How to Measure Your Space for a Golf Simulator
Three numbers decide which simulator fits your basement, garage or spare room: ceiling height, width and depth. Here is how to measure each one, and what to aim for.
Golf Simulator Room Size Requirements
These are the numbers most home setups are planned around. Your exact needs depend on your height, your swing and the launch monitor you choose.
Enough room to swing a driver without changing your swing. Shorter golfers can often play under 8.5 to 9 ft.
14 ft lets right- and left-handed golfers share a centered tee. At 10 to 12 ft, you offset the tee for one-handed play.
Covers the screen gap, the ball flight and your swing space. Radar launch monitors that sit behind you need the most depth.
What You Need to Measure
Measuring takes about ten minutes. Grab these and head to the room you have in mind.
- A 25 ft tape measure (a laser measure is even easier)
- Painter's tape to mark the floor
- Your driver, and the tallest golfer in the house
- Your phone, to note numbers and take photos
Write everything down in feet and inches. If you plan to send us your numbers, a photo of the room helps us spot anything that could get in the way.
Send us your numbers-
Find the lowest point of the ceiling
Measure from the floor to the lowest beam, duct, light fixture or garage door opener in the hitting area, not the highest point of the room.
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Do the driver swing test
Stand where you want to hit and make slow, full practice swings with your driver. If you clear the ceiling with a few inches to spare, the height works.
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Measure the width
Go wall to wall across the spot where you will stand. Note doors, windows, posts and shelves that sit inside your swing area.
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Measure the depth
Measure from the wall where the screen or net will go to the opposite wall. This is the number that decides which launch monitor fits.
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Tape out your layout
Mark the screen line, the tee and the back of your swing zone on the floor. Walking the layout is the fastest way to know if it feels right.
Ceiling, Width and Depth Explained
Here is how each measurement breaks down, and where every foot of your room goes.
Ceiling height
The ceiling has to clear the top of your swing with your longest club, usually the driver. The taller the golfer, the more height you need.
| Golfer height | Ceiling |
|---|---|
| Under 5'6" | About 8.5 ft |
| 5'6" to 5'11" | About 9 ft |
| 6'0" to 6'3" | About 9.5 ft |
| 6'4" and up | 10 ft or more |
A hitting mat raises you by 1 to 2 inches, so measure from the top of the mat. Always confirm with the driver swing test.
Width
10 to 12 ft: works for one-handed play. Move the tee off-center so the golfer stands in the middle of the room and the club has room on both sides.
14 ft and up: lets right- and left-handed golfers share a centered tee, and leaves room for a side-mounted launch monitor and a few spectators.
Check that no door, window or post sits inside the swing zone.
Depth
Screen gap, about 1 ft: an impact screen moves when the ball hits it, so keep it off the wall.
Ball to screen, 8 to 12 ft: radar units need more ball flight. Swing pads and side-mounted cameras can sit closer.
Behind the ball, 4 to 8 ft: your backswing, plus room for a radar unit placed behind you.
Space Requirements for the Gear We Carry
How a launch monitor reads the shot decides where it sits, and how much depth you need. Ceiling height depends on the golfer for every setup, so use the chart above.
| Product | How it reads the shot | Where it sits | Ball to screen | Room width × depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
OptiShot 2 and Golf in a Box 1, 2 and 3 |
Infrared swing pad tracks the club | On the floor, under the ball | About 6 ft or more to the net or screen | From 10 × 12 ft Ideal: 12 × 14 ft |
| Ernest Sports Tour Plus 2.0 | Cameras + radar | Beside the ball, nothing behind you | About 8 to 10 ft | From 11 × 14 ft Ideal: 12 × 16 ft |
| Swing Caddie SC4 PRO | Doppler radar | About 5 ft behind the ball | 8 ft minimum, 12 ft for best accuracy | From 10 × 15 ft Ideal: 12 × 18 ft |
|
Ernest Sports ESB2 and ESB1 REV-D |
Doppler radar | 4 to 6 ft behind the ball | 8 ft or more, the more the better | From 10 × 15 ft Ideal: 12 × 18 ft |
Enclosures
Our Carl's Place enclosures come in several sizes, and the Pro kit can be cut to the inch. Measure your room first, then pick the size that leaves about 1 ft behind the screen.
Projectors
A short-throw projector mounted on the ceiling, just in front of or above the tee, keeps the light out of your eyes and the unit out of your swing. Its throw ratio sets the exact spot.
Low on depth?
Pick a swing pad or a side-mounted camera. Radar units that sit behind the ball need the deepest rooms, usually 15 ft and more.
Will a Golf Simulator Fit in Your Room?
Enter your measurements in feet to see which type of setup fits. It is a quick estimate. For a precise answer, send us your numbers and we will reply within 24 hours.
Tips for Garages, Basements and Spare Rooms
Garage
Measure with the garage door open: the door and its opener often hang lower than the ceiling. A retractable screen lets you play at night and still park in the morning.
Basement
Beams, ducts and pipes set your real ceiling height. Check for support posts in the swing zone, and leave access to any shut-off valves or panels.
Spare room
Standard 8 ft ceilings are tight for a full driver swing. A swing pad like the OptiShot 2 is a good fit, and shorter golfers can often swing every club.
What is the minimum ceiling height for a golf simulator?
Most golfers need about 9 ft to swing a driver freely. Golfers under 5'6" can often play at 8.5 ft, while golfers over 6 ft are more comfortable at 9.5 to 10 ft. Measure at the lowest point and test with your driver.
How deep does a golf simulator room need to be?
About 12 to 14 ft for a swing pad like the OptiShot 2, 14 to 16 ft for a side-mounted launch monitor like the Ernest Sports Tour Plus 2.0, and 15 to 18 ft or more for radar units that sit behind the ball.
How wide should a golf simulator room be?
10 ft is the practical minimum for one-handed play with an offset tee. 12 ft feels comfortable, and 14 ft or more lets left- and right-handed golfers share a centered tee.
Can I put a golf simulator in my garage?
Yes, garages are one of the most popular spots. Measure with the garage door open, watch the opener and door tracks, and consider a retractable screen if you still want to park inside.
Does the hitting mat change the ceiling height I need?
Yes. A hitting mat raises you by 1 to 2 inches, and a hitting platform even more. Measure the ceiling from the top of the mat, not from the floor.
Which launch monitor is best for a small room?
Swing pads and side-mounted launch monitors need the least depth because nothing sits behind you and they do not need long ball flight. Radar units placed behind the ball need the deepest rooms.
Not Sure? We Will Check Your Room for Free
Send us your ceiling height, width and depth. We will tell you which simulator fits, before you spend a dollar.