Choose a Carl's Place DIY enclosure by its actual outer frame dimensions, then check the image area and complete playing space. The size in the option name is a shorthand. For example, the 8.5 x 11.5 model has a frame listed at 107.5 inches high by 140.3 inches wide; its viewable screen is smaller.
Our C-Series DIY enclosure kit currently lists six frame layouts. Use the comparison below to narrow the size before choosing screen material or accessories.
All six DIY sizes, with the measurements kept separate
The table transcribes Carl's current DIY specification sheet. Every measurement is in inches. Height comes before width in the two dimension columns.
| Listing size | Nominal image shape | Outer frame H × W | Viewable screen H × W |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.7 x 10 | 4:3 | 95.8 × 124.8 | 83.1 × 110.8 |
| 7.7 x 13 | 16:9 | 95.8 × 163.3 | 84.0 × 149.3 |
| 8 x 8 | 1:1 | 100.0 × 100.0 | 86.0 × 86.0 |
| 8 x 10.5 | 4:3 | 100.0 × 130.3 | 87.2 × 116.3 |
| 8.5 x 11.5 | 4:3 | 107.5 × 140.3 | 94.7 × 126.3 |
| 9 x 12 | 4:3 | 112.0 × 146.3 | 99.2 × 132.3 |
All six rows list 59.125 inches from the screen to the front frame and a 67.375-inch frame footprint depth. The larger figure includes the rear fitting's 8.25-inch backset. Neither number is the total room depth needed to swing, position a ball and operate a launch monitor.
Allow for manufacturing variation and the installation clearances specified for your configuration. Do not use a fraction of an inch left on paper as evidence that a frame can be assembled and used in that space.
The three tests a size must pass
Test 1: the frame fits the finished room
Measure width at more than one height and height across the full proposed enclosure position. Baseboards, sloping ceilings, beams, pipes and a raised simulator floor can reduce the usable space. Use the narrowest relevant measurement, not the largest number available elsewhere in the room.
Record the finished floor level before checking overhead clearance. If the whole enclosure will sit on a raised platform, the platform changes the frame's position relative to the ceiling. If only the hitting area is raised, that affects the player's clearance differently. Draw those as separate parts of the plan.
Test 2: the golfer and equipment fit around it
A square 8 x 8 enclosure can be narrower than the room a golfer needs. Confirm the swing envelope from the intended hitting position, including both handednesses if the bay is shared. Check the launch monitor's exact requirements for ball position and surrounding space.
For the larger room-planning exercise, use our golf simulator room dimensions worksheet. The size table here selects a frame; it does not certify a complete playing layout.
Test 3: the projector fits the viewable screen
Use the viewable image dimensions for projection planning. The 8.5 x 11.5 model's 140.3-inch frame width is not its 126.3-inch image width. Selecting a projector from the larger number can put the lens in the wrong place.
For a BenQ shortlist, compare the LK830ST, AK700ST and AH700ST against the intended image shape, lens distance and lens height. For frame-supported mounting, read the separate Carl's frame-mount compatibility guide.
Worked example: a room 12 feet wide and 9 feet high
Assume the measured finished space at the enclosure is 144 inches wide and 108 inches high. For this comparison, reserve a hypothetical 3-inch working allowance on each side and 3 inches above. These allowances illustrate the calculation; replace them with the requirements of your actual installation.
- 8.5 x 11.5: 140.3 + 6 = 146.3 inches wide, and 107.5 + 3 = 110.5 inches high. It fails both of this example's limits.
- 8 x 10.5: 130.3 + 6 = 136.3 inches wide, and 100 + 3 = 103 inches high. It passes these frame-space checks.
- 7.7 x 10: 124.8 + 6 = 130.8 inches wide, and 95.8 + 3 = 98.8 inches high. It also passes, with a smaller viewable screen.
The 8 x 10.5 becomes a reasonable candidate for the next checks. It is not approved for the room until swing, ball position, room depth and projection geometry are also resolved.
Worked example: choosing a wider picture under a lower ceiling
Compare two options with the same 95.8-inch frame height: 7.7 x 10 and 7.7 x 13. Their image widths are 110.8 and 149.3 inches, respectively. The wider option buys substantially more horizontal image without requiring a taller frame, but its outer width rises from 124.8 to 163.3 inches.
That is a useful distinction in a wide room with limited height. For example, a measured width of 174 inches leaves 10.7 inches beyond the wider frame before allocating side clearances. A 150-inch-wide room cannot accept that 163.3-inch frame, whatever the available ceiling height.
The 16:9 picture may also suit a mixed golf-and-movies plan, provided the source and projector support the intended use. Screen shape still does not establish player clearance or the brightness of the finished image.
Make the order specific enough to check
| Write down | Why it belongs on the order plan |
|---|---|
| Listing size and actual outer H × W | Prevents the shorthand size from replacing the frame dimensions. |
| Viewable H × W and image shape | Defines the picture for projector calculations. |
| Screen material | Keeps material upgrades separate from frame-size changes. |
| Kit or package and selected accessories | Identifies which structural parts and additions are actually included. |
| Finished floor, hitting point and room obstacles | Shows where the enclosure sits in the complete installation. |
Do not assume every pipe, mount or optional protective component shown in a gallery is included with every configuration. Our Carl's kit versus package guide handles that separate purchase decision.
Size questions
Does “8 x 8” mean I can put the enclosure in an 8-foot-high room?
No. The listed outer height is 100 inches, which exceeds an 8-foot, 96-inch ceiling before any installation allowance.
Is the 5-foot depth the room depth I need?
No. It is a shorthand for the enclosure's screen-to-front-frame depth. Account separately for its full footprint, the hitting position, the swing and the launch monitor's operating requirements.
Can I select a smaller screen material to make the frame fit?
Changing material grade does not shrink the selected frame. Choose an appropriate enclosure size or a separately specified custom solution.
Choose the frame that passes your measurements
Compare the six C-Series DIY kit sizes using the actual outer dimensions above. If you are comparing a more complete configuration, review the C-Series DIY package and its selected inclusions.
Sources and calculation notes
Checked October 19, 2026. Measurements come from Carl's DIY enclosure specification sheet and were cross-checked against our listed size options. Worked rooms and allowances are illustrative calculations, not surveyed installations. Verify current specifications and installation instructions before ordering.
