Yearn to watch movies in the backyard—whether bundled up with the patio heater turned on, or enjoying balmy evening temps in spring or summer? It's easier than you might think. Virtually any projector on the planet can turn an outside wall into a cinema, but it wasn't long ago that almost none had all the right features to make it easy. Today, a growing number do.
We'll take you through our favorite tested picks for outdoor projectors, followed by a detailed buying guide to what to look for. Most of these models fall in a category we call "room-to-room portables." But what moves conveniently to another room also moves conveniently to the backyard. In addition to being light enough to carry over short distances, room-to-room portables include robust audio designed to offer both high enough volume and quality so you won't have to lug a separate sound system outside, too. They also typically have features like auto-focus to help you set up quickly, and most offer streaming, so you can skip attaching a video source, as long as you keep close enough to your house so you can connect to your network by Wi-Fi. There are even some designed particularly for outdoor use, complete with some level of water and drop resistance.
We've also thrown in a portable mini projector or two—defined in part by a smaller size and a more limited audio system. But keep in mind that you still have the option of using virtually any projector you like outdoors. Note also that the price range for these models runs starts at $299 list at this writing, but given the current inflationary pressures of our post-pandemic era, the entry cost could rise. If even $300 is more than you want to invest in a projector, take a look at our related story with tips for putting on a backyard movie night without breaking the bank.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Buying Guide: The Best Outdoor Projectors for 2026
What Are the Kinds of Outdoor Projector?
First, a word about categories of projectors for outdoor use: A few of the models here are specifically "outdoorsy," with some combination of water resistance, drop-proofing, and battery power. Others have none of those features. Most of the models in the second category are what we call "room-to-room portables." But what moves conveniently to another room also moves conveniently to the backyard. In addition to being light enough to carry over short distances, room-to-room portables feature robust audio that delivers both high volume and quality, eliminating the need for a separate sound system. Most also have features like autofocus to help you set up quickly, and they offer streaming, so you can skip the step of attaching a video source, as long as you stay close enough to your house to connect to your network via Wi-Fi.
We've also included portable mini projectors—defined in part by their smaller sizes and more limited audio systems compared with room-to-room portables. But keep in mind that you can still use virtually any projector you like outdoors, as long as you can run a power cable to it. Note also that the street prices for these models (with widely available discounts) start at less than $150 at the time of writing, but street pricing changes frequently as discounts and sale events (and tariffs) come and go. If your focus is on keeping costs down, check out our related story for tips on hosting a backyard movie night without breaking the bank.
Outdoor Projectors: Are You Planning a Permanent or Temporary Setup?
Now that you've seen our favorite tested picks above, you might have gathered from our assessments of each that paying attention to the nuances when shopping for a projector can mean the difference between an A-list experience and a B-movie one.
Rule one is that every projector choice you make stems from a single decision: Do you want a permanent installation, or an ad hoc setup? At one extreme, you can install all your projection equipment outdoors, fixed in place and weatherproofed: projector, video source, ancillary sound system, and screen. At the other, you can lug everything out to set up only when needed. In between, you might install, say, an outdoor screen and speakers, and carry the rest of the gear out and back as needed.
(Credit: Shutterstock)For permanent setups, only the projector, video source, and any additional audio components need to be protected from the weather (assuming you're using a screen designed for outdoor use). That can be easy if you have, say, an enclosed Florida room with a sliding door to the outside. With everything set up, you can simply open the door to let the projector illuminate the screen. For anything short of a permanent setup, room-to-room portables let you minimize how much you need to carry back and forth before and after every movie night. But note that you might want to store even outdoor screens inside for winter or before a storm. (They make terrific sails.)
If you're looking at a true, permanent outdoor installation of all the bits, we'd leave that approach to a local pro A/V installer, who can consult on your property's specific needs for optimization and ensure that all the proper wiring—for both power and data connections—is appropriately hidden and implemented safely. We'll concentrate here on the DIY approach, in which you set up and break down all or most of your setup as needed.
How Big Can Your Projected Image Be? Brightness Matters
Brightness requirements for a given projector follow the same rules outdoors as indoors. It's all about ambient light and the target image size (which we'll get to shortly).
The ambient-light level outdoors after dark will likely be in the range between a dark room—if you're way out in the country, far from light pollution, and it's a moonless night—and a family room at night with dim lighting. But don't just assume that. Check your backyard at night, including on nights with a full moon, as well as when your closest neighbors have their backyard lights blazing. Then pick a projector that's bright enough to stand up to the brightest light level you'll use it under at the image size you want—an issue we discuss in our reviews.
(Credit: Shutterstock)You can watch a movie outdoors at night even with a pocket projector that puts out 100 lumens or less, but you'll have to huddle around a small image to do so. For a true movie-watching experience, consider a screen size of at least 80 inches, preferably larger.
For a comfortably watchable image at that size in dim lighting, you need a projector that produces about 800 lumens—a level of brightness that rules out most small projectors, from pocket-size models to lightweight portable projectors.
Keep in mind, also, that the highest brightness most projectors can deliver comes at the cost of image quality. Put another way: The best-quality picture mode for any given projector is generally the dimmest. Whatever brightness level you need has to be for the picture mode you want to use—which is often just 40% or 50% of the brightest choice.
Should You Just Use the Garage Door for a Screen? (Spoiler: You Can, But You Shouldn't)
You can use just about any flat surface for a screen, including a hanging bed sheet, a garage door, or a stucco wall of your house. For a step up from that, seamless photography paper and even white foam board can be good, inexpensive screen materials. For the best image, though, you absolutely want a dedicated projector screen, and you should check out our tips on choosing the right screen for your projector.
It's easy to find outdoor frames for permanent, seasonal, and temporary setups, but the screen material is the more important part. The key choices are the same as for an indoor screen, starting with a spec called gain, which can increase image brightness.
(Credit: Shutterstock)A 1.0-gain screen reflects light equally in all directions over a 180-degree viewing angle. A higher gain reflects more light over a smaller angle, making the image brighter within that angle and dimmer outside it. It's essentially the same situation as with older LCD screens that have a sweet spot for viewing dead-on, but show a dimmer image outside the viewing cone. For projector screens, a 1.2-gain would give you a peak 20% brighter image within the cone. The key thing is the angle, though: You'll want to make sure no one will be sitting so far off to the side of the screen that they're outside the specified viewing angle.
If you're screen-shopping, also look for the resolution the screen is designed for. Many are not designed to show even 4K images, while others are intended for future 8K output. Even if you're currently using a 720p-resolution projector, you may want a 4K-rated screen, so you can use the same screen over the lifetime of two or more projectors.
Finally, be sure the screen offers the correct aspect ratio—typically, 16:9 for watching movies or TV shows. Common choices range from the nearly square 4:3 ratio, once standard for TV and movies, to Cinemascope widescreen.
What Is Throw Distance, and Why Does It Matter?
Throw distance is measured in feet or inches between the projector lens and your screen. For any projector or projector lens, it falls into one of four categories.
As the name implies, a standard throw is the most common. It requires roughly 10 feet to the screen for a 90-inch image (measured diagonally), give or take a couple of feet depending on the lens. A long throw lets you place the projector farther away for the same-size screen.
(Credit: Shutterstock)A short throw allows you to position the projector closer than the standard throw range, which is particularly beneficial in tight spaces and also helpful for a backyard movie night. That may seem counterintuitive, but if everyone is sitting behind the projector, rather than between the projector and screen, no one can cast shadows when they stand up mid-movie to get another skewer of shrimp from the barbecue.
Last, ultra short throws, or USTs, let you put the projector just inches away for the same image size. However, these are usually best avoided for outdoors, in part because they are finicky about being positioned "just so" relative to the screen, which adds to setup time. They also require a screen that's much flatter than a longer-throw projector needs, with absolutely no tendency to ripple in the wind. Even a slight deviation from perfectly flat will distort the image.
Do You Need Separate Speakers for Your Outdoor Projector?
Most projectors you're likely to consider for backyard movies have a built-in speaker or speakers. But with the exception of room-to-room portables, which offer good audio systems by definition, and the growing category of laser UST projectors meant as large-screen TV replacements (which really aren't suitable for repeatedly lugging to and from the backyard), you'll often be better off using an external audio system, or at least external speakers.
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The reason: It's difficult to deliver high-quality audio at high volume levels from the small spaces that traditional projector chassis allow for the sound system. That's why some home theater projectors don't even offer a pass-through audio port, much less speakers. They're designed with the assumption that you'll use a separate audio system connected directly to your video source.
Room-to-room portables come in either extra-wide or cubical shapes, which make them either wider or taller than traditional projectors, and they fill the extra space with low- and high-frequency speakers (technically, "drivers," in audio terminology), often using chamber speakers. They usually boast plenty of wattage to provide sufficient volume even for outdoor use. Most laser UST projectors are much wider than traditional projector designs, and many use the side facing the seating area for what amounts to a soundbar.
Of course, even if the audio quality and volume of the projector you pick are good, you might want even more robust sound. If so, consider getting outdoor speakers, and look for analog or digital audio-out ports or Bluetooth speaker support in the projector. Bluetooth can be especially handy if you already own a robust Bluetooth speaker set...but with a caveat.
Due to the complexities of both video and audio processing, it's common to lose sync between the projected image on the screen and the sound from a Bluetooth speaker. To avoid this, look for audio-delay adjustments for Bluetooth in projectors and external audio systems. Also, note that most room-to-room portables, as well as many smaller portable projectors, offer a Bluetooth speaker mode that lets you use the projector simply as a speaker, fed by other audio sources.
One last thing: A booming audio system might be great in your backyard, but consider your neighbors' comfort when you set the volume. (Or consider skewering extra shrimp, popping extra popcorn, and inviting them over.)
What Resolution Do You Need From Your Outdoor Projector? (720p, 1080p, or 4K)
Any given projector offers a native resolution, which indicates the number of pixels it can display on the screen. More pixels mean finer detail. For projectors most suitable for movies, you have three basic choices: 720p (1,280 by 720), also known as HD; 1080p (1,920 by 1,080), also called Full HD; and 4K (3,840 by 2,160), also called Ultra HD or UHD.
In some cases, the native resolution for the imaging chip may be slightly greater, as with 1,280 by 800, but when you're viewing a movie, the actual number of pixels that will light up will be 1,280 by 720 or fewer, depending on the movie's aspect ratio (the ratio of width to height). All three of the resolutions you care about have a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Choosing among these resolutions depends almost entirely on how big your budget is and how much you care about seeing fine detail. Higher resolution costs more, shows more detail, and has a sharper look. However, resolution doesn't affect color, contrast, or any other aspect of image quality. A lower resolution just gives the image a slightly soft-focus look in comparison. Note also that most 720p and 1080p projectors can accept higher-resolution input and downconvert the image to their native resolution, so they behave like higher-resolution projectors with a soft focus. That's not always true, however. It's a good idea to check the highest-resolution input a projector supports before making a purchase.
(Credit: M. David Stone)More and more projectors also support HDR, which can do more to improve the visual impact of movies than higher resolution does. Unfortunately, the key phrase in that sentence is "can do more." Many of the projectors suitable for carrying outside for backyard movies at the time of writing fail to deliver on HDR's promise of improving image quality. In fact, it's not unusual for a projector to put a better-looking image on the screen with the 1080p SDR versions of movies than the 4K HDR versions. While you can count on 4K projectors providing more detail than 1080p projectors (assuming you're using a large enough screen and watching from a close enough distance to see the difference), don't rely solely on HDR support for improved image quality. Check how well the projector actually handles HDR, which is something we cover in our reviews.
Should Your Outdoor Projector's Power Source Be Battery or AC?
Plan on using AC power for all your equipment. Some small projectors (but few room-to-room portables) can run off battery power, and some even claim to run for long enough to watch a movie. But they typically drop brightness significantly when using batteries, and most aren't bright enough for a backyard movie night at a suitably large size, even using AC power. Beyond that, simply as a matter of convenience, the more individual battery-powered devices you're using, the more of a chore it is to make sure each one is charged enough before you start.
(Credit: M. David Stone)For safety's sake, add a professionally installed outdoor outlet near the equipment location, so you don't have to use a trip-me-up extension cord or a chain of cords and power strips. And be sure any outlet you plug into has ground fault protection to safeguard against electrical hazards.
The Video Source: How Will You Send Movies to Your Outdoor Projector?
Unless you're playing movies stored on a flash card or USB drive connected to a projector that can read the files, you'll need to pipe in your video from somewhere. With most room-to-room portables, the simplest choice is usually to utilize the built-in streaming or a bundled streaming stick that virtually all models in the category offer, often using Google TV, Android TV, or Android OS. Don't confuse the third choice on that list with the second. Like the newer Google TV, Android TV offers a wide range of capable streaming apps. Most Android OS implementations offer fewer apps, and many of the apps they do offer don't work all that well.
Streaming over a Wi-Fi connection can be a convenient way to access streaming services like Hulu or share files on your home network via an app like Plex. However, note that while most projectors with Google TV make a point of highlighting their Netflix support, many models with Android TV either don't offer a Netflix app at all or offer one that's difficult to use. If Netflix is your go-to streaming service, try to confirm whether there is a Netflix app and, if so, how well it works, before you make a purchase. If there's no app, or only a flawed one, a good workaround is to connect your phone to your network via Wi-Fi, stream using the Netflix phone app, and set up your projector to mirror your phone's screen.
(Credit: Shutterstock)Note that it's easy enough to add a streaming stick to projectors that lack built-in streaming. If you're not satisfied with the streaming options that come with the projector you want (or already have), you can disregard the built-in or bundled choice and plug in a different dongle. (See our guide to selecting the best media streamer.)
Almost all current home projectors offer a USB port for powering an HDMI dongle, typically near an HDMI port and often with no other function. Check for one when choosing a projector. If you wind up with a model without one, a robust power bank connected to a USB power cable may do if a power cord can't reach.
When you're outdoors, connecting a larger discrete video source to the projector can be a challenge. Active optical HDMI cables and HDMI extenders can let you connect over hundreds of feet, but typical HDMI cables are limited to 25 feet at best, and cables much shorter than that often struggle to provide a reliable connection for 4K HDR content. You may otherwise need to haul a Blu-ray player or laptop outside to plug into the projector.
If the projector supports Wi-Fi, and the video source can connect to your network by either Wi-Fi or Ethernet, you can connect wirelessly, of course. But for any of the video sources mentioned here, including streaming sources, that assumes your network delivers a strong enough Wi-Fi signal to your backyard for a reliable connection. If your router's location and signal strength aren't sufficient, consider adding a Wi-Fi extender to your network or converting it to a mesh system. Either will give you more complete coverage with a better chance of including the backyard. (See our primer Wi-Fi Range Extender vs. Mesh Network: What's the Difference?)
Still another possibility, which works with any projector and video source with HDMI ports, is a wireless HDMI kit. These kits include a transmitter that plugs into the video source's HDMI output and a receiver that plugs into the projector's HDMI port, essentially functioning like an HDMI cable without the need for one.
Finally, as mentioned above, if you want to play content downloaded (legally, mind you) to a USB drive or a flash-memory card, make sure to pick a projector with an appropriate card slot or USB port. One wrinkle to that: Verify that the projector not only supports playing movies from the memory card or key, but also supports playing them at the target resolution you want to use. That's not always a given.
Ready to Buy the Right Outdoor Projector for You?
Our advice here should help you home in on the right projector for your specific needs. In our product pick summaries above and in the spec table of this article, we've selected some of the best projectors on the market for specific outdoor projection situations. For more projector reviews and our latest coverage of the category, check out our projector-coverage summary page, as well as our top picks for home projectors.