In warmer weather, getting everybody outside for a movie or TV night can be such a treat. It's hard to beat the freedom you can feel when enjoying a viewing session in your own garden.
To really enhance the viewing experience, you could invest in (or build) an outdoor area that's shaded from sunlight with some comfortable garden furniture. We've listed more ideas for creating an outdoor cinema in our guide.
For our favourite projectors that can be used outdoors, see the list below. Our picks range in price and come with a variety of features, so you can choose the right one for you.
If you're after more guidance on how to choose a garden projector, skip ahead to our buyer's guide.
Best garden projectors to buy in 2024
Samsung The Premiere LSP9T
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Samsung often leads the way when it comes to new tech, and its Premiere projector certainly has some impressive specs. Not only does it have crisp 4K resolution, but it can also offer 2,800 lumens, so it's one of the brightest projectors on our list.
Even just a short distance from your wall or backdrop, the Premiere can create a 130-inch cinema screen, and duplicate content from your iPhone, iPad or Mac with a tap.
The sleek look with its fabric finish also makes this one of the most stylish projectors to buy this year.
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Optoma HD29He
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The standout feature of this Optoma model is its impressive 3,600-lumen display, which makes it one of the best garden projectors out there. Thanks to the high brightness, it should cope just fine streaming films and TV outside during the day.
What's more, it can also beam movies in 3D, although you'll need to have 3D cinema glasses to enjoy this feature.
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BenQ TH671ST
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Another great option for outdoor viewing is BenQ's TH671ST projector. It's got 3,000 lumens, which means high brightness even during the day. Plus, if you have 3D glasses, you can watch Blu-Ray content in 3D too.
This is also one of the best garden projectors to buy if you've got an avid gamer or sports fan in the family, thanks to its low lag and vibrant visuals. Just slip it into Game Mode or Sports Mode to get a customised experience.
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Acer B250i
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If you're after a mid-range choice, consider Acer's B250i.
It can offer a 1,200-lumen display, as well as some clever features including auto focus and in-built Bluetooth speakers. You can also charge your phone from the projector whilst watching films and TV.
As an added bonus, this projector comes with a convenient carry case to avoid damage on the move.
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Epson EF-12
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The Epson EF-12 is a serious choice for outdoor use. The compact projector can reach a brightness level of 1,000 lumens making it ideal for differing light conditions. Epson also uses a 3LCD display system that produces improved brightness across the whole colour range.
The screen can be projected up to a size of 150" which is more than enough for creating your very own outdoor movie theatre. And with Full HD resolution and a contrast range of 2,500,000 to 1, you won't be missing out on quality either.
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ViewSonic M2
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What makes this projector more portable is its ability to be powered by a power bank. This is ideal if you don't have access to a mains supply outside, as you can position it in any spot in your garden as long as you have a charged-up bank.
Its Full HD resolution and bright lamp should provide some vibrant colours during outdoor viewing sessions. Plus, it runs quietly and consumes a low amount of energy, which should be pleasant to have in the background of your favourite movies.
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Nebula Cosmos Max
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4K Ultra-HD resolution and 1,500 ANSI-lumen lighting give the Nebula Cosmos Max an outstanding feature set. The outdoor projector has a built-in digital zoom to more easily change the size of the image, up to a maximum width of 150".
An advanced feature is its ability to upscale non-HDR content, so the image will become enhanced in real-time as you watch it. Plus, it has 360 degrees of true audio with speakers that use Dolby Digital Plus and Sound Dimension.
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ViewSonic X10-4K
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A smart projector with a more premium appearance, the VIEWSONIC X10-4K can deliver 4K resolution video in a screen size of up to 200". Motion blur and dark details can be improved automatically with the system's ability to detect such issues.
The outdoor projector can be activated by voice using Alexa or Google Assistant and the soundbar can be connected to via Bluetooth, for access straight from your phone or laptop. It also has a built-in smart platform where you can access viewing apps like Netflix and YouTube.
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LG CineBeam HF60LSR
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The compact size of this projector allows for easier portability, perfect for taking it into the garden for an outdoor viewing. And for when you don't have access to your laptop, you can use a USB key to access your content.
TruMotion is a neat feature, generating frames between existing frames to improve how smooth the viewing experience is. It has a Full HD LED display that can extend up to 120" wide.
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How do I choose the right garden projector?
There are a few things to consider when deciding on the best garden projector. Brightness, resolution and portability might be three of the most important factors, but other features like smart technology or image upscaling might be better for what you're after.
Unless you have a dedicated dark space for your garden viewing, it's likely you'll need an outdoor projector with bright lighting. The light conditions outside can vary, so projectors that can detect this and adjust the picture accordingly work well. Brightness is measured in ANSI lumens, where usually the higher the number the brighter the image. But this is offset against the size of the picture, so it's important to make sure it's bright relative to the image size.
The resolution will determine the quality and maximum size of the image. If you're after a cinematic experience, you should look for an outdoor projector with high quality picture such as 4K UHD.
Portability depends on whether you have access to a power source outside. If you don't, it'll be best to choose a projector that can be recharged or powered by a power bank. If you do have a setup with power, you can go for a projector with more advanced features that a portable one wouldn't necessarily have.
Most outdoor projectors allow you to wirelessly stream from a smartphone or laptop, but some have built-in smart apps allowing you to access viewing platforms straight from the device. This is ideal if you have limited devices spare and don't want to double up on the power being used.
If you're in need of WiFi, here's how to boost your garden WiFi.
Creating a garden cinema is just one way to upgrade your outdoor space using tech. For more ideas, see our favourite smart garden products and garden gadgets to buy this year.
