How much space do you need for a golf simulator?

A useful starting point is about 12 feet wide with 10 feet of clear height above the hitting mat. This calculator's default depth budget is 15.5 feet for a camera setup or 19.5 feet for a radar setup. These are planning assumptions, not universal minimums: your swing, enclosure and specific launch monitor may need different clearances.

Room size calculator

Enter room width, depth and ceiling height in feet or meters, plus mat thickness. Choose a camera or radar setup and single-handed or mixed-handed play. Adjust screen clearance, ball-to-screen distance and rear space for your own equipment.

The interactive calculator compares each dimension with a planning target and shows the surplus or shortfall. Enable JavaScript to use it. The examples below remain available without JavaScript.

Planning targets and worked example

Width: 12 feet for one handedness, or 16 feet for both. Clear height above the mat: 10 feet. These are GolfSim planning heuristics, not manufacturer specifications. Depth is screen buffer + ball-to-screen distance + rear space.

A 14-foot-wide, 18-foot-deep room with 10 feet of clear height meets the example camera targets: 1.5 + 10 + 4 = 15.5 feet of depth, leaving 2.5 feet. With the radar rear-space assumption of 8 feet, the depth target becomes 19.5 feet, a 1.5-foot shortfall.

Meeting these planning targets does not certify a room as safe or compatible with any particular product. Check the manufacturer's installation manual and have swing clearance assessed before hitting balls. Do not test a full-speed swing in a confined space.

Common room-planning questions

How much space do you need for a golf simulator?

A useful starting point is about 12 feet wide with 10 feet of clear height above the hitting mat. This calculator's default depth budget is 15.5 feet for a camera setup or 19.5 feet for a radar setup. These are planning assumptions, not universal minimums: your swing, enclosure and specific launch monitor may need different clearances.

Is a 9-foot ceiling high enough for a golf simulator?

It may work for some golfers and clubs, but height alone cannot establish safe clearance. This tool uses a 10-foot planning target measured above the mat. Your height, swing, longest club, light fittings, garage tracks and any overhead equipment all matter. A 9-foot ceiling falls below this target; it is not an automatic approval or rejection for every golfer.

Why do radar golf simulators often need more room depth?

Radar units commonly sit behind the ball and need ball flight in front of it. Camera units typically measure near the ball or overhead, although overhead models have their own installation requirements. The tool starts with 8 feet behind the ball for radar and 4 feet for camera setups; replace these assumptions with the space budget required by your selected equipment and swing.

How is required room depth calculated?

Add the screen-to-wall buffer, ball-to-screen distance and space behind the ball. The camera example is 1.5 + 10 + 4 = 15.5 feet. The radar example is 1.5 + 10 + 8 = 19.5 feet. Space behind the ball must accommodate both the swing and any rear-mounted equipment; monitor-to-ball distance alone is not the entire rear-space budget.

Can left- and right-handed golfers use the same simulator room?

Yes, with suitable equipment and clearance on both sides. This calculator uses a 16-foot width planning target for mixed-handed play, compared with 12 feet for a single-handed setup. These are not manufacturer minimums. Side-mounted monitors may need repositioning; overhead units have model-specific mounting and hitting zones.

Can I put a golf simulator in a garage?

Possibly. Measure usable space with the garage door and tracks in their operating positions. Account for beams, lights, heaters, storage, screen deflection, enclosure dimensions and the hitting mat. This calculator cannot assess these obstructions, electrical installation or safe ball containment.

Sources and equipment requirements

General guidance informs the planning assumptions; it is not a universal specification. Confirm the exact requirements for your selected equipment.

• BenQ: measuring a golf simulator room
• Garmin: Approach R10 placement requirements (model-specific)

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