How Many Lumens Do I Need For A Projector? A Complete Guide
Choosing a projector that meets all the essential requirements, including optimal projector brightness, is often tricky. Undoubtedly, projector lumens play a critical role in providing high-quality images. But how many lumens do you need for a projector?
Thinking about this often brings a barrage of questions to mind. How do you balance brightness and clarity in an image for different room sizes? Some of the other most prominent questions are: Are you unsure whether to choose lamp, LED, or laser projectors for optimal brightness?
All these questions can easily make someone nervous or bothered while installing or setting up a projector. Therefore, we bring you a comprehensive guide on “How many lumens do you need for a projector?”
This guide will cover complete information about projector lumens, their different aspects, why they matter, and more. So, without further ado, let’s start with our first section, “What are projector lumens?”
Key Takeaways
The key takeaways from this comprehensive guide are:
- Projector lumens measure how bright and clear the projected image will be. The projector brightness is measured in ANSI lumens.
- A projector with higher lumens will project a clearer and brighter image. Therefore, it should be compatible with the client’s existing AV systems and lighting infrastructure. It will help you set up a projector system successfully.
- The brightness level of the projector depends on several factors, including ambient lighting and the setting in which the projector or AV System will be installed.
- A projector can lose brightness over time and be too bright per the AV setup. These things ruin the AV experience and make the AV installation, design, integration, or setup a thorn for everyone.
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What Are Projector Lumens?
Lumens measure the brightness of a light source. It calculates the amount of visible light generated from a source at any given beam or angle. Simply put, lumens refer to the measurement unit that measures the strength or intensity of the light source.
In projectors, lumens measure how bright and clear the projected image is. A projector with higher lumens will result in a clearer picture. However, it might also affect the visibility, especially in rooms with ambient lighting.
To provide you with a better idea, here is how much brightness different sources offer in lumens:
- Candle: 14 lumens
- 100-watt incandescent light bulb: 1600 lumens
- Sunset: 400 lumens
- Office’s Fluorescent Lighting: 400 lumens
- Movie Set’s Lighting: 1000 lumens
- Sunny day: up to 100,000 lumens
With that covered, it is essential to understand the lumens. It helps you choose the right projector for the setup. However, you must have encountered the term ANSI lumens when trying to create an immersive viewing experience while balancing brightness, clarity and ambient lighting.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) defines the term ANSI Lumens as measuring the projector’s brightness. It measures the total light from the projector reaching the screen.
It is a more trusted method as it better assesses the projector’s brightness. You may have noticed that the image looks dull and washed out despite the promoted brightness or that the two projectors with the same lumen rating project an image with different qualities. This is because of the difference between lumens and ANSI lumens.
Lumens vs ANSI Lumens
The key difference between lumens and ANSI lumens is the method used to measure the brightness. Lumens is a measurement unit that calculates the total amount of light any light source emits that is visible to the human eye. It does not consider how the light is projected onto the surface.
On the other hand, ANSI lumens are units used to measure the brightness of the projector’s image. It considers several factors to measure brightness, due to which two different projectors with different light sources or technologies may have the same ANSI lumen rating with similar perceived brightness.
Now, how will we convert a Lumens value into an ANSI lumen value? You can use the below equation to overcome this issue.
ANSI lumens ≈ LED Lumens value/2.4
But where do LED Lumens and 2.4 come from? Moreover, why divide by 2.4?
LED lumens measure brightness based on the perceived brightness of LED projectors. They can appear brighter to the human eye than traditional lights. However, LED lumens are not a standardized measurement. Therefore, the conversion can be tricky sometimes.
This is where the conversion factor 2.4 comes into play. It is based on how human eyes see LED lights. Manufacturers often promote projectors with raw LED lumen value. It is usually higher than the actual measurement in ANSI lumens. Therefore, you can calculate a projector’s brightness more precisely by dividing it by 2.4, a factor in real-world viewing conditions.
Another standard measurement that you would have often seen is Lux.
Lux is a commonly used light measurement that measures the light output on any given area or room. It is used to measure the projector’s effectiveness.
Sometimes, projectors are bright enough, but they lose clarity over time. This is because the light source matters too when choosing the projector. The common projector light sources are lamps, LEDs, and lasers. Let’s learn more about them.
Lamp: Lamp-based projector light sources are the oldest light sources used in projectors. They are cheaper than the LED or laser light sources and provide good light quality and high brightness. However, they are bulky, have a shorter lifespan, and are not environmentally friendly.
LED: Light Emitting Diode (LED) is an alternative source to the projector lamps. It uses semiconductor properties to radiate light when current flows through it. The LED light sources are durable, compact, less power-consuming, and environmentally friendly compared to the lamp sources.
On the other hand, they deliver lower brightness than the lamp light source. Additionally, they produce blue light, which often strains the eye.
Laser: Laser is the projector’s latest and most advanced light source technology. It stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” It can produce a limited and lean ray of single light color, which you can direct anywhere.
A laser-based projector creates images using high-power red, green, and blue lasers. These projectors project high-quality photos with a high contrast ratio. They are the most durable light sources and require the least maintenance.
Additionally, it consumes the least energy compared to all three light sources. However, it is the costliest among lamps and LEDs and is bulkier than the LED-powered projectors.
Now that we have covered all the aspects of projector lumens, let’s delve into “Why do Lumens Matter?”
Why Do Lumens Matter?
Lumen calculation is essential for devices like projectors. In these devices, the brightness directly affects the image quality and visibility in various environments. This means that the higher the lumen count, the brighter the light. Subsequently, it increases the visibility of the image in environments with ambient lighting or larger screens, making its comprehension easier.
ANSI Lumens is undeniably an objective measurement. However, some concerns arise about its usefulness in projectors. ANSI brightness ratings do not indicate the real potential or projector’s brightness always.
Additionally. ANSI lumens do not consider how human eyes and vision works, how it views an image, and its brightness. An example of this is, ANSI lumen neglecting the Helmholtz-Kohlrausch Effect.
But what is Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect?
The Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect refers to the phenomenon in which a person sees highly saturated colors as brighter than they are due to how humans work. It takes place mostly in colored lights.
It mainly occurs when a human eye compares colors of the same brightness but with different saturation levels. As a result, the most saturated color will appear to be the brightest.
What Brightness Level Best Suits Your Needs?
The brightness level best suits your needs depends primarily on the Setting and the Ambient Light. Let’s delve into them further with factors affecting projector brightness needs.
Factors That Affect Projector Brightness Needs
So, what factors affect the brightness of the projector? Let’s look at them.
1. Ambient Light
The amount of artificial or natural light in the space where you plan to project content should be considered. For instance, the projected image may be less visible when exposed to natural light from windows. You’ll need a projector with more lumens in brighter settings to keep the image from fading.
2. Screen Size
The projection screen’s size can affect the image’s brightness. Projectors with higher lumens are usually needed to maintain a sharp and colorful image on larger screens.
3. Room Size & Throw Distance
The amount of lumens mainly needed depends on the room’s size. Higher lumens are required in larger spaces to guarantee uniform illumination over a larger viewing area.
The seating configuration and the distance from the screen can also affect how well viewers see the projected content. There must be enough lumens to guarantee that everyone in the audience can see clearly and enjoyably.
How Many Lumens Do You Need?
You must consider several factors when determining the lumens required for a projector. Environment is one of the most essential factors to consider. It helps you decide whether you need the projector for outdoor or indoor use and what the brightness level should be to ensure clarity.
With that said, let’s learn about the lumens you will need in a projector
For Home Use:
Home entertainment projectors with a maximum of 3000 ANSI lumens are perfect for daily use. This brightness level allows you, an AV designer or integrator, to install a system that can project an 80” image with minimum distortion.
However, it is essential to control the ambient lighting in the room. On the other hand, you would require a higher-lumen projector if you want to install an AV setup in rooms with more ambient light or need a larger image.
Under 3,000 ANSI lumens:
Best for an enhanced color performance but requires ambient light control.
3,000+ ANSI lumens:
Projectors with more than 3000 lumens are less sensitive to ambient light. Additionally, they are perfect for brighter rooms and larger screens.
For Business & Education:
If you are an AV designer, you often have to address the varying requirements of the business and education sectors. As a result, you have to install AV systems or set up projectors with different ANSI lumens depending directly on the settings.
- Small rooms (1-10 people):
If you are about to install a projector or design an AV system for a room where a smaller group of people, one to ten, will meet, then a projector with 3,000-3,999 ANSI lumens will be ideal.
Additionally, you can provide a screen size of 80 inches while ensuring it does not strain your client’s pocket too much. However, such projectors should be used.
- Medium spaces (10-50 people):
If you are an AV Engineer looking to install a projector in a mid-sized meeting room or classroom that can house 10 to 50 people, then a projector with ANSI lumens ranging from 4,000 to 4,999 ANSI lumens will be the right fit for your client.
Such projectors provide high-quality projections with a screen size of more than 80” screen size. Additionally, the higher brightness allows the user or audience to ignore ambient lighting.
- Large venues (50+ people):
If you are designing AV systems or installing an AV Setup for large meeting rooms, halls, or auditoriums that can house more than 50 people, then a projector with more than 5,000 ANSI lumens will be the right fit.
These images are capable of projecting images of at least 100”. The higher ANSI lumens also allow them to work well and project clear images, even in high ambient lighting.
For Commercial & Specialty Use:
- Churches & Houses of Worship:
If you have a contract to install a projector for churches and houses of worship, then your projector will be decided based on the services held in it.
For Large Services
You would require a projector ranging from 6,000 to 15,000 ANSI lumens. The projector’s screen size would also range from 140” to 250”.
For Medium Services
You will require a projector with ANSI lumens ranging from 5,000 to 9000, and the projector screen size would be from 120” to 180”.
For Small Services
You will require a projector with ANSI lumens ranging from 5,000 to 6,000; the projector screen size would range from 100” to 150”.
For Sunday School
You will require a projector with ANSI lumens ranging from 2,500 to 4,500 ANSI lumen, and the projector screen size would be from 80” to 140”.
- Convention Halls & Large Auditoriums
You would require projectors with ANSI Lumens ranging from 4,000 to 25,000 for convention halls and large auditoriums. The exact range differs according to the projector brightness, screen size, and hall size.
- Government & Municipal Use:
The projector’s brightness for government and municipal use varies from 2,500 to 5,000 ANSI Lumens. It depends on the size of the room, the ambient lighting, and the preferred screen size.
Do Projectors Lose Lumens Over Time?
Yes, projectors lose lumens and brightness over time. However, the time it takes for a projector to lose its brightness depends on its light source.
In lamp-based projectors, the projector brightness depends directly on its use. This means the more the projector is used, the more brightness it loses. While most bulbs in projectors last for 4,000 hours, they start losing their brightness generally after 1,000 hours only.
On the other hand, the LED and Laser projectors maintain their brightness for approximately 25,000 hours. As a result, it reduces the maintenance costs and ensures that your client gets a product and experience worth the price.
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Can a Projector Be Too Bright?
Yes, a projector can be too bright. It is not that common of an issue as you can always lower the brightness for your clients. However, a projector with excessive brightness would ruin the AV setup or design you are creating for the client or business. The ways with which it can ruin the setup are:
Putting a strain on the pocket
A projector with too much lumens will make the AV design, installation, or setup way more costlier. It would put a strain on your pocket and, ultimately, the client’s.
Hotspotting
A projector with too many lumens can also cause hotspotting. The hot spot is a bright spot that leads to the unclarity of the image. This issue is more prevalent in ultra short throw projectors. Therefore, you should always install projectors or design an AV setup with a lower-gain screen that’s made for laser TVs.
Eyestrain
A projector with too many lumens can strain your eyes while watching its content. This strain would build up over time, leading to uncomfortable viewing and negatively affecting your eyesight.
Projector’s life span
A projector’s lifespan is directly affected by its lumens. Purchasing a projector with too much brightness would negatively impact the light source, ruining the AV setup or installation.
Waste of Energy
A brighter light source would undoubtedly consume more energy. However, using a projector with excessive brightness would only waste energy.
Final Thoughts
The choice of projector lumens is essential to the design of a successful AV system. A room’s size, ambient light, and usage requirements affect optimal brightness.
Higher lumens produce brighter images, but excessive brightness can detract from the viewing experience. Performance and cost must be balanced; you don’t want to risk a dim display or overspend on superfluous brightness.
Use a projector brightness calculator to match lumens to your setup for an exact selection. A customer-focused solution that improves image quality and long-term satisfaction is ensured when client needs are considered during the AV system design process.
Additionally, you must remember that projectors can become less bright with time and use, so consider maintenance, lifespan, and light source when choosing one. If you choose your lumens carefully, your projector will work in unison with the AV system. It will produce crisp, colorful images that enhance any presentation or viewing experience.
FAQs
A projector with too many lumens means a brighter image than necessary. It can make the image washed-out with poor lighting and color distribution. It can also cause excessive and unnecessary strain on the eyes, harming the eyesight.
If you buy a projector that’s not bright enough, it will project a washed-out image, especially in settings with ambient light. As a result, you won’t be able to see the finer details of the image clearly, as the lighting will make it difficult to view the projected content.
No, a lower ANSI is not better than a higher ANSI. A lower ANSI means the projector will have a dull image. Additionally, it will not fit in environments with ambient lighting or larger screen sizes.
For home theaters, where ambient lighting is kept to a minimum, the projector must be of at least 1,500 lumens. However, a projector with a minimum of 2,500 lumens is suitable for rooms with enough ambient lighting, such as classrooms and conference rooms.
For a bright room with ambient lighting or bright lights, a projector with a minimum of 3,000 lumens will be a good fit.
Lumens is generally used to determine the total amount of light a light source gives. On the other hand, ANSI lumens measure the brightness of the projected image from the AV setup or projector.
A 3500-lumen brightness is optimal for outdoor lighting during nighttime activities. These activities range from camping and hiking to fishing.
A brightness of 4,000 lumens is equal to an LED ranging from 53-100 Watts and incandescent of 320 Watts.
If you plan to watch movies or install a home entertainment system without ambient lighting, 2000 Lumens is the best for a home theater projector.
While a 3,000 lumen projector seems perfect as an outdoor projector, a 4000 to 5000 lumen projector will be better.
120 lumens is not good for a projector, as it would offer a dull and washed-out image without clarity.
Yes, 7000 lumens is good for a projector in large spaces with ambient lighting. Such projectors are very versatile and can be used in various settings. Additionally, they ensure that images projected are large, bright, and clear, even in ambient lighting.
Seven thousand five hundred lumens would be too bright for a home theater setup. However, it would be perfect for business meetings, church and prayer halls, auditoriums, educational classrooms, and outdoor projections.
For a projector being used in daylight conditions, 3,000 lumens would provide a clear image. However, brighter environments require higher lumens, ranging from 4,000 to 5,000. The lumens for a daytime projector also depend on the screen size and ambient lighting.
