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How to build an outdoor movie theater. Outdoor theater setup in front of a lake in the winter.

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professional DIY guide on

How to build an outdoor movie theater©

On sale for $99 (Reg. $199. 50% off)

A limited-time offer valued over $3,600

Introducing the TimberlineOutdoor Movie Theater

Enjoy your favorite shows outside in the fresh air.

This revolutionary outdoor movie theater has the fastest setup time, the most durable frame system, never has to be broken down, and is built to be used year-round. Transform your backyard into an entertainment destination.

Watch to learn more.

Here's what you get

You’ll receive all 4 DIY Guides for just $99 (A bundle value over $3,600).

Introducing the only complete DIY guide on how to build a professional outdoor movie theater. Take the guesswork and pain from trying to figure out how to enjoy your favorite entertainment outside by using this professional DIY guide designed to help you succeed in putting together your dream outdoor movie theater.

You will receive all four DIY guides in .pdf format and get video access to learn how to build, assemble, and install your new outdoor theater setup.

Timberline Movable Frame and Equipment Setup

$3,499.00

Timberline Cemented Frame and Equipment Setup

$3,499.00

Timberline Free-Standing Frame and Equipment Setup

$3,599.00

Timberline Custom Outdoor Projector Stand

$299.00

You’ll get all the resources you need

to build an outdoor movie theater:

Design Plans

Complete design plans on how to build everything.

Material List

List of all materials including hardware, fasteners, and wood.

Required Tools

All tools are covered, from essential handheld to power tools.

Equipment List

Recommended electronics for wireless and wired systems.

How-To Videos

Watch how to build, assemble, and install your outdoor theater.

Tips & Techniques

Avoid costly mistakes and pitfalls with expert advice.

On sale now for $99 (Reg. $199. 50% off)

A limited-time offer valued over $3,600

Streaming Shows

Stream your favorite shows outside on the apps you watch inside.

Movie Night

Enjoy a blockbuster movie on the big screen with family and friends.

Sporting Events

Gather all your friends together to watch favorite teams play.

Video Games

Play life-size video games on a massive cinematic screen.

Perfect for

Homeowners with a backyard who love the outdoors.

The Timberline Outdoor Movie Theater is designed to be an extension of your living room, allowing you to enjoy your favorite movies, streaming shows, sporting events, and more outside, thanks to a fast and easy setup every time. The cinema equipment stays on the custom projector stand and never has to be broken down or boxed up — just like your entertainment center inside your home.

The frame system stays up on your property year-round and is built out of pressure-treated wood and weather-resistant hardware — hang the cinematic screen whenever you want to watch your favorite shows outside. When the nightly entertainment is over, pick up the portable projector stand and bring it inside to protect the equipment from moisture and rain.

Powerful wireless and wired outdoor cinema packages

Go wireless with no extension cords. Go wired for unlimited options.

The Timberline 150” Big Moose Outdoor Movie Theaters come in two different cinema packages: wireless and wired

Timberline Cemented Screen Frame and Wireless Outdoor Movie Theater setup in front of a lake in the winter.

Go Wireless

No extension cords. Fast setup.

This revolutionary wireless outdoor movie theater is powered by an off-grid compact battery station, allowing you to watch your favorite entertainment without running extension cords from your home to the cinema equipment, making for a fast and easy setup every time.

Connect to:

  • Off-Grid Battery Stations
  • Bluetooth Speakers
  • Streaming Devices
  • DVD Players
  • Cast movies from your IOS or Android
  • HDMI, USB, VGA & Audio
Timberline Free-Standing Screen Frame and Wired Outdoor Movie Theater setup in the winter.

Go Wired

Unlimited connection options. Play video games.

The wired cinema package provides a more robust theater experience by adding receivers, tuners, PA speakers, and the ability to play video games on a massive 150” diagonal cinematic screen.

Connect to:

  • External Speakers
  • Streaming Devices
  • DVD players, receivers, and tuners
  • Gaming Consoles
  • PCs, Laptops & Tablets
  • Cast movies from your IOS or Android
  • Wireless Headphones
  • HDMI, USB, VGA & Audio

Most durable outdoor movie theater screen frames

Introducing the Timberline Cemented, Movable, and Free-Standing Frames.

Every homeowner has a different landscape on their property, and the Timberline Cemented, Movable, and Free-Standing Screen Frames solve every challenge when installing a backyard movie theater. Use the Cemented Screen Frame for flat lawns or uneven backyards where you can dig into the ground. Choose the Movable Screen Frame if you have a flat lawn and want the flexibility to move the frame anywhere on your property. Use the Timberline Free-Standing Screen Frame for uneven backyards or if you have ledge stone and can’t dig into the ground.


!When building any of the Timberline Series Outdoor Movie Theater Frame Systems, you must follow the exact instructions covered in the DIY guide to avoid costly mistakes, pitfalls, and potential injury.

Cemented Screen Frame

Perfect for diggable lawns.

The Timberline Series Cemented Screen Frame has a clean and aesthetic appearance and can be installed in the most challenging areas on a property, as long as you can dig at least 26" down into the ground.

Just dig two holes into the ground roughly 30" in diameter, position the screen frame into the dug holes, and pour the cement.

Timberline Cemented Screen Frame and Wired Outdoor Movie Theater setup in the winter.

Permanent

Attractive

Built-to-last

Low-cost

Timberline Movable Screen Frame and Wired Outdoor Movie Theater setup in the winter.

Movable

Sturdy

Year-round

Affordable

Movable Screen Frame

Great for flat lawns.

The Timberline Series Movable Screen Frame looks great and is versatile, allowing you to position the system anywhere on your property as long as you have a flat lawn. The Movable Screen Frame is the best-selling outdoor movie theater among customers in New England.

This movable screen frame makes a great compliment if you own a pool or hot tub. You can even load the frame onto a trailer and take it to your next outdoor event.

Free-Standing Screen Frame

Ideal for any backyard

The Timberline Series Free-Standing Screen Frame has an attractive decorative look and was designed for homeowners who can't dig into the ground due to ledge stone and other obstacles or whose lawn is uneven

The base boxes have inside pressure-treated 4" x 4" supports that hold the frame in place, making it secure. This frame system is also movable.

Timberline Movable Screen Frame and Wired Outdoor Movie Theater setup in the winter.

Movable

Sturdy

Year-round

Affordable

Outdoor projector screen options

Use a manual or electric projector screen or a grommet hole cinematic screen.

The outdoor projector screen you choose will dramatically impact the visual quality you'll experience when watching your favorite entertainment outside. There are many options when selecting your outdoor projector screen online, and I've provided two screens that will give you excellent viewing quality. You can use a manual or electric projector screen or a grommet hole cinematic screen.

!Learn which outdoor projector screens are the best to use and the screens you should avoid — all provided in the DIY guide.

Manual pull-down outdoor projector screen setup on a Timberline Outdoor Movie Theater Screen Frame.
Manual pull-down projector screen
Grommet hole outdoor projection screen setup on a Timberline Outdoor Movie Theater Screen Frame.
Cinematic grommet hole screen
Cinematic grommet hole screen

Timberline Custom projector stand built just for you

The only outdoor projector stand designed just for your backyard.

The Timberline custom outdoor projector stand solves the challenge of correctly getting the projector at the proper height to cast your entertainment onto the cinematic screen using multiple calculations. No outdoor projector stands are available online because manufacturers know one size does not meet everyone's requirements due to different landscaped backyards and theater setups.

!The formula I developed calculates the perfect height the projector needs to be set at, regardless of your backyard landscape — the detailed calculations are in the DIY guide.

Timberline Custom Outdoor Projector Stand set up in the winter.

Custom projector stand

A light-weight portable entertainment center.

  • Custom-built for your equipment
  • A portable entertainment center
  • Electronics always stay on the stand
  • Light-weight and easy to carry
  • Attractive solid wood projector stand
  • Apply polyurethane or stain to protect
  • Store inside when not using

Industry-leading outdoor movie theater features

Fastest setup. Strongest screen frame. Custom projector stand. Year-round.

After researching and testing all of the residential outdoor movie theater setups you can buy online, I found four main areas for improvement. My benchmark testing focused on setup time, durability of the screen frames, cinema equipment organization, and the ability to use year-round in cold climates states like Maine. As a result, all of my Timberline Series Outdoor Movie Theaters have the following time-saving and industry-leading features:

Todd Morton, founder of the Wireless Outdoor Cinema hanging an outdoor projector screen on a Timberline Outdoor Movie Theater.
2-minute setup time
Timberline Movable Outdoor Movie Theater set up on a frozen lake in Maine.
Strongest screen frame
Timberline Custom Outdoor Projector Stand set up in the winter next to a burning bonfire.
Custom projector stand
Atomic Blonde movie playing on a Timberline Outdoor Movie Theater during the winter.
Enjoy movies year-round

Outdoormovie theatercomparison

How does the competition stack up to the Timberline Series 150” Big Moose?

There are only three types of outdoor movie theater screen frames available for homeowners to buy for setting up an outdoor movie theater: the aluminum screen frame systems (made in China), the inflatable screens (made in China), and the solid wood screen frames (designed and handcrafted in Maine by the Wireless Outdoor Cinema Company).

A China-made aluminum screen frame system made for watching outdoor movies.

Aluminum System

Cinema equipment included

$1,500 - 3,000


Timberline Big Moose Outdoor Movie Theater being shown in a comparison chart with outdoor theater competitors.

Timberline Big Moose

Cinema equipment included

$2,900 - 3,000


Frame System Size

11 ft wide x 10' ft high

Frame System Size

12 ft wide x 10' ft high

Cinematic Screen Size

150" diagonal screen

Cinematic Screen Size

150" diagonal screen

1080p Projector

Yes

1080p Projector

Yes

Sound System

Yes

Sound System

Yes

Cinema Packages

Wired only

Cinema Packages

Wireless & Wired

Setup Time

10-15 minutes

Setup Time

2-5 minutes

Custom Projector Stand

No

Custom Projector Stand

Yes

Year-Round Use

Not in snow climates

Year-Round Use

Yes

Frame Storage

Needs to be broken down

Frame Storage

Stays up year-round

Frame Durability

Not sturdy

Frame Durability

Strongest frame system

DIY Guide Available

No

DIY Guide Available

Yes

A China-made inflatable screen made for watching outdoor movies.

Inflatable Systems

Cinema equipment included

$3,500 - 4,500


Timberline Big Moose Outdoor Movie Theater being shown in a comparison chart with outdoor theater competitors.

Timberline Big Moose

Cinema equipment included

$2,900 - 3,000


Frame System Size

13 ft wide x 11' ft high

Frame System Size

12 ft wide x 10' ft high

Cinematic Screen Size

150" diagonal screen

Cinematic Screen Size

150" diagonal screen

1080p Projector

Yes

1080p Projector

Yes

Sound System

Yes

Sound System

Yes

Cinema Packages

Wired only

Cinema Packages

Wireless & Wired

Setup Time

25-30 minutes

Setup Time

2-5 minutes

Custom Projector Stand

No

Custom Projector Stand

Yes

Year-Round Use

Not in snow climates

Year-Round Use

Yes

Frame Storage

Needs to be deflated

Frame Storage

Stays up year-round

Frame Durability

Potential air leaks

Frame Durability

Strongest frame system

DIY Guide Available

No

DIY Guide Available

Yes

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions on how-to build a professional outdoor movie theater.

Below are customers' most frequently asked questions, broken down by category to help you find the answers you need quickly.

Outdoor Movie Theater Costs

The recommended wood for the frame system is pressure-treated 4" x 4" posts. And the recommended lumber to build the custom projector stand is pinewood, and you can also use any time of hardwood. Using pinewood will keep the projector stand's weight light, making it easier to carry. However, when using hardwood like maple or oak, the equipment stand's weight will be heavier.
The cost for lumber will vary depending on your location and source. Lumber is usually more cost-friendly at your local big-box home improvement stores.
Streamline Cemented Frame System: Average cost is between $150-175.
Movable Frame System: Average cost is between $175-225.
Streamline Free-Standing Frame System: Average cost is between $175-225.
Pinewood Custom Projector Stand: Average cost is between $65-$85.

Streamline Frame Systems: The weather- resistant hardware costs between $275-300.

Movable Frame System: The weather- resistant hardware costs between $300-325.

The cinema equipment I offer with my Timberline Premium Wireless 150” Big Moose Package costs between $600 and $ 700.

You can also choose whatever electronic components and brand names you want as long as they are compatible with the recommended equipment setup.

For example, if you want to use a different projector or speaker system, the cost might decrease or increase depending on your preference. You’ll also pay less if you already have some compatible electronic components.

Wireless Cinema Cost: $600

Wired Cinema Equipment: $700

The wireless cinema package is less expensive than the wired cinema by $100 and costs, on average, $600. The wired cinema equipment costs roughly $700.

The overall cost to build your own professional outdoor movie theater is between $1,000 and $1,500.

The cost will be less if you already have lumber and some compatible cinema equipment.

Frame Systems

The recommended space needed for an outdoor movie theater setup is roughly 12 ft x 12 ft, which includes space for seating.

Anyone can easily build, assemble, and install the different frame systems by following the instructions in the 'how-to' manual. Essential tools include a hand saw, Skilsaw or compound saw, drill, box level, and other standard household tools.

After purchasing the downloadable 'how-to' guide, the necessary tools are covered in depth. If you don't have some of these tools, you can rent them at your local hardware store or do what most homeowners do - borrow them from your neighbors.

Streamline Frame Systems: Rough dimensions are 12' ft wide x 10' ft high x 4" depth. Exact measurements are covered in the manual.

Movable Frame System: Rough dimensions are 12' ft wide x 10' ft high x 5' ft depth. Exact measurements are covered in the manual.

Streamline Frame Systems: weighs between 100-175 lbs.

Movable Frame System: weighs between 175-200 lbs.

The weight of the frame system will vary as most new pressure-treated lumber is wet and heavy; it eventually dries out and becomes lighter over six months.

The Timberline Frame Systems will last as long as your deck outside, and even longer if you apply a coat of stain every other year.

Outdoor Projector Screens

The manual pull-down projector screen ranges in price from $400-600.

The grommet hole cinematic screen ranges in price from $30-60.

The manual pull-down projector screen is 142” diagonal. The dimensions are 10- ft. 11" wide x 7’ ft. 3” high.

The grommet hole cinematic screen is 150” diagonal. The dimensions are 9’ ft. 3” wide x 5’ ft. 10” high.

The method of hanging the two different projector screens varies slightly on which screen you want to use.

1) Manual pull-down projector screen: hang with two screw hooks below the main header beam inside the frame system.

2) Grommet hole cinematic screen: hang the screen using screw hooks all along the inside of the frame system.

The manual pull-down projector screen can be cleaned carefully using a soft microfiber towel or a soft kitchen sponge and a solution of warm water and Dawn dish detergent soap.

The grommet hole cinematic screen can be cleaned using a soft microfiber towel and a mix of water and Woolite.

No. It is recommended that you take your screen down after each use outside unless you purchase an expensive waterproof screen, which starts at around $1,900 from Elite Screens. Most manual pull-down projector screens are not waterproof and will get damaged if left outside in the rain.

Warning: If you leave your grommet hole cinematic screen attached to the Movable frame system when there are strong wind gusts, the wind will fill up your screen like a sail on a sailboat and topple the heavy frame system over, crushing anything in front of it. The wind will also stress the grommets on the edges of the screen and eventually rip them out. It’s always best to remove the screen before any expected windy weather.

Custom Projector Stand

Pinewood 1” thick x 10” wide. You can also build the projector stand using hardwoods like maple or oak. Hardwoods cost more and are heavier than pinewood, making the projector stand more challenging to carry.

To protect your projector stand, apply a coat of semi-transparent stain and put on 2-3 coats of polyurethane.

You will need a circular or compound saw, bar clamps, sanding block, random orbital sander, and drill. If you don’t have these tools, do what most homeowners do — borrow some tools from your neighbors, or you can rent them at a low cost from most hardware stores.

The projector stand's overall dimensions depend on the equipment you want to use for your cinema setup and the landscaping on your property. Over the years of building outdoor movie theaters for customers, every projector stand I've made is a different size.

There are exact calculations for you to follow in the how-to guide to help you determine the proper size for your custom projector stand.

For the beginner with no furniture-building experience, the how-to DIY guide will provide clear, easy, step-by-step instructions that will enable you to build and assemble this stand in a day.

If you have a full woodshop and have built furniture before, the design plans are straightforward, and you'll easily conquer this project.

No. There is not enough space on the tripod projector stand shelf to hold all of the necessary electronic components, as it only has enough space to hold a projector and nothing else. You want to avoid stacking any components on top of each other.

The Timberline Series Custom Projector Stand is a portable entertainment center that keeps all of your equipment neatly organized. It never has to be disconnected or broken down, making it the outdoor equivalent of the entertainment center inside your home.

Cinema Equipment

The recommended projector I provide in the DIY guide does not support daytime use, due to the higher cost of a projector with those capabilities. However, you can customize your cinema equipment as desired, adding a daytime projector to enhance your viewing options.

Daytime projectors range in cost from $800 and up, and can be found online by searching for ‘outdoor daytime projectors.’ The DIY guide provides recommendations on which projectors are the best based on online reviews, if price is not an issue.

Absolutely. You can customize your cinema equipment to fit your needs by choosing what you’d like for electronics and brands. The how-to guide contains lists of the cinema equipment I use for my customers in Maine; it serves as a solid framework to help you understand how everything works and gets connected.

Yes – the DIY guide covers the recommended cinema equipment for both wireless and wired packages.

No, only the wired cinema setup can accommodate powerful PA Speakers. The wireless cinema setup is not capable of powering high-end sound systems. However, you can use great Bluetooth speakers with the wireless cinema setup.

Yes. With the wired cinema system, you can use Bluetooth wireless headphones to listen to your entertainment, so it doesn’t disrupt your neighbors. Bluetooth wireless headphones are not compatible with the wireless cinema setup.

Assembly and Installation

Each state and town has its own zoning codes. The Timberline Movable Frame System is not considered a permanent structure; it falls under a similar category to an outdoor residential playground, which should not require any zoning permit.

The Timberline Streamline Frame System gets cemented into the ground and is also similar to an outdoor residential playground—so it may not require any zoning permit. However, it’s best to call your local town office and speak to the zoning commissioner to verify that installing the frame system is allowed in your area.

Important: always call Dig Safe before digging into the ground.

Streamline Frame System: 1/4” or ½” drive ratchet socket wrench and sockets, hammer, drill, 6’ ft box level, and shovel.

Movable Frame System: 1/4” or ½” drive ratchet socket wrench and sockets, hammer, drill, and 6’ ft box level.

I install all of my client's cinemas by myself, and recommend you have two people to help assemble and install your frame system for the first time – it will make the entire process go much easier and faster.

The overall time to assemble and install the frame system should take you a day, or even less if you have two people. Both frame systems take roughly the same amount of time to install.

The distance from the projector to the cinema screen is the throw distance. Each projector has a recommended throw distance and is covered in the how-to guide.

Todd Morton, founder of the Wireless Outdoor Cinema Company, sitting next to a bonfire in the winter.

My wireless outdoor movie theaters take less time to set up and start watching than it does to pop a bag of popcorn.

Todd Morton, founder of the Wireless Outdoor Cinema Company signature.

* This limited-time professional DIY bundle offer on How to Build an Outdoor Movie Theater expires on September 30, 2024. There are no refunds after purchase, as this is a digital download product.


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If you live in New England, the Wireless Outdoor Cinema Company can build your dream outdoor movie theater and set it up for you.


The Wireless Outdoor Cinema’s Timberline DIY guide on how to build a professional outdoor movie theater is copyright protected and punishable by federal law if you distribute the contents, resell, or use it to start a business selling outdoor movie theaters.