming at 16.7ms. Therefore, the LS500 is a superb 4K ultra-short throw gaming projector. HDR and SDR content both look stunning. With its 0.29:1 throw ratio, you’ll need around 15.4 inches of space between the Epson LS500 and the screen to get a 100-inch image. Epson throws in an Android TV dongle which works well enough but lacks the Netflix app. As such, you’ll likely want to use your own streaming device like an NVIDIA Shield TV, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, or Chromecast with Google TV. Despite the ultra-short throw, the LS500 demands more space from the screen than most other available USTs. Nevertheless, the Epson LS500 is a terrific ultra-short throw projector that can easily replace your TV, especially when paired with a proper UST screen. Pros:
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Best Ultra-short Throw Projector for Living Room Lights-on Viewing – ViewSonic LS830Ultra-short throw (UST) projectors can replace your TV. Whereas the average projector requires around eight to 10 feet between the lens and screen to achieve a 100-inch image and a short-throw projector needs around four to six feet of space from the lens to the screen, a UST projector can generate a 100-inch or larger image with only a few inches of space. The ViewSonic LS830 yields 4500 ANSI lumens of brightness. Its 0.23 throw ratio allows you to cast a 100-inch or bigger image from mere inches from the wall. A phosphor light source provides over 20,000 hours of lamp life. There’s a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, horizontal and vertical keystone, plus four-corner adjustment. The 1080p native resolution looks crisp and clear. Disappointingly, the LS830 doesn’t display in 4K. What’s more, the LS830 sacrifices image quality for brightness. Although the picture definitely looks good, it lacks the black levels and contrast of home theatre projectors. But if you need a massive, extremely bright image, the ViewSonic LS830 is a good pick for living room, lights-on watching. Pros:
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Best Budget UST Projector for Daytime Use – Vava 4K ProjectorVava makes a good 4K UST. Outfitted with 2500 ANSI lumens of brightness, Vava’s ultra-short throw projector maintains a bright, vivid image. There’s HDR10 onboard. Its Harman Kardon soundbar provides 60W best-in-class audio quality with lossless DTS-HD and Dolby Audio processing. A 3000:1 contrast ratio delivers good black levels and contrast. It’s easy to set up, produces a big, bright image, and has decent sound to match. HDR and SDR performance are both good. With input lag over 100ms, the Vava 4K UST isn’t ideal for gaming. Out-of-the-box color accuracy isn’t perfect, but with a bit of calibration, the Vava looks excellent. 3D performance is solid and the laser light source produces a crisp, crystal-clear image. Stellar connectivity includes a trip of HDMI ports including one with ARC, a USB host, audio output, AV input, an SPDIF optical TOSLink, and an Ethernet jack. Android 7.1 comes installed directly on the projector. Unfortunately, it’s a touchscreen-optimized version of Android, and you can’t install certain popular apps like Netflix. However, for the price, the Vava 4K is tough to beat. Value-packed and with an absolutely gorgeous image, the Vava 4K is the best ultra-short throw projector for living rooms on a budget. Pros:
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Living Room Projectors – Can a Projector Replace Your TV?Whereas televisions are more common in living rooms, and arguably easier to set up, there’s no denying the price-to-screen size value of a projector. You can easily enjoy a 100-inch or greater image with a projector for much less than the cost of a similarly-sized television. However, unlike a TV, ambient lighting drastically degrades the image of a projector. As such, if you’re using a projector in a setting with lots of ambient lighting like a game room or living room, a brighter projector is best. Additionally, a screen with a higher gain can help combat ambient lighting. Plus, ultra-short throw projectors which sit a few inches from the screen can withstand more ambient light usually since there’s the lens is closer to the screen, and special ambient-light rejecting (ALR) screens pair with UST projectors to reject ambient light while absorbing light from the projector for high-performing, bright images even in a moderately to brightly lit room. What to Look for in a Projector for Daytime Viewing – Top Bright Room Projectors All BudgetsWhen picking out a projector for a living room, there’s a lot to consider. But first and foremost, you’ll want to think about brightness. While it’s a fact that all projectors look better in darker settings, a high brightness projector will be able to withstand ambient lighting. Look for ANSI lumens, which is how projector brightness is measured. For daylight viewing, I recommend at least 1500 ANSI lumens, although 2000 or even 3000 plus ANSI lumens is even better. Brightness: Projector brightness is measured in ANSI lumens. For a bright room, 3000 lumens or higher is usually ideal. However, often a high-brightness projector sacrifices image quality somewhat. That’s because most super bright projectors opt for RGBWRGBW color wheels instead of RGBRGB color wheels, and essentially pipe in more white light to create a brighter overall image. Still, high brightness projectors don’t look bad, and a brighter image can help details to stand out even with lots of ambient lighting. In general, for a living room where you’re going to be battling ambient light, aim for at least 1500-2000 ANSI lumens at a minimum. Input lag: If you’re going to be gaming on your projector, input lag is key. Anywhere under 50ms of input lag is perfectly acceptable for casual gaming, while serious gamers will want less than 20ms of input lag. 100ms or more may still work for some casual gamers, but input lag will be noticeable even to the untrained eye. Frame rate/Refresh rate: While frame rate is measured in frames per second (FPS) and refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz), both are basically the same. So a 120Hz or 240Hz projector can display 120 FPS or 240 FPS respectively. Although gaming requires a low input lag, a high refresh rate is best for gaming. Resolution: Since there’s a ton of 4K content, you’ll probably want a 4K projector. Most projectors under $5,000 USD, though capable of displaying 8.3 million pixels, there’s usually a 1080- chip. The projector then divides that 4K signal into four 1080p images and shifts them such that the viewer perceives a 4K image. 1080p resolutions can still look great though, but I wouldn’t recommend dipping below a native 1080p resolution. HDR support: Resolution is important, but HDR or high dynamic range, makes a major difference. Essentially, HDR expands the range of color as well as contrast ratio for more depth to an image. There are several different HDR standards including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. Connectivity: A projector’s connectivity dictates what you can hook up. Think about what devices such as streaming devices, game consoles, PCs, and other devices that you want to hook up and figure out how many inputs you’ll need. You may also want other features such as ARC or audio return channel for piping audio from your projector back to a compatible receiver or soundbar, a TOSLink optical audio output, USB ports, and any number of other inputs/outputs (I/O). Streaming capabilities: You may want a smart projector with streaming functionality built-in. I typically recommend a separate streaming device like an Android TV box such as the NVIDIA Shield TV or Chromecast with Google TV, an Amazon Fire TV, Roku, or Apple TV. But you can find many smart projectors with Android TV or other operating systems onboard. Image adjustments: There are tons of different image adjustments to consider. Keystone lets you maintain a perfectly rectangular image even when projecting from an angle, and can be vertical or horizontal. Often, keystone is manual, although it can be automatic. Focus is an important image correction feature. Plus, you may value certain video presets and customizations like a game mode, sports mode, cinema preset, or eco-mode. Picture quality: Especially when blown up to over 100-inches, image quality is key. Contrast ratio and black levels will largely dictate image how good a projector’s picture looks. Audio quality: If you’re watching on a big screen, you’ll want a sound big enough to match. As such, I strongly suggest pairing your projector with a decent soundbar or receiver and surround sound system. But for portability, you may want a set of good speakers on your projector. Throw ratio: A projector’s throw ratio dictates how far back from the screen the lens needs to sit in order to achieve a desired image size. Generally, there are three different types of projectors: standard or long-throw projectors, short-throw projectors, and ultra-short throw projectors. The average projector needs around 8 to 10 feet of space between the lens and screen to produce a 100-inch or larger image. A short-throw projector needs anywhere from 4 to 7 feet to cast a 100-inch image. And ultra-short throw projectors require mere inches to produce an over 100-inch image. Projector throw ratio is listed as a number, a colon, then another number. The first number represents distance in feet from the projector lens to the screen, with the number after the color representing one foot of screen real estate. For example, you might find a projector with a 1.5:1 throw ratio. This means that for a 10-foot or 120-inch screen, the projector’s lens needs to be 15-feet back from the screen. The smaller the first number, the closer you can place your projector to the screen while still enjoying a big picture. Cost: Price is a major factor, with cheap sub $300 USD projectors all the way up to projectors costing tens of thousands of dollars. Consider your budget when selecting a projector. What to look for when buying a projector for gaming:
Best Projector for Daylight Viewing – Final ThoughtsAlthough most projectors look far better in a dark room, a high-brightness projector can still work incredibly well in a bright room like a living room or game room. The BenQ TK850i should satisfy most users with its good colors, high brightness, and 4K image. For a 2K image, the Epson 3800 boasts fantastic contrast and black levels. Gamers should seek out the Optoma UHD38, short-throw BenQ TK700STi, Optoma GT1090HDR, or Epson LS500. Vava’s 4K UST projector is a phenomenal value, while the ViewSonic LS830 delivers a super high 4,200 ANSI lumens, albeit in 1080p, not 4K. Tech Up Your Life is reader-supported and a participant in affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. However, all products are thoroughly tested and reviews are honest and unbiased. Learn more. How bright of a projector do I need for daylight?If you need to turn on ambient lighting or if there are bright light sources in the room, a projector with 3,000 lumens or more will display clear images.
Which projector is best for daylight?Best Projector for Daylight Viewing. Best Projector for Daylight Viewing Overall – BenQ TK850i.. Best Bright, Color Accurate Projector for Daytime Viewing – Epson Home Cinema 3800.. Best Bright Room 4K Gaming Projector – Optoma UHD38.. Best Short-throw Home Projector for Living Room Gaming and Movies – BenQ TK700STi.. How do I make my projector brighter in daylight?To maximize your projector's brightness, close your windows and blinds if they are open. Direct sunlight will always take away from the brightness of a projector even at more than 4,000 lumens. Similarly, ensure turn off the lights in the room, especially if they are bright enough to reach the screen.
What lumens projector do I need for daylight?To project in daylight, you need at least a 2500 lumens projector – while the recommended number is 3600 lumens to get a great mixture of brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. Yet, projecting in daylight is simpler said than done.
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Is there a projector bright enough for daylight?
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