The formula: throw ratio × image width
The throw ratio tells you how much distance the projector needs for every metre of image width. On zoom models the ratio is a range, so the projector can sit anywhere between the minimum and the maximum distance. The calculator starts from your screen, works out the image width and keeps only the models that fill the screen from where you can mount the unit.
Throw distance for a 100-inch screen, by model
All 76 Optoma models in the shop, from the shortest distance to the longest.
| Model | Throw ratio | Distance for 100" (16:9) | Brightness | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optoma Photon Go | 0.18:1 | 0.40 m | 1,200 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZU500USTe | 0.25:1 | 0.55 m | 5,000 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma ZK420UST | 0.25:1 | 0.55 m | 4,200 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma GT3500HDR | 0.25:1 | 0.56 m | 3,800 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZH430UST | 0.25:1 | 0.56 m | 4,000 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZU600UST-B | 0.25:1 | 0.56 m | 6,000 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma ZW410UST | 0.27:1 | 0.59 m | 4,000 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma LH351ST | 0.46:1 | 1.02 m | 3,300 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma LW351ST | 0.49:1 | 1.08 m | 3,500 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma UHZ36STe | 0.50:1 | 1.10 m | 4,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma PK53ST | 0.50:1 | 1.10 m | 3,800 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma GT2100HDR | 0.50:1 | 1.10 m | 4,200 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZH451ST | 0.50:1 | 1.10 m | 4,200 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZK431ST | 0.50:1 | 1.10 m | 3,900 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZW350ST | 0.52:1 | 1.15 m | 3,360 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma ZU507TST | 0.58:1 | 1.28 m | 5,000 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma ZU607TST | 0.58:1 | 1.28 m | 6,000 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma ZK608TST | 0.58:1 | 1.28 m | 6,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma X309ST | 0.62:1 | 1.37 m | 3,700 lm | XGA |
| Optoma ZK810TST | 0.65 – 0.75:1 | 1.44 – 1.66 m | 8,600 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZU920TST | 0.65 – 0.75:1 | 1.44 – 1.66 m | 9,800 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma PH32ST | 0.69 – 0.83:1 | 1.53 – 1.84 m | 3,100 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma GT2200HDR | 0.69 – 0.83:1 | 1.53 – 1.84 m | 3,300 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZU820TST | 0.75 – 0.95:1 | 1.66 – 2.10 m | 8,200 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma ML1080ST | 0.78:1 | 1.73 m | 1,200 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZH521ST | 0.79:1 | 1.75 m | 5,300 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZK521ST | 0.79:1 | 1.75 m | 5,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ML1050STi | 0.80:1 | 1.77 m | 1,000 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma PK32 | 1.12 – 1.46:1 | 2.48 – 3.23 m | 2,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZH420 | 1.12 – 1.47:1 | 2.48 – 3.25 m | 4,300 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma HZ151X | 1.13 – 1.47:1 | 2.50 – 3.25 m | 5,000 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZH521 | 1.13 – 1.47:1 | 2.50 – 3.25 m | 5,500 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ML1080 | 1.20:1 | 2.66 m | 1,200 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZU550 | 1.20 – 2.04:1 | 2.66 – 4.52 m | 5,700 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma ZU602 | 1.20 – 2.04:1 | 2.66 – 4.52 m | 6,200 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma ZU607T | 1.20 – 1.92:1 | 2.66 – 4.25 m | 6,500 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma ZU707T | 1.20 – 1.92:1 | 2.66 – 4.25 m | 7,000 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma UHZ68LV | 1.20 – 1.92:1 | 2.66 – 4.25 m | 5,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma UHZ68LV-W | 1.20 – 1.92:1 | 2.66 – 4.25 m | 5,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZK708T | 1.20 – 1.92:1 | 2.66 – 4.25 m | 7,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZK508 | 1.20 – 1.92:1 | 2.66 – 4.25 m | 5,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma PK52 | 1.21 – 1.59:1 | 2.68 – 3.52 m | 3,500 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma UZ38x | 1.21 – 1.59:1 | 2.68 – 3.52 m | 3,800 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZU820T | 1.25 – 2.00:1 | 2.77 – 4.43 m | 8,800 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma UHZ78LV | 1.25 – 2.00:1 | 2.77 – 4.43 m | 5,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZU920T | 1.25 – 2.00:1 | 2.77 – 4.43 m | 9,800 lm | WUXGA |
| Optoma ZK810T | 1.26 – 2.00:1 | 2.79 – 4.43 m | 8,600 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZH451 | 1.40 – 2.24:1 | 3.10 – 4.96 m | 4,600 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma UHZ67 White | 1.40 – 2.24:1 | 3.10 – 4.96 m | 4,300 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma UHZ67 Black | 1.40 – 2.24:1 | 3.10 – 4.96 m | 4,300 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZK450 | 1.40 – 2.24:1 | 3.10 – 4.96 m | 4,200 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZK451 | 1.40 – 2.24:1 | 3.10 – 4.96 m | 4,500 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma PK53 | 1.40 – 2.24:1 | 3.10 – 4.96 m | 4,100 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZH551 | 1.40 – 2.24:1 | 3.10 – 4.96 m | 5,500 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma UHZ58LV | 1.40 – 2.24:1 | 3.10 – 4.96 m | 3,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZK551 | 1.40 – 2.24:1 | 3.10 – 4.96 m | 5,100 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ZH331-W | 1.48 – 1.62:1 | 3.28 – 3.59 m | 3,000 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma HZ137X | 1.48 – 1.62:1 | 3.28 – 3.59 m | 3,000 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma PH52 | 1.48 – 1.62:1 | 3.28 – 3.59 m | 3,800 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma HZ147X | 1.48 – 1.62:1 | 3.28 – 3.59 m | 4,000 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma HZ41HDR | 1.48 – 1.62:1 | 3.28 – 3.59 m | 4,400 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZH361 | 1.48 – 1.62:1 | 3.28 – 3.59 m | 4,000 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma ZH401e | 1.48 – 1.62:1 | 3.28 – 3.59 m | 4,600 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma LH351 | 1.49 – 1.64:1 | 3.30 – 3.63 m | 3,500 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma PH31 | 1.50 – 1.65:1 | 3.32 – 3.65 m | 2,700 lm | Full HD |
| Optoma PK31 | 1.50 – 1.65:1 | 3.32 – 3.65 m | 1,600 lm | 4K UHD |
| Optoma ML750i | 1.50:1 | 3.32 m | 700 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma ZW331 | 1.54 – 1.72:1 | 3.41 – 3.81 m | 3,000 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma ZW340e | 1.54 – 1.72:1 | 3.41 – 3.81 m | 3,600 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma ZW351e | 1.54 – 1.72:1 | 3.41 – 3.81 m | 4,000 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma ZW350e | 1.54 – 1.72:1 | 3.41 – 3.81 m | 4,000 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma GT500XR | 1.55 – 1.73:1 | 3.43 – 3.83 m | 4,000 lm | XGA |
| Optoma W371 | 1.55 – 1.73:1 | 3.43 – 3.83 m | 3,800 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma W400LVe | 1.55 – 1.73:1 | 3.43 – 3.83 m | 4,000 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma H190X | 1.55 – 1.73:1 | 3.43 – 3.83 m | 3,900 lm | WXGA |
| Optoma LW341 | 1.55 – 1.71:1 | 3.43 – 3.79 m | 3,700 lm | WXGA |
Frequently asked questions
How is throw distance calculated?
Throw distance = throw ratio × image width. A projector with a 1.5:1 ratio needs 1.5 m of distance for every metre of image width; for a 100-inch 16:9 screen (2.21 m wide) that is about 3.3 m.
How far should the projector be for a 100-inch screen?
It depends on the lens. A standard model (1.5:1) sits about 3.3 m away, a short-throw model (0.5:1) about 1.1 m, and an ultra-short-throw model (0.25:1) about 55 cm from the screen. The table on this page lists the distance for every Optoma model.
What do short throw and ultra short throw mean?
Short throw means a throw ratio below roughly 1:1: the projector sits close to the screen and the presenter no longer casts a shadow on the image. Ultra short throw (below roughly 0.4:1) mounts right above or below the screen, a few dozen centimetres away.
How many lumens do I need?
It depends on image size and room light. The calculator uses indicative values: about 350 lumens per square metre of image in the dark, 650 in dimmed light and 1,000 in a lit room. A 100-inch screen in a lit meeting room comes to around 2,800 lumens.
How accurate is the calculation?
It is a good estimate for choosing a model. Throw ratio has a manufacturing tolerance of a few percent, and ultra-short-throw models measure distance differently from one model to another. Before mounting, check the exact position in the manual of the model you choose, or ask us to confirm.