The garage is the most popular spot for a home golf simulator: it’s usually the biggest open room in the house and nobody minds a little noise. Most garages need about 10 feet of ceiling, 12–14 feet of width and 16–18 feet of depth for a comfortable setup, according to golf retailer Austad’s. Here’s how to plan yours in six steps.
1. Measure — then check what’s hanging from the ceiling
A two-car garage often looks tall enough until you account for the garage door opener, its rail and the door itself when it’s open. Measure clearance below all of them, then stand where you’d hit and make a slow, full swing with your driver. If it feels tight, it is.
2. Decide: full-time bay or shared with a car
If the car still needs to park inside, look at a retractable screen that rolls up out of the way, a mat you can slide aside, and a ceiling-mounted projector. A full-time bay can use a fixed enclosure, which is cheaper and blocks stray shots better.
3. Pick the launch monitor for your depth
Radar units sit 6–8 feet behind the ball, so they need a deep garage. Camera-based units sit beside the ball and suit single-car or shallow garages. See our launch monitor guide.
4. Sort out the floor
Garage floors are concrete, which is hard on joints and can send balls bouncing back. Use a quality hitting mat with dense turf; for a finished look, add simulator turf across the whole floor.
5. Plan for heat, cold and light
Garages swing hot and cold through the year, and electronics and projectors don’t love extremes. Plan for insulation, a heater or fan, and airflow. Keep overhead lights off the screen so the picture stays bright — dimmable lights behind the hitting area work best.
6. Choose a complete package
A package matches the launch monitor, enclosure, screen, mat and projector so they fit together and fit your garage. Our Starter Bay is built for garages, and our advisors can spec a short-room setup for shallow ones.
Your garage checklist
- Ceiling clearance under the opener and open door
- Width for centered or offset hitting
- Depth for your launch monitor type
- Outlet near the projector and PC
- Heat, cooling and airflow plan
- Lighting off the screen
Send us your measurements for a free Room-Fit Check →