How much light output should a projector have?

Inside offices or classrooms, it isn't very convenient if you continuously need to darken the room. That's why, in theory, a higher light output is always better. The only disadvantage is that a higher light output is also more expensive. That's why you should choose the lowest amount of light output needed to project a clear image. For meeting rooms or classrooms, we advise at least 2000 ANSI lumen. If you're looking for a projector for large conference or lecture halls, go with at least 3000 lumen.

A movie night with a projector almost always takes place in the dark. Since the room is already dark, you don't need a high light output. On the contrary, a high number of ANSI lumen can even be detrimental to your movie experience. A high brightness leads to a reduced contrast between dark and bright images. Black images might appear dark gray, leading to less realistic images. That's why you should choose for a light output of at least 1,000 and at most 3,000 ANSI lumen.

Games are played both in daylight and the dark. For this reason, you should choose a projector with an average light output. At least 2,000 and at most 3,000 ANSI lumen would be best. This ensures clearly visible images when gaming in the dark. At the same time, the lamp won't be bright enough to to negatively affect the contrast ratio.