How to choose the right lumen for home projector?

Now more and more families choose projectors for home entertainment, especially among young people, but some users may worry that the projector is not bright enough and the projected image cannot be seen when purchasing a projector, but they don’t know how bright the projector should be to be used during the day. Buy a projector with appropriate brightness according to different environments

Also, I don’t know if you have noticed that some projectors are marked with ANSI lumens and some are marked with lumens, so what is the difference between the two? How much brightness should be achieved to meet the needs of daytime viewing?

What is Projector Lumens?

Projector lumens refers to the brightness of the projector, which is measured in lumens (lm). The higher the value, the brighter the picture displayed by the projector under the same conditions. Simply put, the lumen of a projector is a key indicator to measure the brightness of a projector. When purchasing a projector, you need to read the value marked on the product packaging or introduction and choose the appropriate lumen according to your own usage environment and needs.

What are ANSI lumens?

ANSI Lumen (American National Standards Institute Lumen) is a projector brightness measurement standard developed by the American National Standards Institute, which aims to standardize brightness labeling and reduce false parameter labeling. Its core feature is to quantify the actual brightness projected onto the screen through a standardized test process. It is one of the most widely used brightness indicators in the current home projector field. It is also able to accurately restore the screen brightness perceived by ordinary users.

What are LED lumens?

The "LED lumens" on a projector refers to the brightness of the projector. It is a parameter used by manufacturers to describe the brightness of a projector, and is usually related to the brightness of the LED light source of the projector. LED lumens is not an internationally accepted standard brightness term, but an informal term used by some manufacturers in their publicity, usually referring to the brightness of a projector with LED as the light source.

ANSI lumens vs lumens comparison

ANSI lumens are the actual projection brightness obtained based on the test method developed by the American National Standards Institute (9-point average brightness × screen area). They reflect the true performance of the projector on the screen and are reliable for horizontal comparison. Ordinary lumens (often marked as "light source lumens" or "LED lumens") only describe the original luminous flux of the light source without deducting the optical path loss. The risk of false value is extremely high (the actual brightness may be only 30%-50% of the nominal value). When purchasing, give priority to ANSI, ISO or CVIA lumens.

In short, these are two different standards, but ANSI has been highly recognized in Europe and the United States. When buying a projector, you only need to refer to the ANSI value of the product. ISO is more recognized in the Japanese market, and CVIA is a standard in China. Lumens calculator

Is the higher the lumen of a projector, the better?

In relative terms, the higher the lumen value, the better. The higher the value, the better the use even under the influence of other light sources during the day. It needs to be weighed comprehensively according to the actual usage scenario and needs. The lumen of the projector needs to find a balance between brightness, color, noise, and power consumption.

What is the mini number of lumens required for an indoor home projector?

The lumen brightness required for an indoor home projector is, in my opinion, at least 500 ANSI. Here is a lumen reference table for you to choose according to your needs.

Conclusion

The ANSI standard of lumen has become one of the projector standards. It has a strict testing process and strictly follows the ANSI IT7.228-1997 standard. It measures the brightness of the projected image (not the original brightness of the light source) through the 9-point average method to avoid false labeling by manufacturers. It has been widely recognized by the industry and is also internationally applicable.