How to mount a projector on the wall

After you’ve selected a projector for your home cinema, business meetings, gaming, or other needs, you’ll need to figure out the best placement for it in your home. You want to ensure that the projector is in a comfortable position for you and that the projected image is clear.

Using the projector with a mount carries many benefits. In our guide below, we will delve into those benefits and the related details. So, without further ado, let’s begin!

Benefits of mounting a projector on a wall

By mounting your projector, not only do you save on the available space in your room, but you also get the perfect viewing position. There are an array of other benefits as well, including;

•  Improved decor – projector mounts happen to be more fashionable than a simple, plain table. So, the decor quality of your room is greatly enhanced.
• Readily available mounts – projector mounts are easy to obtain. So, you can get the one that you desire online or from a nearby store.
• Perfect viewing position – a mounted projector offers a perfect viewing position so you can stream content without any shadow distractions.
• Ventilation – In normal scenarios, there is not enough distance between the projector’s vent and the table it sits on to allow the heat to escape. This results in functionality problems. A mount rectifies that by providing enough room to the projector’s vent, making sure that heat is not trapped within the device.
• Ideal Image positioning – projector mounts place the image at a level that is comfortable for the eyes as opposed to a projector placed on a table, whose image level depends upon the height of the table.
• Closer proximity between the projector and the screen – a projector mount, like a ceiling mount, can be placed much closer to the screen than a table. Besides preventing possible objects that may hinder vision, it also helps you to enjoy the optimal brightness of the device.
  

Different ways of mounting a projector on a wall

When it comes to mounting a projector on a wall, there are several ways that it can be achieved, such as ceiling mount, projector lift, and shelving. Here is a complete rundown of all the most used ways:

Ceiling mount

A ceiling mount secures your projector to the ceiling, thereby providing a sturdy solution to your projector mounting issues.

It is worth mentioning that if you get an approved ceiling mount from a projector manufacturer, it will provide many adjustment modes to get your projector in exactly the right position so that it can display a good picture on your projector screen.

Wall-mounted projector bracket

A wall-mounted projector bracket – as its name suggests – attaches your projector to the wall.

Projector lift

A projector lift allows you to mount your projector in a containment which then retracts and conceals in the ceiling. What makes this method of mounting stand out is the fact that it hides away the projector until needed.

You should resort to a projector lift if you intend to turn your living room into a home cinema as you can hide away your projector at the touch of a button.

Shelving

Creating a shelf for your projector to sit on is the cheapest and simplest option to mount a projector on a wall.

However, you will need to ensure that the shelf is strong and sturdy as the latest projectors in the market can have serious weight.

Step-by-step process to mount a projector

Regardless of the typet of mount you choose, follow the steps below to put your projector in the desired place.

1.       Choose an appropriate mount for your projector – ceiling mount, wall-mounted projector bracket, projector lift, or shelf.
2.       Attach the mount to the projector, following the instructions on the mount kit and the projector. Once attached, ensure that the mounting plate is level with the projector.
3.       Using a measuring tape, determine the distance between the centre of the mount and the front of the projector’s lens. Add this distance to your throw distance (explained ahead) – this will give you the new value of throw distance.
4.       Secure the projector in place according to the throw distance obtained in the previous step.
5.       Finally, follow the instructions in your projector’s manual and attach the required cables to the projector.
   

What to consider before mounting a projector on a wall

Before mounting a projector on a wall, make sure that you have an understanding of parameters, like screen size, throw distance, and projector placement.

Screen size, height and placement

Firstly, screen size is basically the height and width on which you wish to project the images from your projector. If you are unsure as to what screen size you should get, something close to a 100-inch screen would be your safest bet.

Next, screen height depends on the layout of your room. In typical circumstances, a height between 24 and 36 inches from the ground level would be appropriate. If there are multiple rows in your room, you would want the height to be at the higher end of the range so that people who aren’t in the front row can still properly see the image you are displaying on the screen.

Finally, for the screen placement, choose a wall that has no direct light, as the light on the screen will make the image look washed out. If you must choose a wall with direct light, try opting for an ambient light rejecting projector screen or blackout window curtains.

Understand throw distance

Throw distance is the distance between the screen and your projector’s lenses. You can calculate it using the throw ratio mentioned in the instruction manual of your projector. Use the formulae: throw ratio x screen width = throw distance and calculate the desired throw distance.

Projector placement

After having determined your projector’s throw distance, it is now time to place the device at the right spot.

For that, you need to find out your projector’s vertical offset. The vertical offset of a projector refers to how high or low it needs to be in order for the image to project at the proper screen height. A positive offset means that the image will project higher than the lens, while a negative offset means the image will project lower.

So, adjust the vertical offset accordingly to see where the projector works best before mounting it.

Having done that, you now need to evaluate your room and decide where it makes the most sense to mount the projector. Meanwhile, keep the following things in mind:

•         If your projector is too loud, don’t have it hanging above your head.
•         Within the throw distance range, you will obtain images of varying quality. So, test out the projector at different distances within the throw distance range to find the optimal one for your device.
•         Make sure your projector is placed such that you can easily plug in the HDMI and power cables.
  

Summary

If you use your projector with a mount, you get a range of perks, the most important of which are ideal image positioning, saved space, improved decor, and perfect viewing position.

Anyhow, no matter which type of mount you opt for – be it shelving or ceiling mount – make sure that you take into account the projector’s screen size, its height, the throw distance, and the projector’s placement.