Recently, inflatable movie screens have become more popular. These screens are great because they can be set up anywhere and don’t require electricity or any other special equipment to work. They also allow you to watch movies in the open air, which is a lot of fun.
Since most brands and models use a built-in air blower to keep the screen inflated, there has been some concern about whether they are noisy when they’re being used.
Are Inflatable Movie Screens Noisy?
In general, inflatable movie screens don’t make any sound at all, and the little bit of sound produced by the air blower used to keep the screen inflated will mostly be muted by the screen itself, any remaining sound will be drowned out by speakers or PA system.
Many brands will include a sound dampening box that the air blower will sit in to help further mute any sound. There is a chance that some sound can be heard if someone is sitting particularly close to where the air blower is or if the sound is being reverberated by the natural surroundings.
Typically though, the ambient sounds of being outside (wind, animals, trees, etc.) will make the hum of the air blower blend in.
How Loud Are Inflatable Movie Screens?
On average, the noise from the air blowers on inflatable movie screens has been compared to the noise that comes from a box fan (about 60 dB) on the quieter side to a vacuum cleaner (80 dB) on the louder side.
The air blower that is used to inflate the screen makes a similar noise to a box fan or a vacuum cleaner, but it’s doubtful anyone would be able to sit close enough to hear it well unless there’s no sound currently coming from speakers or an audio system.
While it is possible that someone sitting particularly close may hear some sound, this would only happen if they were actively trying to listen for it and their surroundings weren’t creating enough ambient noise to drown out any remaining sound.
Before getting together for a movie night, it’s a good idea to try and measure how loud your inflatable movie screen will be so you can arrange seating to minimize any impact it may have on people’s enjoyment of the film.
What Are Some Ways To Reduce The Noise Caused By Inflatable Movie Screen Fans?
If you’re concerned about the noise that your inflatable movie screen might make, there are a few things you can do to reduce any impact it may have:
- Make sure the blower is positioned behind the screen.
- Consider getting or building a sound dampening box.
- Position the blower so that the surrounding area doesn’t reflect the sound towards the audience.
- Surround the blower with heavy blankets or tarps to help muffle the sound.
After inflating and laying down your screen, plug in the air blower and let it run for an hour or so before putting anything in front of it (the sound will be muffled by the screen)
If you’re using an inflatable movie screen that has a sound dampening box, try placing either side of the box fans’ faces upon each other. This will help muffle any remaining noise and can be done as many times as needed (you could even alternate turning them over every hour if it’s really too loud).
If there are any trees or bushes around where you’re planning on setting up your inflatable movie screen, try moving it to a different location. The leaves and branches may cause the air blower noise to reverberate more than if it was being muffled by natural surroundings which could make an audible hum from the air blower louder.
If none of these options are possible, you can also try putting up some heavy-duty tarps or blankets in an arc around the air blower to help muffle any sound.
By doing a little bit of preparation before your movie night starts, chances are there won’t be any problems with noise from inflatable movie screens and everyone will get to enjoy a quiet and calm evening under the stars.
Are There Outdoor Movie Screens That Aren’t Inflatable?
While inflatable screens are definitely the most popular, there are also outdoor movie screens that don’t use an air blower to stay inflated.
If you’re worried that the air blower on an inflatable movie screen will be too loud for you and your family, then you might want to consider a folding-frame stand model.
These types of screens may be slightly more expensive but they can provide a better viewing experience because you won’t have to rely on the sound being drowned out by ambient noise or other speakers.
They are also more durable, so they are less likely to get damaged in colder weather. The frames are also typically built from aluminum which is less likely to be punctured or cut.
As with an inflatable movie screen, these models are easy to set up and take down as needed. You just have to unfold them into place or remove the fabric from the frame then lock it in place before you start watching a film on it.
These screens can be set up anywhere you would normally need an inflatable screen and don’t require electricity or any other special equipment to power them.
They’re particularly good for outdoor movie screenings because the lack of an air blower doesn’t create too much noise that would disturb any other people in the area.
Non-inflatable screens come with their own disadvantages, however. For example:
- Some non-inflatable models are more expensive than an inflatable screen.
- Aren’t quite as easy to set up either.
Final Thoughts
Having outdoor movie nights would be a great tradition to start with your family and friends, but you may need to do a little experimentation with screen location, set-up, and where everyone is going to sit so that everyone can have the best viewer experience.
If you’re concerned about noise pollution from an inflatable screen air blower, look into some ways to muffle the sound before you start your movie night…and if all else fails, consider a non-inflatable screen.
If you have more questions about owning an inflatable movie screen, I’ve written more articles covering general questions and cleaning, check them out: