10 Best Cheap Short Throw Projector 2025 in the United States

The Optoma ZH340ST is a compact short throw projector designed for professional settings like offices and classrooms. With a brightness of 3,200 lumens, it delivers clear images even in well-lit environments, making it a strong contender for users requiring visibility without darkening the room. Its short throw lens allows for a large 120-inch display from just over 4 feet away, which is perfect for smaller spaces where mounting options may be limited. The projector's DuraCore laser technology extends lamp life to an impressive 30,000 hours, reducing maintenance concerns and eliminating the need for frequent lamp replacements. Plus, with dual HDMI and USB connectivity options, switching between devices is seamless, catering to varied presentation needs.

The WEMAX Nova Pro 4K is a strong contender in the affordable ultra short throw projector space, especially if you want a big, bright 4K image without needing much room. Its ultra short throw ratio (0.23:1) means you can place it just about 19 inches from the wall and still get a massive 150-inch screen, which is ideal for small spaces. The 2100 ISO lumens brightness is solid for daylight viewing, and the 3000:1 contrast combined with HDR10 support helps deliver vibrant colors and decent blacks, making movies and games look more immersive. It uses ALPD laser technology, which generally offers good brightness and longer lamp life compared to traditional LEDs or lamps.

The Optoma ZH406ST is a well-built short-throw projector that delivers a crisp Full HD 1080p resolution with excellent brightness at 4200 lumens, making it suitable for environments with some ambient light, like classrooms or offices. Its throw ratio allows for a large 120-inch image from just over 4 feet away, which is great if you have limited space but still want a big display. The contrast ratio is very strong at 300,000:1, so you'll see good detail in darker scenes. One of the biggest advantages is the durable DuraCore laser light source, which lasts up to 30,000 hours without needing lamp replacements, saving you maintenance costs over time. The projector also supports 4K HDR input, enhancing image quality for compatible content, though its native resolution is 1080p.