This guide shows how to build a golf simulator at home in the order GSV builds one: measure the room, choose the launch monitor, size the enclosure, fit the projector, pick the mat, then set up the computer and software. A home golf simulator is six parts: a launch monitor, an impact screen or enclosure, a projector, a hitting mat, a computer and software. The room decides which of each will fit, so a build starts with a tape measure and not with a shopping cart. Jay Lasco, host of Golf Simulator Videos, has built and filmed simulators from a net in a garage to a commercial bay at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, and the room numbers below are the ones GSV builds with.
The short answer
To build a golf simulator at home, measure the room, then choose six parts in this order. A complete build costs from under $1,500 with a net to $15,000 and up, by GSV's estimates: the room size checker tests the room, and the cost calculator adds up the parts.
- Measure the room: about 14 ft wide, 18 ft deep and 10 ft tall is ideal, and most golfers need about 9 ft of ceiling for a driver.
- Launch monitor: typically 40 to 60% of the build: $699 for a Square Golf Home Edition, $10,999 for an Uneekor EYE XO2, at the makers' prices on October 18, 2026.
- Impact screen or enclosure: $500 to $3,500 and up.
- Projector: a short throw model, $500 to $2,500 and up.
- Hitting mat: $150 to $600 and up.
- Computer and software: $800 to $1,500 and up for a Windows gaming PC, and GSPro at $250 a year, unless the launch monitor runs on a phone or tablet.
Check your room in the GSV Sim Builder
- 10 ftIdeal distance from tee to screen. 8 ft is the least, 12 ft the most.
- 7 ftFrom the tee to the back wall, for a 5 ft 9 in golfer swinging a driver
- 9 ftCeiling that gives a 5 ft 9 in golfer headroom with a driver
- 14 ftWidth for a tee in the middle of the room, for a 5 ft 9 in golfer
- 18 ftDepth for the ideal layout: screen, 10 ft to the tee, 7 ft behind it
- $1,500A budget build with a net or basic screen comes in under this, by GSV's estimate
In this guide: what you need, room size, launch monitor, enclosure and screen, projector, hitting mat, computer and software, putting it together, cost, GSV build videos, mistakes to avoid, free consultation and questions.
What you need to build a golf simulator
Every build has the same six parts. What changes from a garage net to a finished basement room is how much each one costs and how much space it takes.
| Part | What it does | GSV budget figure |
|---|---|---|
| Launch monitor | Measures the ball, and on many units the club, and sends each shot to the software. It decides more about the room than any other part. | Typically 40 to 60% of the whole build |
| Impact screen and enclosure | The screen takes the ball and shows the picture. The enclosure around it protects the walls and ceiling. | $500 to $3,500 and up |
| Projector | Puts the course on the screen. A short throw lens lets it hang close to the screen. | $500 to $2,500 and up |
| Hitting mat | What the golfer stands on and hits from. | $150 to $600 and up |
| Computer | Runs the simulator software. Most full simulator software needs a Windows gaming PC. | $800 to $1,500 and up |
| Software | The range, the courses and the games. Some comes with the launch monitor, some is bought or subscribed to on its own. | Depends on the launch monitor |
The budget figures are GSV's working numbers from the 2026 golf simulator buyer's guide. They are a guide and not a quote: each shop's page has today's price.
Step 1: Measure the room
Take three measurements: ceiling height, width and depth. Measure the ceiling at its lowest point over the place the golfer will stand, which in a basement is often a beam or a duct (see the basement golf simulator guide) and in a garage is often the door track or the opener. The GSV Sim Builder takes each of those: add a beam, a duct or the garage door with its tracks and opener, and it checks the swing and the projector's picture under it. Then hold the room up against GSV's rules.
| Measurement | GSV's rule |
|---|---|
| Tee to screen | 8 ft at the least, 10 ft ideal, 12 ft at the most |
| Tee to the back wall | 7 ft for a 5 ft 9 in golfer swinging a driver. A taller golfer needs more: about 7 ft 6 in at 6 ft 2 in. |
| Ball to the wall behind the golfer | 7 ft for a 5 ft 9 in golfer, scaled the same way |
| Screen to the wall behind it | 12 in for an enclosure |
| Space around an enclosure | 2 in on each side and 2 in above, to assemble it |
Every distance is measured from the tee, not from the edge of the mat. Closer than 8 ft to the screen and the ball can bounce back at the golfer. Past 12 ft the picture is a long way off and the room stops feeling like a course, which is why GSV sets the tee at 10 ft even in front of a wide screen.
Ceiling height
The ceiling is the measurement that cannot be fixed later, and it depends on the golfer more than on the gear. The table is from the swing model in the GSV Sim Builder, with the golfer standing on a 2.5 in mat.
| Golfer | A driver clears at | With 6 in of headroom |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 6 in | 8 ft 1 in | 8 ft 7 in |
| 5 ft 9 in | 8 ft 5 in | 8 ft 11 in |
| 6 ft | 8 ft 9 in | 9 ft 3 in |
| 6 ft 2 in | 9 ft | 9 ft 6 in |
| 6 ft 4 in | 9 ft 3 in | 9 ft 9 in |
These are GSV estimates. No manufacturer publishes a swing height, and swings differ, so take a slow practice swing with the longest club in the bag in the spot where the tee will go before buying anything. A ceiling too low for a driver can still work for irons and wedges. For a ceiling under 9 ft, the golf simulator for a low ceiling guide has the launch monitors and enclosures that fit, and where a beam or a duct gets in the swing.
Width
Across the room, the builder looks for GSV's 7 ft from the ball to the side wall behind the golfer's back and 3 ft from the ball to the side wall the golfer faces. The widths below are for a 5 ft 9 in golfer.
- 14 ft and wider: the tee goes in the middle of the room, and right and left-handed golfers both hit at the center of the screen. A taller golfer needs more: at 6 ft 2 in the builder centers the tee from about 15 ft.
- 10 ft to under 14 ft, one side: the tee moves off center so the golfer keeps the 7 ft behind the back. This suits one golfer, or a household that all swings from the same side.
- 10 ft 4 in to under 14 ft, both sides: with a launch monitor beside or behind the ball, the builder sets two tees on one double-width mat, a right-handed tee right of center and a left-handed tee the same distance left of it. From 14 ft it goes back to one tee in the middle. An overhead unit has to cover both tees with one hitting zone, which keeps its two tees closer together, by model.
- Under 10 ft: tight. The builder flags the side-to-side swing room.
Depth
Depth is a sum: 1 ft behind the screen, the distance from screen to tee, and 7 ft behind the tee. At the ideal 10 ft from the screen that comes to 18 ft. With the tee at the 8 ft least it comes to 16 ft. The builder will pass a shorter room with cautions, by giving up some of the 7 ft behind the tee, and the launch monitor can change the sum: a radar unit needs its own distance behind the ball, and some ceiling units ask for more than 8 ft from tee to screen. Step 2 has a table of the least depth for each kind.
The quick way to check all of this is the GSV Sim Builder. Type in the room, pick a golfer height and it lays the build out in 3D, moves the tee off center when the room is narrow and says what fits, what is tight and what does not fit. For a quick answer without the 3D room, the room size checker runs the same check for every launch monitor at once.
Step 2: Choose a launch monitor by where it sits
Launch monitors go in one of three places: behind the ball, beside the ball or on the ceiling. Where a unit sits decides how much room it needs, so it is the best way to narrow the list. The placement distances below are each maker's own, from its manual or support pages.
Behind the ball: radar units
A radar unit sits on the floor behind the ball, on the line to the target, and watches the ball fly toward the screen. It needs its own distance behind the tee and room in front of the tee for the ball to fly.
| Launch monitor | Unit to ball | Ball flight to the screen |
|---|---|---|
| FlightScope Mevo Gen2 | 7 to 9 ft, 8 ft recommended | 8 ft at the least |
| Garmin Approach R10 | 6 to 8 ft | 8 ft at the least |
| Rapsodo MLM2PRO | 6 ft 6 in to 8 ft 6 in | 8 ft |
| Full Swing KIT | 8 to 10 ft indoors | 8 to 10 ft |
In GSV's own testing of the Mevo Gen2, 7 ft from ball to unit and 8 ft from ball to screen are the bare minimum, and 10 ft to the screen is the ideal. The unit shares the space behind the tee with the golfer, so a radar unit adds little to a room that already has GSV's 7 ft there. What it cannot do is make do with less, the way a unit beside the ball can. The step-by-step is in how to set up the Mevo Gen2 indoors.
Launch monitors that sit behind the ball
- FlightScope Mevo Gen25% off at FlightScope with code GSVMEVO.
- Garmin Approach R105% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
- Rapsodo MLM2PRO5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- Full Swing KIT5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
Will it fit? See each in your room in the free GSV Sim Builder, in 3D: Mevo Gen2, Garmin R10, MLM2PRO, Full Swing KIT.
Buying through GSV's links and codes helps support the channel: GSV earns a small commission at no extra cost to you, and you still get every saving available. Prices are on the shop's page. Codes last checked October 7, 2026.
Beside the ball: camera units
A camera unit sits on the floor across the ball from the golfer and photographs the ball as it leaves. It asks for no distance of its own behind the ball and no set distance to the screen, which makes it the usual answer for a short room. It does need a clear strip of floor on the far side of the ball: the builder looks for 3 ft from the ball to the side wall.
| Launch monitor | Where the ball goes |
|---|---|
| Square Golf Home Edition | Hitting zone centered 16 1/2 in out from the unit |
| SkyTrak ST MAX | 15 in from the unit, on its laser dot |
| Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro | About 2 ft from the unit |
| Garmin Approach R50 | About 1 ft 6 in to the side of the tee |
A floor unit faces the golfer, so check how it handles a left-handed player before buying for a mixed household. Uneekor, for one, says its floor units move to the other side of the ball for a left-hander.
Launch monitors that sit beside the ball
- Square Golf Home Edition5% off at Square Golf with code GSVSQUARE.
- SkyTrak ST MAXGSV code for SkyTrak: GOLFSIMULATORVIDEOS.Applied automatically through the GSV link.
- Foresight GC35% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
- Bushnell Launch Pro5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- Garmin Approach R505% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
On the ceiling: overhead units
An overhead unit is fixed to the ceiling near the tee and looks down at the hitting area. Nothing sits on the floor, so there is nothing to move between a right and a left-handed golfer. The cost is height and, on some models, distance: these units are specified for a ceiling of about 9 to 10 ft, and several ask for more than 8 ft from tee to screen.
| Launch monitor | Where it mounts | Tee to screen |
|---|---|---|
| Uneekor EYE XO2 | 9 to 10 ft from the ground, 3 ft 6 in ahead of the tee | 9 to 10 ft in the manual. Uneekor's help center asks for 10 ft at the least. |
| ProTee VX | 9 to 10 ft from ceiling to hitting surface, 3 ft 4 in to 3 ft 7 in from the hitting area | No requirement |
| Foresight Falcon | Ceiling ideally 9 ft 6 in to 10 ft 6 in, hitting mat 4 ft from the unit | 10 to 12 ft |
| Trackman iO | Turf to ceiling 8 ft 10 in to 10 ft 6 in across its three versions, toward the screen from the tee | 8 ft 2 in at the least, 10 ft recommended |
| TruGolf APOGEE | 9 to 10 ft above the hitting surface, 21 to 25 in ahead of the tee by ceiling height | Not published |
The two most common overhead choices are compared in ProTee VX vs Uneekor EYE XO2.
Ceiling-mounted launch monitors
- Uneekor EYE XO25% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
- ProTee VXPriced by GSV as part of a package. Email Jay at GSV before you order.
- Foresight Falcon5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- Trackman iOThrough the GSV link at Shop Indoor Golf.
- TruGolf APOGEEPriced by GSV as part of a package. Email Jay at GSV before you order.
Which kind fits which room
Depth first. This is the least room depth the builder passes for each unit, in a room 14 ft wide with a 10 ft ceiling and a 5 ft 9 in golfer.
| Launch monitor | Fits, with cautions, from | Every check clear from |
|---|---|---|
| Beside the ball: Square Golf, SkyTrak ST MAX, Foresight GC3, Garmin R50 | 14 ft 4 in | 17 ft |
| Garmin Approach R10 | 15 ft 6 in | 17 ft |
| Rapsodo MLM2PRO | 16 ft | 17 ft |
| FlightScope Mevo Gen2 | 16 ft 6 in | 17 ft 6 in |
| Full Swing KIT | 17 ft 6 in | 18 ft 6 in |
| ProTee VX | 15 ft 3 in | 17 ft |
| Uneekor EYE XO2 | 15 ft 4 in | 17 ft |
| Trackman iO | 15 ft 1 in | 17 ft |
| Foresight Falcon | 16 ft 4 in | 18 ft |
| TruGolf APOGEE | 14 ft 4 in | 17 ft |
These depths are from the GSV Sim Builder, which sets the screen 1 ft off the wall and applies each maker's distances and GSV's swing room. The first column is the shortest room with nothing marked as not fitting, and it is a room at its limit: units beside the ball and on the ceiling are left with 5 ft 4 in behind the tee against GSV's 7 ft, and the radar units have the tee at the 8 ft least. The second column is where every check passes.
An overhead unit has to hang clear of the enclosure's roof. With a 5 ft deep enclosure the builder holds the tee about 9 ft from the screen for the ProTee VX, the Trackman iO and the EYE XO2, which is why they need more depth than a unit beside the ball.
- Short room: a unit beside the ball fits the shortest rooms, because it asks for no distance of its own.
- Ceiling under 9 ft: a unit beside the ball or behind it. Overhead units are specified for about 9 ft and up.
- Right and left-handed golfers sharing: an overhead unit, or a radar unit behind a tee in the middle of the room. Neither has to move between golfers.
- Use at the driving range too: a portable radar unit such as the Mevo Gen2 or the Garmin R10. The Square Golf Home Edition is for indoor use only.
For what each unit measures, what it costs and what GSV found testing it, see the best golf simulators of 2026 and the best launch monitors under $1,000.
Step 3: Size the enclosure and screen to the room
The screen should be as big as the room allows and no bigger. A small enclosure in a wide room wastes the picture, and one that is too big cannot be assembled. GSV leaves 2 in on each side and 2 in above an enclosure to put it together, and sets the screen 12 in off the wall behind it. The tables work that out for enclosures from the two makers GSV has built with, Shop Indoor Golf's SIG series and Carl's Place.
| Enclosure | Outer size, wide x high | Screen, wide x high |
|---|---|---|
| SIG8 | 8 ft 4 in x 8 ft 4 in | 7 ft 7 in x 7 ft 7 in |
| SIG10 | 10 ft 10 in x 8 ft 4 in | 10 ft 1 in x 7 ft 7 in |
| SIG12 | 12 ft 2 in x 9 ft 4 in | 11 ft 5 in x 8 ft 7 in |
| Carl's Place DIY 7.7 x 10 | 10 ft 5 in x 8 ft | 9 ft 3 in x 6 ft 11 in |
| Carl's Place DIY 7.7 x 13 | 13 ft 7 in x 8 ft | 12 ft 5 in x 7 ft |
| Carl's Place Pro 9 x 12 | 12 ft 4 in x 9 ft 6 in | 11 ft 2 in x 8 ft 5 in |
| Carl's Place Pro 8.5 x 14.5 | 15 ft 2 in x 8 ft 11 in | 14 ft x 7 ft 10 in |
Sizes are from Shop Indoor Golf's product pages and Carl's Place's spec sheets, which give them in inches to a tenth: they are rounded to the inch here. The SIG enclosures are 5 ft deep. Carl's Place sells its DIY and Pro lines in more sizes than the four here. Add GSV's 2 in on each side and 2 in above to the exact size, round up to the inch, and this is the room each one needs:
| Enclosure | Room width | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| SIG8 | 8 ft 8 in | 8 ft 6 in |
| SIG10 | 11 ft 2 in | 8 ft 6 in |
| SIG12 | 12 ft 6 in | 9 ft 6 in |
| Carl's Place DIY 7.7 x 10 | 10 ft 9 in | 8 ft 2 in |
| Carl's Place DIY 7.7 x 13 | 14 ft | 8 ft 2 in |
| Carl's Place Pro 9 x 12 | 12 ft 9 in | 9 ft 8 in |
| Carl's Place Pro 8.5 x 14.5 | 15 ft 6 in | 9 ft 1 in |
With a 10 ft ceiling the builder's best fit by room width runs like this: a SIG8 up to 10 ft 8 in wide, a Carl's Place DIY 7.7 x 10 from 10 ft 9 in, a SIG10 from 11 ft 2 in, a SIG12 from 12 ft 6 in and a Carl's Place Pro 8.5 x 14.5 from 15 ft 6 in.
On shape, the most popular screens are 4:3 or 16:10. They give the most height for their width, which keeps a high wedge shot on the screen.
Three other ways to hang a screen come up often:
- A net, or a screen on a simple frame. The lowest cost way to start hitting. A net shows no picture, so the shot is read on a tablet or a TV.
- A built-in screen. The screen is framed into the room from wall to wall. It gives the biggest picture a room can hold and suits a finished room.
- A retractable screen. It rolls up when the car comes back in, which makes it the garage answer. GSV's G-TRAK build is linked under the videos below.
More on each shop's enclosures: the Carl's Place enclosure review, the SIG10 review and build and nine real garage golf simulator builds.
Enclosures and screens
- SIG8 enclosure$250 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV250.SIG8, SIG10 and SIG12 enclosures and studios, DIY and commercial enclosures, G-TRAK screens, SIGPRO flooring and complete simulator packages.
- SIG10 enclosure$250 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV250.
- SIG12 enclosure$250 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV250.
- Carl's Place enclosures and screens5% off at Carl's Place. GSV emails you the code.
- Golf simulator enclosures and screens$250 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV250.
Step 4: Fit the projector to the screen
Buy the projector after the screen is chosen, because the screen decides where the projector has to hang. The number that matters is the throw ratio: how far the lens sits from the screen for each foot of picture width. The projector calculator does the sums for every projector against your room.
Throw distance = throw ratio x picture width. One catch: most projectors make a 16:9 picture and many enclosure screens are closer to 4:3, which is taller. To fill a tall screen from top to bottom the full picture has to be wider than the screen, so work from the screen's height: the full picture is the height x 1.78. The projector's screen fill setting, where it has one, or the computer's display setting then keeps the picture inside the screen.
| Screen | Throw ratio about 0.5 | Throw ratio 0.69 to 0.83 |
|---|---|---|
| SIG10 | 6 ft 9 in | 9 ft 4 in to 11 ft 2 in |
| SIG12 | 7 ft 7 in | 10 ft 6 in to 12 ft 8 in |
| Carl's Place Pro 8.5 x 14.5 | 7 ft | 9 ft 8 in to 11 ft 7 in |
Distances are from the lens to the screen, worked out in the GSV Sim Builder from BenQ's published throw ratios: 0.499 for the AH500ST and 0.496 for the LK830ST, and 0.69 to 0.83 for the AK700ST, AH700ST and TK710STi. The AK900ST and LK936ST have a longer lens, 0.81 to 0.89, and hang further back: 10 ft 11 in to 12 ft from a SIG10, 12 ft 4 in to 13 ft 7 in from a SIG12 and 11 ft 4 in to 12 ft 5 in from the Carl's Place Pro 8.5 x 14.5.
With the tee 10 ft from the screen, a lens of about 0.5 hangs ahead of the golfer and a 0.69 to 0.83 lens hangs over or just behind the golfer. GSV has many projectors mounted over the golfer with no trouble. What matters is that the club cannot reach the projector, so check the top of the swing against it before the mount goes up.
- Height. A projector's offset says how far above the top of the picture the lens sits. BenQ lists 102.5% for the AK700ST, which puts the lens a little above the top of the picture: 9 ft 2 in up on the SIG12 in the builder. The lenses of about 0.5 have a higher offset, 112% on the AH500ST and 114% on the LK830ST, so they want to hang higher than there is room for over a SIG10 or SIG12. There the builder cautions that the picture starts 6 to 7 in below the top of the screen unless the projector is tilted up 4 to 5 degrees and squared up with keystone, which costs some sharpness and brightness. On the Carl's Place Pro 8.5 x 14.5 both fill the screen straight on. A model with lens shift, such as the AK900ST or LK936ST, can hang higher or lower and move the picture to suit.
- Shape. Check that the projector lists the shape of the screen, 4:3, 16:10 or 16:9, under its screen fill or aspect settings.
- Mounting. Under a tall ceiling the projector hangs on a drop mount. A short throw projector can also sit on the floor: GSV reviewed the BenQ AH500ST for floor mounting.
The builder does this sum for every projector in its list and shows where each one hangs in the room. GSV's picks are on the best golf simulator projectors page.
Golf simulator projectors
- BenQ AK700ST5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
- BenQ AH500ST5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- BenQ LK936ST5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- Golf simulator projectors5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
Step 5: Pick the hitting mat
The mat follows from the width decision in Step 1.
- Centered tee: a double-width mat with the hitting strip in the middle and a stance area on each side, so right and left-handed golfers share it. The SIGPRO Softy 4 x 10 ft is 2.5 in thick with a 28 x 12 in strip in the center. Two tees for a right and a left-hander in a narrower room go on a double-width mat as well, with a second hitting strip added to the order: one for each tee.
- Offset tee: a mat with one stance area, which takes less of the room's width. The builder uses the SIGPRO Softy 4 x 7 ft or the Super Softy 4 x 6 ft single sided here.
Quality matters here: GSV's view is that a cheap mat hurts the joints over time. The best golf simulator mat guide compares the mats GSV has built with. Thickness matters too, because the mat lifts the golfer and its height counts against the ceiling. The ceiling table in Step 1 allows for a 2.5 in mat.
To putt, the floor between the mat and the screen has to sit level with the mat. GSV lays turf over foam tiles or carpet padding to bring it up to the mat's height, with a tight seam where the two meet.
Where to buy golf hitting mats
- Golf hitting mats$20 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSVMAT. On a first order over $400, GSV5OFF takes more: 5% off.SIGPRO Softy, Super Softy, Softy Lite and Commercial Teeline mats.
Step 6: Computer and software
Most full simulator software runs on a Windows gaming PC. Some launch monitors also run their own app on a phone or a tablet, and the Garmin Approach R50 has a computer and a screen built in. GSV's guides cover the detail: the best computer for a golf simulator and whether GSPro needs a gaming PC.
Software is the half of the launch monitor decision that is easy to miss. Each unit comes with its own software, and each maker decides which outside software it connects to and whether that takes a subscription. GSPro is separate paid software. Several launch monitors connect to it with a free GSPro connector and others need a paid plan, so check before buying. The 2026 golf simulator software guide has what works with what.
A touchscreen beside the mat saves walking to the keyboard between shots.
Simulator computers and touchscreens
- SurfThing simulator PCsSurfThing: $100 off applied automatically, no code.
- TouchscreenGuru touchscreensGSV code for TouchscreenGuru: GSV5.
Step 7: Put it together
- Mark the tee. Put tape on the floor where the tee will go: 10 ft from where the screen will hang if the room allows, centered or offset as Step 1 decided. Make slow practice swings there with a driver.
- Build the enclosure and hang the screen. Assemble the frame in place, 12 in off the wall behind it, and tension the screen evenly.
- Lay the floor. Turf first if the room is getting it, then the mat, with the tee on the tape mark.
- Hang the projector. Hold it at the distance from Step 4 and check that the picture fills the screen before fastening the mount.
- Place the launch monitor. Use the maker's distances from Step 2, and measure a ceiling unit's height the way its maker does: ProTee, Trackman and TruGolf from the hitting surface, which is the top of the mat, and Uneekor from the ground.
- Connect and align. Connect the launch monitor to the computer, install the software and run the unit's alignment so that straight on the screen is straight in the room.
- Set up the lighting. GSV lights the tee area and keeps light off the screen, which keeps the picture strong. Follow the launch monitor maker's guidance on lighting.
- Test from short to long. Start with wedges and work up to the driver.
Swing indoors with caution. The figures in this guide are estimates, not guarantees. Always test your clearances before you make a full swing: start with slow practice swings with your longest club, and check the ceiling, the walls, the lights, the launch monitor, the projector and anyone standing nearby. Golf Simulator Videos and its affiliates take no responsibility for your safety, or for any injury or damage, when you swing indoors.
How much does it cost to build a golf simulator?
From under $1,500 to $15,000 and up. The launch monitor is typically 40 to 60% of the total, so it sets the level of the whole build. These are GSV's estimates for complete builds it has put together or priced.
| Build | GSV's estimate |
|---|---|
| Net or basic screen with a Square Golf Home Edition or Garmin R10 | Under $1,500 all-in |
| Square Golf Home Edition with an enclosure, projector and mat | $3,500 to $5,000 all-in |
| SIG10 enclosure build | $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the launch monitor |
| SkyTrak complete package | $4,000 to $7,000 |
| Garmin Approach R50 with an enclosure and projector | $7,000 to $9,000 all-in |
| ProTee VX with an enclosure, projector and mat | $9,000 to $11,000 all-in |
| Luxury room with a Carl's Place Pro enclosure | $15,000 and up |
The estimates are from GSV's 2026 buyer's guide and its garage builds. Prices move and sales come and go, so treat them as ranges. Building to a tight number is covered in how to build the best budget golf simulator, and the golf simulator cost calculator adds up a build part by part.
The costs people forget: the projector mount and a long video cable, turf and padding for the floor, lighting, padding for a beam or a wall near the screen, and software that renews each year.
Ask for a package deal before you buy the parts one by one. Lay the room out in the GSV Sim Builder and send the build to Jay. GSV can put the whole build together as a package deal, launch monitor and computer included, and works only with trusted master installers to make sure the hardware and software fit the room. It is free.
The golf simulator packages guide compares who sells complete packages and what each includes.
Complete golf simulator packages
- Complete golf simulator packages$250 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV250. On a first order over $5,000, GSV5OFF takes more: 5% off.SIG8, SIG10 and SIG12 enclosures and studios, DIY and commercial enclosures, G-TRAK screens, SIGPRO flooring and complete simulator packages.
Watch GSV build it
The video at the top of this page is a full Carl's Place DIY enclosure build. Every build starts with a plan, so the first video here is the GSV Sim Builder, then four more of GSV's builds, from the lowest budget up.
Plan it first: the GSV Sim Builder
Jay walks through the GSV Sim Builder from start to finish: the GSV Studio, a beam and a garage door overhead, the golfer's height and hand, a Carl's Place Pro with a ProTee VX in a garage, turf cut to the room, and sending a build to GSV for a free consultation. Since the video, garage doors, roll-up screens and a parked car are under Your room, Garage, and the projector's zoom and lens shift can be set by hand.
Budget build
SIG10 enclosure
Carl's Place Pro enclosure
Ceiling launch monitor
More builds:
- G-TRAK retractable screen in a garage
- SkyTrak Plus DIY simulator kit build
- Carl's Place DIY enclosure build, the write-up for the video at the top
- All nine garage golf simulator builds
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying before measuring. The room picks the launch monitor and the enclosure. Measure first.
- Measuring the ceiling at its highest point. The swing has to clear the lowest thing above it: a beam, a duct, a light or a garage door track.
- Putting a radar unit in a short room. A unit behind the ball needs its own distance behind the tee, 6 to 10 ft by model, and 8 ft of ball flight in front of it.
- Buying the enclosure at the full width of the room. It needs 2 in on each side and 2 in above to go together.
- Buying the projector before the screen. The throw ratio has to suit the screen's size and the place the projector can hang.
- Setting the tee too close or too far. Under 8 ft the ball can bounce back. Past 12 ft the picture is too far away.
- Forgetting the left-hander. One tee in the middle needs about 14 ft of width and a double-width mat. In a narrower room, plan on two tees.
- Leaving software out of the budget. Check what the launch monitor includes and what renews each year.
Free consultation with GSV's partner builders
Planning a golf simulator room? Jay works with official partners: master builders he hand-picked, who get on a call quickly and make sure you have the right fit before you buy anything. They offer package deals on the whole build, DIY packages to put together yourself, full installation, and more. The consultation is free.
To start from the room, build it in the GSV Sim Builder and press the button to send it to Jay. The build arrives with its measurements and fit checks, and the answer comes back by email: what GSV would change and the codes that apply.
Golf simulator build questions
How much room do you need for a golf simulator?
For a 5 ft 9 in golfer GSV plans on a 9 ft ceiling, 14 ft of width and 18 ft of depth. The depth is 1 ft behind the screen, 10 ft from the screen to the tee and 7 ft behind the tee. A room 10 ft wide works for one golfer with the tee set off center, and 16 ft of depth works with the tee 8 ft from the screen.
What is the minimum ceiling height for a golf simulator?
It depends on the golfer and the club. In GSV's swing model a 5 ft 9 in golfer's driver tops out near 8 ft 4 in, so 8 ft 5 in clears it and 9 ft gives headroom. A 6 ft 2 in golfer needs 9 ft to clear a driver and 9 ft 6 in for headroom. These are estimates, so make a slow practice swing in the room before buying. Ceiling-mounted launch monitors are specified for a ceiling of about 9 to 10 ft.
How much does it cost to build a golf simulator at home?
GSV's estimates run from under $1,500 for a net or basic screen with a Square Golf Home Edition or Garmin R10, to $3,000 to $6,000 for a SIG10 enclosure build, to $9,000 to $11,000 for a ceiling-mounted ProTee VX build, and $15,000 and up for a luxury room. The launch monitor is typically 40 to 60% of the total.
How far should the tee be from the screen?
8 ft is the least GSV builds with, 10 ft is the ideal and 12 ft is the most. Closer than 8 ft the ball can bounce back at the golfer. Past 12 ft the picture is too far away.
What launch monitor is best for a small room?
One that sits beside the ball, such as the Square Golf Home Edition or the SkyTrak ST MAX. It asks for no distance of its own behind the ball or in front of it, so it fits the shortest rooms. A radar unit needs 6 to 10 ft behind the ball for itself, and a ceiling-mounted unit needs a ceiling of about 9 to 10 ft and, on some models, 9 ft or more from tee to screen.
Can you build a golf simulator in a garage?
Yes. A garage usually has the depth, so check the height under the door track and the opener, which is often the lowest point over the swing. A retractable screen rolls up when the car comes back in. GSV has filmed nine garage builds from a net to a full enclosure.
Do you need a computer for a golf simulator?
Most full simulator software runs on a Windows gaming PC. Some launch monitors run their own app on a phone or a tablet, and the Garmin Approach R50 has a computer and a screen built in.
Can right and left-handed golfers share a golf simulator?
Yes. In a room 14 ft wide or more the tee goes in the middle, both golfers hit at the center of the screen and a double-width mat gives each a place to stand. A ceiling-mounted launch monitor leaves nothing on the floor to move between them. In a narrower room with a launch monitor beside or behind the ball, the GSV Sim Builder sets two tees on one double-width mat, one for each side.
Is there free help planning a golf simulator build?
Yes. Jay offers a free consultation with GSV's partner master builders, hand-picked by Jay, who get on a call quickly and make sure everything fits. They offer package deals, DIY packages, full installation and more. Use the free consultation button on this page.
More from GSV
- GSV Sim Builder: lay out a room in 3D
- Free golf simulator tools
- Launch monitor finder
- Best golf simulators of 2026
- Golf simulator enclosures compared
- Garage golf simulator: nine real builds
- How to build the best budget golf simulator
- Best golf simulator projectors
- Best golf simulator software of 2026
- GSV discount codes
All GSV posts on this (6)
- See Your Golf Simulator in Your Room With Augmented Reality, Before You Buy 2026
- Budget Golf Simulator Build: A Net, a Screen and a Garmin R10 2024
- Are Golf Simulators Worth It? The Costs, the Break-Even Math and Who Should Skip One 2024
- NEW HOME GOLF SIMULATOR! How to DIY SIG10 Build + BENQ LH820ST Review 2023
- How to Fix Golf Simulator Stuttering: Refresh Rate vs FPS 2022
- Affordable DIY Home Golf Simulator Build: Every Part, the Room and the Setup 2021
Build the rest of your sim
- Enclosure and screen$250 off at Shop Indoor GolfShop
- Carl's Place enclosure5% off, code sent by emailShopGet the code
- Hitting mat$20 off at Shop Indoor Golf. GSV5OFF is more on a first order over $400Shop
- Projector5% off at Shop Indoor Golf. First-time buyersShop
- Simulator computerSurfThing: $100 off applied automatically, no codeShop
- TouchscreenGSV code for TouchscreenGuruShop
- Complete package$250 off at Shop Indoor Golf. GSV5OFF is more on a first order over $5,000Shop
GSV earns a small commission on these links, at no extra cost to you. Shop Indoor Golf takes one code per order.