Best outdoor projectors

The best outdoor projectors will allow you to watch movies, play video games, or stream TV shows from your own yard. These machines make it easy for you to create your own movie theater from home, so you can enjoy your videos in high resolution with the whole family. 

The outdoor projectors in our guide offer a mix of wired and wireless connections, and some of them are portable enough to take camping, in your RV, or even in your pocket. You should also consider the noise level of your outdoor projector. For small yards, you don't want something too loud or you'll disturb the neighbors. For larger gardens, it's important to buy something with enough noise for everyone to hear, even at a distance. 

Our top pick is the Vankyo Leisure 3 Mini Projector because it can be connected to your phone and is an affordable option. For more great options, keep reading.  

A great model to buy no matter the size of your budget, the Vankyo delivers a very decent viewing experience with vibrant color thanks to its advanced color engine. 

Easy to use by simply plugging into your phone or laptop, its real selling point is its exceptionally quiet, cool operation: it won't heat up, and it won't make the characteristic noise many projectors make. The only downside of this projector is that the picture quality may not be as amazing as the others, particularly around the edges of the screen. Still, for a movie night in your backyard, this is a great option.

For use with Netflix, Prime Video, and more, the DR. J Professional HI-04 Mini Projector is a great pick. 

This outdoor projector also comes with a 100-inch screen, both of which are portable for your convenience. It supports 1090p resolution and can be used indoors or out, day or night. Ideally, this projector needs to be set up with a distance of 1.5 to 5-meters available. Use with everything from laptops to tablets and DVD players, it even has an HDMI port connection. There's also a built-in stereo sound speaker, too. Its advanced fan cooling system makes for silent operation, and its five-layer LCD lens offers the clearest resolution on every detail.

The QKK Mini Projector is the model you should consider in a smaller garden, or if you're planning on using it while camping. 

This mini projector is very portable at just under four pounds, and can easily be connected up to your phone for easy streaming. It's also built to last with a long lamp life and is kinder on your eyes than some of the brighter models on our list. The biggest bonus with this model, though, is the included projecting screen. Bear in mind that you might not get as good results from this projector if it's not completely dark outside, or if you're trying to project from an angle. 

If you want something easy-going for the occasional movie night at home or in the garden, the very reasonably priced AuKing projector is hard to beat. 

It may be cheap, but it has most of the functions of much more expensive projectors: big screen projection as large as 170 inches, low noise and fast cooling technology, and 1080p resolution is possible, which is rare at this price point. You will need to be realistic about the capabilities of this little machine, though: picture quality will be best when viewed from about a five-meter distance, and it does need complete darkness. 

This exceptionally well-built Yaber Native 1080P Projector is the first of its kind, offering 4D Keystone image correction that ensures the picture you're projecting is always a standard rectangle. 

With 6800 lumens, it's exceptionally bright, and it has a much higher than average resolution of 1080p, which prevents any image distortion. Oh, and our favorite feature of this mighty projector, is the massive picture it can project – as large as an enormous 200 inches across.  

The Topvision 1080P Supported Video Projector delivers better image quality on a large screen than other projectors at its price point, making it an exceptionally good value for money. 

The LCD display technology delivers a super crisp picture, even at a vast 18-feet projection size. It's also highly compatible with a wide range of devices, including Roku Stick, Chromecast, laptops, PS3, and Xbox. It's nice and bright for a projector of its class, but at 4500 lux, it's not the brightest on our list.

With the AKASO Mini Projector you can take your projector on the go. It's perfect for using in smaller yards or public places with friends, and it's also so small that it will fit in your pocket. This mini projector weighs less than half a pound, and you can charge it for a wireless battery life of two hours. The AKASO Mini Projector works with USB, HDMI, AV, and Micro SD ports, and you can also connect to it wirelessly.

Of course, you're never going to get as good image quality from a tiny projector when compared to a larger and more powerful projector, but this more budget option is a great choice for personal use or taking on the go. 

Our verdict

The best outdoor projectors will allow you to take your home movie theater with you on the go. You can also use these machines to turn just about anything into a TV screen. Our top pick is the reasonably priced Vankyo Leisure 3 Mini Projector, but
AuKing projector and Topvision 1080P Supported Video Projector are also great budget choices. 

The Yaber Native 1080P Projector is a top choice for high quality, and perfect for casting onto large screens. Even better, the DR. J Professional HI-04 Mini Projector comes with its own screen! The QKK Mini Projector is a great choice for traveling, or for something truly portable, the AKASO Mini Projector is about the size of a smartphone and can be carried into your pocket.