Church Projectors Buyer's Guide

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Over the past 20-plus years, Projector People has helped thousands of religious, non-denominational and nonprofit organizations outfit their sanctuaries with projectors and AV equipment that dazzles their audiences while staying within budget.

Below we offer some tips to consider when shopping for a house of worship projector. Of course every space is different and every organization has unique needs. Check out the buying guide below, then call us at 1-888-248-0675 to get one-on-one assistance.

We can also offer you the best deal on the phone as many manufacturers offer exclusive discounts for religious and nonprofit organizations.

As the online division of AVI SPL, the world's largest audio visual integrator, ProjectorPeople.com has access to the largest selection of projectors and AV equipment in the industry, as well as the most highly-trained sales and support staff.

Don't see exactly what you need on our site? Call us at 1-888-248-0675.

Remember, every ProjectorPeople.com projector purchase is backed by a 30-day no hassle return policy and free lifetime tech support. Learn more »

The Four Most Important Things to Know Before Selecting a House of Worship Projector

Before we get started, there are four important decisions for you to make regarding your church projection needs.

  • First, the width of your screen or the desired width of your projected image. No guessing. Go get the measuring tape. We can wait.

  • Second, we need to know the distance your projector will be from the screen. Generally the ideal distance is double the width of your screen. For example, if your screen is eight feet wide, your projector should be about 16 feet back from the screen.

    If your sanctuary is able to accommodate that setup then read on. But if you're limited in space, or if you are replacing a current projector and can't move the mount, then give us a call because you may need special lensing.

    (You know, just go ahead and call us either way. We're kinda obsessed with customer service and we don't want you to be disappointed in your purchase.)

  • The third decision you have to make is the aspect ratio of your projected image. The aspect ratio is basically the shape of the picture, either a square or a rectangle. You can learn more about aspect ratios here »

    To future-proof your purchase, we suggest investing in a widescreen projector with a 16:10 or 16:9 aspect ratio.

  • Finally, we need to know your budget. Don't worry. No matter how much or little you have to invest, we have a projector that fits your needs. Call us because we may be able to offer tips regarding your layout and setup. Sometimes moving a mount a few feet closer to the screen can save thousands of dollars.

    • See the video at right for a recap on the above from our projector expert, John Sullivan. Then keep reading to learn more about church projectors.

    Church Projector Lumens: How Bright Does the Projector Need to Be?

    For most sanctuaries, 5,000 lumens is the new standard for brightness. These bright church projectors can easily provide big, bright, crystal-clear images to crowds of 100 to 150 with no concern over ambient lighting. For sanctuaries that sit 250 or more, Projector People recommends 6,000-lumen projectors.

    For meetings, missionary work and traveling presenters, a lower-lumen projector may do the trick. Ultra-portable projectors (between two to seven pounds) range from around 2,000 to 4,000 lumens in brightness. These can be used in normal conference room settings. For best results, the lighting in the room should be dimmed.

    Church Projector Lumen Recommendations

    • 6,000 lumens for congregations of 250 or more in bright rooms
    • 4,000 lumens for congregations of 100 to 150 in bright rooms
    • 2,000 to 3,000 lumens for portable projection needs. The room lighting may need to be dimmed

    Choosing a House of Worship or Church Projector Resolution

    We talked briefly about aspect ratios above. Now let's talk about resolution. Where aspect ratio is the shape of your image, the resolution is the number of pixels that fill the shape. The higher the resolution, the more crisp and detailed the image.

    church presentation shown on a big screen projector

    Projector People recently sponsored the Projecting Hope faith-based film festival.

    For house of worship and church projectors, we typically recommend projectors with an XGA (1024 x 768) resolution. This mainstream resolution is perfect for displaying large text such as bible verses or song lyrics.

    However, if you're using widescreen content, a projector with WXGA (1280x 800) or HD (1920 x 1080) resolution may be your best bet.

    If you have any hesitations or questions about resolution, call a Projector Expert at 1-888-248-0675.

    Quick Tip:
    Search for widescreen, HD and XGA projectors, or sort by feature and price, using our handy projector finder »

    Something to Consider: Portable Church Projectors

    Large venues typically opt for installation projectors. These 15 to 20-pound projectors usually have lens options that allow for more placement flexibility.

    But installed projectors are well, installed. You can't use them in a conference room during a meeting. For smaller groups that want their projector to do double or triple duty, opt for a lighter projector that can be moved around for services, meetings and movie nights.

    Final Thoughts on Buying a Church Projector

    Projector People recommends that you order and set up your projector before purchasing your screen and additional accessories. This way, you can make sure the image size fits your needs and space before you spend time (and money!) setting up a screen that will have to ultimately be moved.

    See our recommended projectors for churches and houses of worship »

    Optoma Optoma TX765W TX765W XGA (1024 x 768) 4000 lumens  Call for price!  Details »
    NEC NEC NP4100 NP4100 XGA (1024 x 768) 6200 lumens  $4,399.00  Details »

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