The Best Projectors for 2025

A great screen

Top pick

This inexpensive screen offers performance comparable to that of others costing much more, plus it’s easy to install.

Most modern projectors are bright enough to throw a decent image on just about any close-enough-to-white surface, but you won’t get accurate colors without a proper screen. A screen has less texture than a wall, plus it will add pop to the image, because paint almost always has less gain (that is, it reflects less light) than a screen, meaning the image will appear dimmer than is ideal.

The fixed-frame Silver Ticket STR Series performs as well as screens costing thousands of dollars, and it’s available in a variety of screen sizes. If you prefer an affordable pull-down screen, we recommend the Elite Screens Manual Series. You can read about screen materials and our testing methods in our guide to the best projector screen.

Top pick

This outdoor screen’s rigid frame, highly reflective screen, and adjustable height make it the best choice for creating a movie-like outdoor-theater experience. But it carries a high price.

If you don’t need an adjustable-height frame or an extra-large screen size, this rigid frame uses the same material as the pricier Yard Master Plus.

While projecting an image against an outdoor wall or garage door is an option, a dedicated projector screen like the Elite Screens Yard Master Plus or the Elite Screens Yard Master 2 provides better video quality. Both screens are made from the same ISF-certified material, which did a great job of preserving image brightness and color accuracy in our testing. Assembly for their respective frames is straightforward, using button snaps to attach the screen to the frame.

The Yard Master 2 comes in sizes from 58 to 135 inches diagonally (in a 16:9 shape), while the Yard Master Plus comes in sizes from 100 to 200 inches. In addition, the Plus features an adjustable-height frame.

If you’re interested in an inflatable screen or something even more economical, check out our guide on outdoor projector screens.

A projector mount

Top pick

This is the closest thing to the perfect projector mount we’ve used.

If you want to get your projector up and out of the way, you need a mount. The Peerless-AV PRGS-UNV Projector Mount is one of our favorites due to its flexibility and how easy it is to set up correctly. The mounting arms are highly adjustable and removable, so it can handle anything from a tiny DLP projector to the gigantic JVC D-ILA projectors that most mounts cannot fit. The dials let you easily make small adjustments to the projector to get it level with the screen and produce the best-quality image without much work. After years of using this mount and going through dozens of tested projectors, we have yet to find one that the Peerless-AV cannot handle.

Other AV gear

You’ll probably need some speakers, AV sources, and other accessories. Check out our recommendations in “The Best Gear for a Home Theater System.”