Golf Simulator Room Size by Launch Monitor Type

The right launch monitor is the one that fits your room. Before comparing spin accuracy or software libraries, figure out where the unit will physically sit — because that decides how much floor you need.

This guide breaks golf simulator room size down by launch monitor type, using placement distances published by the manufacturers. It’s researched from manuals and product pages (see how we research); always confirm against the current manual for the exact model you buy.

The three placement types

Type	Where it sits	Examples	What it costs you in space
Behind the ball (radar or hybrid)	On the floor several feet behind the golfer, on the target line	Garmin Approach R10, Rapsodo MLM2PRO, FlightScope Mevo Gen2, Garmin R50*	Extra depth behind you
Beside the ball (camera / photometric)	On the floor next to the ball, facing the golfer	Square Golf HE & Omni, SkyTrak ST MAX, Bushnell Launch Pro, Uneekor EYE MINI LITE	Extra width (and a swap for lefties)
Overhead (ceiling-mounted camera)	Above the hitting area	Uneekor EYE XO2 and similar	Ceiling height and mounting

*The Garmin R50 uses a different form factor from the R10; check its manual for placement.

Room depth: the big one

Depth is measured from the back wall to the screen or net. It has four parts:

1. Space behind the golfer — for the launch monitor (radar) and for your backswing.
2. Tee to screen — the distance the ball flies before impact.
3. Screen to wall — the gap that lets the screen absorb impact without the ball hitting the wall through it.
4. Margin — a little extra so nothing is jammed.

Behind-the-ball radar: published distances

Model	Unit to ball	Ball to net/screen	Subtotal	Source
Garmin Approach R10	6–8 ft	at least 8 ft	14–16 ft	Garmin manual
Rapsodo MLM2PRO	5–8.5 ft	8 ft	13–16.5 ft	Rapsodo
FlightScope Mevo Gen2	7–9 ft (FlightScope’s FAQ suggests 8 ft)	at least 8 ft of ball flight	15–17 ft	FlightScope

Add the unit’s own footprint behind it, room behind the screen, and margin. In practice that means plan for about 16–20 ft of total depth for a radar setup, with the upper end giving the radar more ball flight to read. FlightScope’s own page notes that for simulator use “you’ll need a longer room.”

Beside-the-ball cameras

Camera units photograph the ball at impact, so they don’t need space behind you or long ball flight. Your depth requirement becomes:

• Room behind you for a full backswing (a few feet).
• Tee to screen — commonly around 8–10 ft or more in many setups, for safety and comfort.
• Screen to wall gap.

SkyTrak, whose units sit beside the ball, says on its planning page that “a room depth of 17’ offers a comfortable and spacious setting,” and points out that other launch monitors “require up to 8’ behind the hitting area.” Third-party comparisons commonly list about 13 ft as a workable minimum depth for side-mount camera units; treat that as tight.

Overhead

Overhead units hang above the hitting area, so they also free up the space behind you. They add constraints on ceiling height and mounting position instead; follow the manufacturer’s installation spec.

Room width

Width is about the screen and safety:

• Enclosures typically come in 8, 10 and 12 ft widths. SkyTrak’s studio packages, for example, list enclosure footprints of 8 ft wide (8-ft studio) up to 12 ft wide (SkyTrak).
• SkyTrak suggests a 12’ room width “for a more spacious feel,” while noting some setups fit smaller rooms.
• Hitting position: in many rooms the golfer stands slightly off-center so the club doesn’t come near a side wall.

Left- and right-handed golfers. Side-mount cameras sit on the side of the ball the golfer faces. If a lefty and a righty share the sim, the unit moves to the other side, and both golfers need safe clearance on their swing side. Center the hitting area or plan for extra width. Behind-the-ball radars avoid this problem.

Room height

Ceiling height is covered in detail in our ceiling height by golfer height guide. Summary: SkyTrak says 10 ft “typically offers ample clearance for most golfers,” and many golfers find 9 ft enough. Overhead launch monitors and ceiling-mounted projectors add their own height requirements.

Planning table by room type

These are planning starting points, not guarantees. Measure your room and check your chosen model’s manual.

Room	Typical constraint	Usually best placement type	Notes
Two-car garage	Width fine; ceiling, door and opener	Any; radar is easy if depth ≥ ~18 ft	Measure with door closed; watch the opener and tracks
One-car garage	Width	Radar (no lefty/righty swap) or centered camera	Keep clear of walls and shelving
Basement	Ceiling and posts	Camera beside the ball if depth is short	Posts and ductwork dictate hitting position
Spare bedroom	Depth and ceiling	Camera beside the ball	Often wedge/iron-only rooms at 8 ft ceilings
Outdoor / patio	Weather, light	Radar	Radars generally read better with long ball flight

How launch monitor choice changes the minimum room

If your depth is…	Then consider…
Under about 13 ft	Probably too short for full swings into a screen; consider a net-only practice setup and check the manufacturer’s minimums
About 13–16 ft	Beside-the-ball camera units (e.g., Square Golf HE, SkyTrak ST MAX, Bushnell Launch Pro)
About 16–18 ft	Most camera units comfortably; radar units like the Garmin R10 or Rapsodo MLM2PRO at their minimum distances
18 ft or more	Anything, including FlightScope Mevo Gen2 with room to spare

A worked example

Say you have a garage bay that’s 20 ft deep, 11 ft wide, with a 9.5 ft ceiling, and you’re thinking about a Garmin R10.

• Depth: R10 at 7 ft behind the ball + 9 ft ball to screen = 16 ft. That leaves about 4 ft for the screen-to-wall gap and the unit’s footprint. Workable.
• Width: a 10 ft enclosure in an 11 ft bay leaves only about 6 inches each side. Workable for the enclosure, but make sure your swing doesn’t come near the walls — stand centered.
• Height: 9.5 ft is fine for many golfers; do the slow driver swing test.

Now the same garage with a short basement-style depth of 14 ft: the R10’s 14 ft minimum leaves no room for a screen gap. A side-mount camera would be the better fit. For garage-specific issues (doors, openers, cars, temperature), see our garage golf simulator guide.

Don’t forget the rest of the bay

• Screen-to-wall gap so impacts don’t hit the wall through the screen.
• Projector position — many setups mount a short-throw projector above or slightly behind the golfer to avoid shadows; check throw ratio against your depth.
• Computer and display location if you use PC-based software like GSPro.
• Padding and side nets for mishits.

Bottom line

Placement drives room size. Behind-the-ball radars are affordable but need roughly 16–20 ft of total depth. Beside-the-ball cameras cost more but can work in rooms several feet shorter, at the price of extra width for lefty/righty households. Measure your depth first, then shop. Our radar vs photometric guide goes deeper on the trade-offs.