Besides a projector, the most important purchase that a business can make is to acquire a high-quality projector screen. Spending thousands of dollars on a projector makes little sense if the images will be plastered on nothing more than the boardroom walls. A projector screen, whether it is portable or permanent, makes any presentation as well as the individual presenting it, look that much more professional.

Projector screens come in a variety of sizes and prices, and are often made of different materials. Choosing the screen that is best for a company depends on everything from the type of projector being used to the distance of the projector from the screen.

Before purchasing either the projector or the screen, consider the characteristics of the room. Think about where the screen and the projector will be placed, as well as where the individuals in the room will sit. Consider the lighting in the room as well before deciding on any type of projector screen.

Decide if the screen will be a permanent fixture in the room, or if it will be moved from room to room. The main advantages to selecting a portable screen are the fact that it can be taken and placed in just about any location within a building or office, as well as having the ability to fit in rooms of various sizes. Fixed screens offer a more professional look to a board or meeting room, but they lack the portability and adaptability of portable screens.

The surface of the projector screen is designed to add to the overall quality of the picture being projected onto the screen. Typically, consumers can choose screen with either a matte white or matte gray finish. White screens provide viewers with higher "gain" (returned reflected light) and a wider viewing angle than gray screens do.

Size, in terms of projector screens, depends both on the quality of the projector as well as on the source of the output. 16:9 and 4:3 formats are the most popular, but some screens can be as wide as 15' (measured diagonally). Since most presentations for business purposes are typically made using a computer or laptop, a screen with a 4:3 format is a good choice, as most computers still make use of this output format. However, today's computers also give users the choice of changing to the new and popular 16:9 format output, which most people refer to as a widescreen format.