Not sure what to choose as the best outdoor projector screen? You have two choices available, you either go with an inflatable, or a standing/hanging screen.
In a hurry? Here’s our top picks…
Handy Hint: My preference is standing screens over inflatables as they don’t require electricity, and tend to offer a better quality image.
The 3 biggest questions you will come across when looking to buy a projector screen is:
- Do I buy a standing projector screen or a inflatable projector screen?
- Do I buy projector screens that can do front and rear projection or just front projection?
- How big of a projector screen can I go?
I will try to attempt to answer those question based on my personal experience.
Do I buy a standing projector screen or a inflatable projector screen?
There are pros and cons to buying either a standing projector screen or inflatable projector screen.
Standing Projector Screen
Pros:
- Higher quality screen material
- No need for electricity. You can set the standing projector screen practically anywhere. This is also good to take camping or places where electricity isn’t readily available.
- Easy to clean
- Tend to last longer due to better quality screen and frame.
Cons:
- As you go higher in size the prices dramatically increase due to the weight and size of the frame of the projector screen. For example a 250″ standing projector screen will cost over $3,000 where as an 250″ inflatable projector screen will cost about $300.
- Setting up and Take down tends to take longer than inflatable screens.
Inflatable Projector Screen
Pros:
- setup is fairly easy. Hook up to the blower, velcro in the screen to the inflated frame and your good to go. There are some inflatable projector that have the screens permanently attached to the frame so all you need to do is inflate.
- You can easily get a bigger screen without breaking the bank. Bigger screens are a lot cheaper than standing projector screen of the same size.
- Take down and putting it away is very easy.
Cons:
- Lower quality screen material
- You will need electricity.
- Cannot use it in windy situation as the screen will sway back and forth making it really annoy to enjoy the movie.
- The blower will make noise if you don’t have a decent speaker. During movie scenes where there are silence you can hear the blower humming.
- You will always need to tether the inflatable projector screen to the ground to avoid it tipping over. Inflatable projector screens are not stable and will tip forward with the slightest breeze.
- Because you have to tether the inflatable screen to the ground means its harder to set it up on pavements or concrete, you’ll need to somehow weight it down instead of using the tent pegs to hammer it in the ground.
- Because of the blower, you have to be weary of rain and moisture. Leaving it out overnight is not recommended as either the blower can be damaged or the screen and frame getting mold.
- May develop leak and you will need to patch it up.
For me personally I have both. I have the 120″ standing projector screen which I use at locations that don’t have electricity readily available. I like this as they also have a better quality movie image.
And for the wow factor, I have the 25 feet inflatable projector screen that I use mostly for weekend movie night.
So it comes down to smaller standing screen size but higher quality movie viewing or Bigger inflatable size screen with okay viewing experience but definitely a wow factor as it is a bigger screen.
If you use the 120″ standing projector screen you’ll get comments on how clear the image is. If you use the 25 feet inflatable projector screen you’ll get comments on how massive the movies are.
The overall consensus of guest from years of doing outdoor movies is bigger is better. They prefer the inflatable movie screen due to the size.
Do I buy projector screens that can do front and rear projection or just front projection?
I would recommend buying a front projector screen as most backyards don’t have the space for a rear projector. Here are the Pros and Cons of front/rear projector screens and just front projector screen.
How big of a projector screen can I go?
I would go as big as your projector would allow it. It will definitely feel like your in an outdoor movie setting. When you do decide to ad 3D movies, you’ll be glad you got a bigger screen. I originally started with 100″ screen, then moved to 120″ to 150″ to 180″ to finally settling on 240″ size screen.
Be aware that If you have those cheap made in China projectors, as you the image get bigger on the screen, the image will become blurry. You don’t have to worry if you bought name brand projectors.