A projector wins on size per dollar and a TV wins on brightness and simplicity: over five years at 4 hours a day, an 85 in. TV costs about $1,939 to $4,439 all in, a 98 in. TV about $4,089 to $8,589, and a 100 in. projector with a screen about $2,728 to $5,828. Choose a projector for movies in a room you can darken, and a TV for bright rooms and daily use. Seat distance sets the screen size: about 75 to 100 inches at 3 m.
PCBy the Pixl Canada install team. Calculated October 27, 2026. Canadian dollars, before tax. 7 min read.
- Screen size by seat distance
- Five-year cost with power and lamps
- Room light and who should skip a projector
- Pay after the job
- Pick the screen size from your seat distance: a 30 to 40 degree view is about 75 to 100 inches at 3 m (10 ft).
- Over five years a 100 in. projector and screen costs about $2,728 to $5,828, against $4,089 to $8,589 for a 98 in. TV.
- Room light decides it. Windows and lamps wash out a projector; a dark basement is where it shines.
- Both need a plan for sound, power and the HDMI path. Pixl installs either.
You are choosing between a big TV and a projector for a movie room, and you want the cost and the room trade-offs side by side.
You already chose a projector and need to compare screens. Read fixed vs motorized projector screens.
How big a screen suits your seat?
Seat distance decides the screen size, not the other way round. A common planning range is a picture that fills 30 to 40 degrees of your view: 30 degrees is comfortable for mixed use and 40 degrees is more immersive for film. Screen width is twice the seat distance times the tangent of half the angle.
| Seat to screen | Diagonal at 30 degrees | Diagonal at 40 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 m (8 ft) | 60 in. | 80 in. |
| 3.0 m (10 ft) | 75 in. | 100 in. |
| 3.7 m (12 ft) | 90 in. | 120 in. |
| 4.3 m (14 ft) | 105 in. | 140 in. |
| 4.9 m (16 ft) | 120 in. | 160 in. |
At a 3.0 m (10 ft) seat distance, a 30 to 40 degree view calls for a screen of about 75 to 100 inches. Past about 100 inches, a projector is usually the only affordable option. For standard TV sizes and distances, see the TV viewing distance chart.
What does each cost over five years?
Price tags hide running costs. The table adds equipment, installation, electricity and lamp replacements over five years at 4 hours a day (7,300 hours). It uses assumptions you can change: $0.15 per kilowatt-hour, a TV drawing 150 W at 85 in. and 250 W at 98 in., a projector drawing 300 W, and a projector lamp life of 4,000 hours.
| Option | Equipment, market estimate | Install | Power over 5 years | 5-year total | Per viewing hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 in. TV | $1,500 to $4,000 | $274.99 | $164 | $1,939 to $4,439 | $0.27 to $0.61 |
| 98 in. TV | $3,500 to $8,000 | $314.99 | $274 | $4,089 to $8,589 | $0.56 to $1.18 |
| 100 in. lamp projector and fixed screen | $1,900 to $4,200 | $300 to $900 | $328 + lamps $200 to $400 | $2,728 to $5,828 | $0.37 to $0.80 |
| 120 in. laser projector and ALR screen | $3,700 to $8,000 | $300 to $900 | $328 | $4,328 to $9,228 | $0.59 to $1.26 |
The TV rows use Pixl’s posted labour and a full-motion mount ($274.99 for 85 in., $314.99 for 98 in.). Projector installation is not on Pixl’s posted list, so those rows use the market range from the projector installation page.
Two points stand out. A 100 in. projector and screen costs less than a 98 in. TV even after lamps. And a 120 in. laser projector with an ALR screen costs about the same as a 98 in. TV, for a picture with about 50% more area that suits a dark room.
How much does room light matter?
| Room | TV | Projector |
|---|---|---|
| Bright living room, windows, daytime viewing | Fine. TVs are built for lit rooms | Washed-out picture unless it is very bright or paired with an ambient-light-rejecting (ALR) screen |
| Living room with blinds or curtains | Fine | Good for evening viewing with the lights low |
| Basement with no windows | Fine | Strong choice for big screens |
| Dedicated, dark room | Fine, smaller screen for the money | Where projectors do well: the biggest picture per dollar |
| Open plan with lights on during viewing | Fine | Poor choice |
A TV is rated in nits and a projector in lumens, so you cannot compare the two directly. Check an independent review for how a specific projector performs with the lights on.
Which fits how you watch?
| How you watch | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Daily TV, news, kids, sports with lights on | TV | Always ready, bright, no screen to lower or lamp to replace |
| Movies at night in a room you can darken | Projector | Screens of 100 in. and more cost far less than the same size TV |
| Gaming | TV, unless the projector lists low input lag | Check the projector’s input lag figure before you buy for games |
| Rental or condo | TV | A ceiling mount may not be allowed, and a screen needs wall space |
| You want a screen over 100 in. | Projector | 98 in. TVs cost several times more |
What else changes day to day?
| Factor | Big TV | Projector and screen |
|---|---|---|
| Light source life | Long, no part to replace | Lamp about 2,000 to 6,000 hours, laser about 20,000 to 30,000 hours, to half brightness |
| Setup | Mount and plug in | Match throw distance, mount, align, and place the screen |
| Sound | Built-in speakers, plus a soundbar if wanted | Weak built-in sound, so plan a soundbar or speakers |
| Fan noise | None | Some, so check the rated noise |
| Wiring | HDMI and power at the wall | Power and HDMI at the ceiling, or a long cable run |
| Moving house | Take it down in minutes | Take down the mount and the screen |
Both need power and an HDMI path. New ceiling outlets are work for a licensed electrician, and long cable runs inside walls are not part of Pixl’s posted prices. Send a photo and we tell you which part Pixl does. Read fixed vs motorized projector screens for the screen choice, and projector installation for the install ranges.
Projector vs TV: frequently asked questions
Is a projector better than a TV for a home theatre?
For films in a dark room, a projector gives a much bigger picture for the money. For daily viewing in a bright room, a TV is simpler and brighter.
How much does a projector setup cost compared with a big TV?
As a market estimate, a 100 in. projector with a fixed screen runs about $1,900 to $4,200 before installation, while an 85 in. TV runs about $1,500 to $4,000 and a 98 in. TV $3,500 to $8,000.
How big should the screen be for my room?
A picture filling 30 to 40 degrees of your view works well. At 3 m (10 ft) that is about 75 to 100 inches.
Do projectors work in a bright room?
They struggle with a lot of ambient light. A very bright projector or an ambient-light-rejecting screen helps, but a TV is the safer choice for bright rooms.
How long does a projector lamp last?
Lamp projectors are typically rated at about 2,000 to 6,000 hours and laser models at about 20,000 to 30,000 hours, to half brightness. Check your model’s datasheet.
Can Pixl install both?
Yes. TVs are priced by size from $79.99 to $189.99 in Calgary and Edmonton, and projector and screen jobs are quoted from a photo of the room.
Do I need a soundbar with a projector?
Usually yes. Most projectors have weak built-in speakers, so plan a soundbar or speakers. A soundbar is $50 to install and $50 to mount with Pixl.
Get an installation price for either
Send a photo of the room. TV mounting is priced by size. Projector jobs are quoted from the photo. You pay after the job.
Fixed vs motorized projector screens
TV viewing distance chart
Home theatre packages by budget
TV mounting service
Projector buying guide by room and screen
Sources and method. Screen diagonal = 2 x seat distance x tan(angle / 2) divided by 0.0254 and by 0.872 (the width of a 16:9 screen per unit of diagonal). Five-year totals = equipment low or high + install + power + lamps. Power = watts / 1000 x 7,300 hours (4 hours x 365 x 5) x $0.15. Lamp replacements = 1 (7,300 / 4,000, rounded down) x $200 to $400. Wattages, the $0.15 rate and lamp life are assumptions, so use your own figures. Lamp and laser life ranges are typical manufacturer ratings to half brightness. Equipment and projector installation ranges are market estimates, not a fixed Pixl price. TV labour and mounts are Pixl posted prices checked October 27, 2026.
About Pixl Canada. Pixl Canada is an installation company based in Edmonton, Alberta, serving cities across Canada with TV mounting, security cameras, appliance installation and smart home setup. Call or text (587) 899-7495. Open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 7pm.