[DIY] How To Hang A Projector Screen From A Ceiling / On The Wall?

How To Hang A Projector Screen From A Ceiling / On The Wall

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Prep Time 15 minutes

Active Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Difficulty Medium

Materials

• Snap links
• Toggle bolts or eyebolt screws
• Ceiling hooks
• A screwdriver
• An actual stud finder or extra-strong magnet
• Wall-hanging L brackets
• A measuring tape
• A marker

Instructions

How To Hang Ceiling Projector Screens

You get the ceiling projector screens, or go for the ones that offer both ceiling and wall installation.

A. The Projector Screen Setup

1. Screw the eyebolts onto the bracket connectors found on top of your screen’s housing.
2. Get the hook snaps and snap them onto the eyebolt’s loop.

B. The Ceiling Setup

With Eyebolt Screws

1. Twist the eyebolt screws through the ceiling.
2. Connect the hook snap attached to the screen’s housing to the eyebolt in the ceiling.

If your screen has loops instead of snap hooks, just change the eyebolt screw on the ceiling for a hook screw to match it.

With Toggle Bolts

1. Drill a hole in the ceiling big enough to fit the toggle bolt’s folded wings.
2. Remove the wings from the toggle bolt.
3. Get your ceiling hook and insert the toggle bolts into its screw holes.
4. Twist the wings back in. Make sure to twist it at least 3 threads in from the tip.
5. Fold the wings and place it inside the hole in the ceiling.
6. Use a screwdriver to secure the toggle bolt and the ceiling hook to the ceiling.
7. Attach your projector screen to the hook.

Where To Hang Ceiling Projector Screens

In every ceiling, there are frames that support its structure, called joists or studs. These studs run parallel over your drywall. If you can tell, these frames are very sturdy. You can then install your ceiling projector screen along these studs.

You can locate the studs in one of these 2 simple ways:

1. Use an actual stud finder. Move the machine over your ceiling. If it lights red, you’ve found the stud.
2. Use an extra-strong magnet. This will help you locate the screws that attach the drywall to the studs. You’ve found the screw, and the stud, if the magnet sticks.

If your ceiling doesn't have studs in the area where you plan to hang your screen, you can either look for a different location or install a wooden beam or plank under the drywall.

How To Measure Projector Screens

A. Placing Measurements

1. Measure how far apart the screen’s bracket connectors are. It could be the whole length of the screen or shorter.
2. Use that same measurement for the ceiling.
3. Put a mark on the spot so you’ll remember the exact location.

B. Screen Measurements

If your ceiling is high, get a screen that is long enough to extend all the way down. If not to the floor, at least to a good viewing level.

If your ceiling is average height, then just find one that fits your area.

How To Hang A Projector Screen On The Wall

A. Installing Levitating Screens

1. Measure on the wall the distance between the screen’s bracket connectors.
2. Drill a hole for the hook screw or toggle bolt with wall hooks. It depends on what you decide to use.
3. Insert the hook screw or the toggle bolt with wall hooks in the hole.
4. Lift the screen and attach the bracket connectors to the hooks.

B. Installing Wall-Mounted Screens

1. Drill the wall-hanging L bracket onto the wall.
2. Put the screen up and place the eyebolt on the hook.
   
   

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You decide to buy a projector screen to make the most out of your projector. So you go out and pick one. You get home, excited to try it and see how much it improves the images…

But there’s a problem. You don’t know how to install it.

This scenario happens to a lot of projector screen owners. And if you’re not careful with the installation, your screen is in danger of falling. Even if it doesn’t get destroyed, a fall could create creases and scratches that ruin the images. Nobody wants that to happen, especially since projector screens are not cheap. Not to mention, the creases and scratches a fall can create.

Today, we’ll help you with step by step instructions on how to hang your projector screen. We’ll focus on how to hang it on the ceiling, but we’ll also talk about how to hang it on the wall.

How to Hang Ceiling Projector Screens

Before we begin, you need to know that there are all kinds of projector screens. Some are specifically for hanging on the ceiling, while others aren’t.

If you were planning all along to hang the screen on the ceiling, then get the ceiling projector screens. This will make installation much easier.

But what if you’re not sure where to hang it yet? What projector screen should you get? Go for the ones that offer both ceiling and wall installation.

1. The Projector Screen Setup

The first step is to prepare your projector screen.

There are bracket connectors on the top edges of the ceiling projector screen. These bracket connectors are the ones responsible for holding the screen up. Since it’s already installed for you, you don’t need to worry about that.

What you do need to install are eyebolts and hook snaps. Eyebolts are a sort of screw with a loop at the end. Hook snaps are… well, hooks that can snap open and close.

Setting this up is actually very easy. It needs two simple steps.

1. Screw the eyebolts onto the bracket connectors found on top of your screen’s housing.
2. Get the hook snaps and snap them onto the eyebolt’s loop.

A quick reminder. There are some ceiling screens that already have features like these installed. It may look different but it all serves the same purpose. It depends on what projector screen you get.

Related post: 9 steps to mount a projector on the ceiling

2. The Ceiling Setup

Now that you have your ceiling projector screen setup. It’s time to prepare the ceiling.

You’ll need more eyebolt screws for this. Or you can use toggle bolts – a screw that comes with a folding wing.

Warning! Only use eyebolt screws or toggle bolts that can hold the total weight of your projector screen. You definitely don’t want it crashing under the weight.

With Eyebolt Screws

Using eyebolt screws is a lot easier and quicker.

1. Twist the eyebolt screws through the ceiling.
2. Connect the hook snap attached to the screen’s housing to the eyebolt in the ceiling.

If your screen has loops instead of snap hooks, you can’t connect it to another loop. Don’t worry. Just change the eyebolt screw on the ceiling for a hook screw to match it.

With Toggle Bolts

Watch this video to get a better idea of how to use toggle bolts. Details below.

There are a lot more steps when using toggle bolts. But it does add more security as the opened wings brace against the other side of the ceiling.

For this, you’ll need a ceiling hook. Ceiling hooks are the best choice because it has a horizontal base. It also has holes in the base for screws.

1. Drill a hole in the ceiling big enough to fit the toggle bolt’s folded wings.
2. Remove the wings from the toggle bolt.
3. Get your ceiling hook and insert the toggle bolts into its screw holes.
4. Twist the wings back in. Make sure to twist it at least 3 threads in from the tip.
5. Fold the wings and place it inside the hole in the ceiling.
6. Use a screwdriver to secure the toggle bolt and the ceiling hook to the ceiling.
7. You can now attach your projector screen to the hook.

Once you have everything set up, you can now enjoy your projector screen. It’s not hard. It needs time and effort, though.

Where to Hang Ceiling Projector Screens

Now that you know how to set up your ceiling projector screen, the next question might be where should you set it up?

We don’t mean the best place to hang it, you’re the one who decides that. What we mean is what area of your ceiling should you hang it on. We’ll explain further.

You know that the hooks have to be sturdy to hold up the projector screen, right? But did you know that your ceiling has to be sturdy as well?

Unfortunately, the drywall that covers your ceiling is not strong enough. There’s a chance it’ll crack under the weight of the screen. You don’t want to be taking those chances.

We have the perfect solution for you!

In every ceiling, there are frames that support its structure, called joists or studs. These studs run parallel over your drywall. If you can tell, these frames are very sturdy.

If you’re looking for sturdy, install your ceiling projector screen along these studs.

How do you know where to locate the studs? You can find them in one of these 2 simple ways.

1. Use an actual stud finder. Move the machine over your ceiling. If it lights red, you’ve found the stud.
2. Use an extra-strong magnet. This will help you locate the screws that attach the drywall to the studs. You’ve found the screw, and the stud, if the magnet sticks.

Once you find the stud, you can start preparing for installation.

You’re lucky if your ceiling has studs running exactly in the area where you plan to hang your screen. If it doesn’t, then either look for a different location or install a wooden beam or plank under the drywall.

How to Measure Projector Screens

We move on to measurement. The right measurements are so, so important. So don’t be in a rush to get over it.

1. Placing Measurements

3 simple steps will give you the placing measurements that you need. It’s really straightforward.

1. Measure how far apart the screen’s bracket connectors are. It could be the whole length of the screen or shorter.
2. Use that same measurement for the ceiling.
3. Put a mark on the spot so you’ll remember the exact location.

Make sure to always double-check your measurements, though. Especially before you bore any hole onto your ceiling. If you miscalculate, you’ll have to do the extra task of filling up those holes.

2. Screen Measurements

You don’t have much say on the screen’s height since you have to find one that fits the height of your ceiling. This might seem a bit tricky. But if you select a screen with the right dimensions then you’re fine.

If your ceiling is high, get a screen that is long enough to extend all the way down. If not to the floor, at least to a good viewing level.

If your ceiling is average height, then you have more screen dimensions to choose from. In fact, most ceiling projector screens have an average ceiling height in mind.

Remember that you can’t change the height of your ceiling. But you can choose the right screen size for it.

Before anything else, take the time to measure your area, find a screen that fits, and make a full plan for it.

How to Hang A Projector Screen on the Wall

What if you want to hang your projector screen on the wall? It’s not that different from hanging it on a ceiling. But you have an option for levitating or wall-mounting screens.

1. Installing Levitating Screens

Levitating projector screens have their bracket connectors at the back. This is to hide the hooks and screws and make it look like it’s floating.

In minute 2:55 of this video, you’ll see how to do this:

1. Measure on the wall the distance between the screen’s bracket connectors.
2. Drill a hole for the hook screw or toggle bolt with wall hooks. It depends on what you decide to use.
3. Insert the hook screw or the toggle bolt with wall hooks in the hole.
4. Lift the screen and attach the bracket connectors to the hooks.

We’ll give you a tip to make the first step easier.

Measure how far apart the bracket connectors are, including how far it is from the screen’s top and edges.

Turn on your projector and shine it on the wall. Adjust it to the perfect size as your screen. This will give you a visual picture of your screen while measuring.

You’ll find it much easier to measure the wall if you do this.

2. Installing Wall-Mounted Screens

You install wall-mounted screens like how you would install ceiling projector screens. Except, you do it on the wall. And it does need one other accessory.

This accessory is the wall-hanging L brackets. What’s great about these is that it comes with its own hook.

Also, wall-mounted screens have ready-installed eyebolts on top.

All you need to do is drill the wall-hanging L bracket onto the wall. Put the screen up and place the eyebolt on the hook.

There you have it.

Here’s another video showing this type of installation:

Conclusion

We hope that this has been helpful for you and that it has answered all your questions.

So you can now pick up your projector screen and start installing it the right way.

You don’t need a professional. You can do it yourself!