Golf Simulator Room Size Guide: How Much Space Do You Actually Need?

Nearly every enquiry we get starts the same way. Someone runs a tape measure up their garage wall, gets 2.4m, and asks "is that enough for a golf sim?"

Here's the honest answer, based on the setups we've actually spec'd and delivered across Australia. No fluff, just numbers.

In this guide: At a glance · Ceiling height · Room width · Room depth · Hitting mat distance · Swing test · Launch monitor type · Room environment · FAQ

Golf Simulator Room Size at a Glance

If your room ticks the "Our recommendation" column, you're in great shape. If it doesn't, don't pack the clubs away just yet. Keep reading.

Ceiling Height: The Build Killer

Height kills more golf sim builds than anything else. Our minimum recommendation for a home setup is 2.8m. Below that you can still build something worthwhile, but taller players and steeper swings start losing driver clearance.

Plenty of customers have gone irons-only because of a low ceiling. Not ideal, but for a lot of lads and ladies it beats no sim at all.

Enclosure Height

Going with an out-of-the-box RooBox Enclosure? You'll need at least 150mm of clearance above it to assemble it. Fully custom builds can often run the full height of the room, depending on the build method.

Room Width: Mind Your Follow Through

We recommend a minimum room width of 3.5m. Even at 3.5m, depending on your height and swing, you may need to hit slightly off centre so your driver doesn't meet the wall on the way through. Walls always win.

If you have the freedom, 4.5m lets you hit centrally without worrying about the wall.

Hitting off centre isn't the end of the world, as most simulator software lets you move the tee position. Just remember, if you're ceiling mounting your projector, its placement needs to work with where you're actually swinging. Check out our projector guide for more info on this.

Enclosure Width

Don't forget to leave room for your PC station, TV and golf bag.

Room Depth: The One People Underestimate

5.3m is our recommended minimum room depth. Going shorter only works in special circumstances and means compromising on comfort or club selection. Not ideal when you're spending good money on a setup (slightly less good money at Aussie Golf Sims, we might add).

Here's how a typical layout adds up:

Enclosure Depth

Our standard out-of-the-box enclosures are 1.5m deep, which catches everything except the odd absolute shank or moon shot.

A common misconception is "deeper is safer for my room." Here's the catch: if your enclosure is lacking width, a deeper one brings the frame closer to your follow through.

Our rule of thumb: unless your enclosure is tall and wide enough to swing a club while standing right at its front edge, allow 1.5m to 2m between the front edge of the enclosure and your hitting zone. That's why we sometimes recommend going shallower than 1.5m in rooms short on depth.

If your impact screen spans the whole width of the room, the room itself becomes the enclosure and your wall padding can extend back as far as you like (as long as the room is wide enough for your follow through).

How Far Should the Hitting Mat Be From the Screen?

There's more to this than the numbers alone. For the full picture, see our ball-to-screen distance guide.

The 5-Minute Swing Test for Your Room

Measurements are great, but nothing beats swinging a club in the actual space.

1. Mark your hitting zone 3.3m from the wall you'll be hitting towards (30cm for the enclosure gap plus 3m to the ball).
2. Take a slow swing and check your clearance:
   • Ceiling: No problems through the whole bag? The height is sweet. Struggling with woods? Irons-only might be your go.
   • Rear wall: Too close? Move your hitting zone 30cm towards the screen. That's about as close as you'd want to go, and you'll likely need a shallower enclosure. Also check the gear you wanted behind you still fits.
   • Side wall: If your follow through gets close to the wall, you'll need to hit off centre.
3. Swing at normal pace and work through the bag, starting with shorter irons. It's a strange feeling swinging indoors the first time, so ease into it.

No issues and happy with the rest of the layout? Good news mate, you can fit a sim.

Launch Monitor Type Affects Your Room Layout

Lots of people pick a launch monitor before checking their room. Often it should be the other way round, because each type has different space requirements. If you're still deciding, our launch monitor buyer's guide runs through the main options in Australia.

Setting Up the Room Environment

The dream setup is a dedicated room with zoned lighting, no natural light and dark walls around the sim. Projectors perform best in the dark, and some camera-based launch monitors struggle with natural light, causing misreads and no-reads. You still need good light on the ball though, so a spotlight or lighting zone is handy.

We get it, most Aussies don't have a spare blacked-out room waiting around (must be nice). Whether it's a garage, shed or open-plan living area, you can still build an unreal setup by nailing three things:

Projector Placement

Depending on the model, your projector could sit anywhere from 1.8m to 4m from the screen. It deserves its own article, so check out our projector throw ratio and keystone guide.

Can You Actually Assemble the Enclosure in Your Room?

The one everyone forgets. Enclosure frames are stood up and rotated into position inside the room, and we've held off confirming orders before because we weren't sure the customer could physically spin the frame in their space.

The RooBox Enclosure needs at least 150mm of clearance on height and width for assembly, so factor that in if you're going out of the box.

Golf Simulator Room Size FAQs

Is a 2.5m ceiling high enough for a golf simulator?

It's possible for irons and practice, but driver use is unlikely for most golfers. We recommend 2.8m as a minimum for a home setup.

What is the minimum room size for a golf simulator?

Our recommended minimum is 2.8m high, 3.5m wide and 5m deep. Smaller rooms can work with compromises like irons-only play or hitting off centre.

How deep does a golf simulator room need to be?

At least 5m, and ideally 5.3m or more once you account for the wall gap, ball distance and safety zone. Aim for 6-7m if you want room for spectators and seating.

How far should I stand from a golf simulator screen?

Around 3m from the screen to the ball is ideal, with 3.5m preferred for some launch monitors. 2.5m is the practical minimum.

Can I put a golf simulator in my garage?

Absolutely, garages are one of the most common spots we build in. Just measure your ceiling height first (mind the garage door track and roller motor), check your width for follow through, and sort out lighting and ventilation. Most garages that hit our recommended numbers make a cracking sim room.

Send Us Your Measurements

Not sure if your space will work? Send us your width, height and depth, plus any obstructions like garage door tracks, roller motors, beams or lights. We'll tell you whether a RooBox Enclosure will fit or if you need a custom build, before you spend a cent.

Buying your sim gear through us? We'll also do free frame drawings and 3D models for custom builds.

Photos help more than you'd think. Half the time a photo shows us something the tape measure didn't.

Thanks legends, hopefully this helps!