Garage vs basement vs spare room for a golf simulator
Each space has its own catch. Here is how to spot it before you buy anything.
Updated October 16, 2026 · Independent guide · Affiliate disclosure
Most home simulators don't go in a perfect 10 ft × 14 ft × 18 ft room. They go in basements with a soffit in the wrong place, garages with a door track, and spare rooms that are a little short somewhere [1]. Each space fails in a different way.
The baseline
| Workable minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling | 9 ft | 10 ft or more |
| Width | 10 ft, tee offset to one side | 14 ft, tee centred |
| Depth | 15 ft | 18 to 20 ft |
Source: Rain or Shine Golf [1]. Carl's Place publishes the same recommended numbers [2].
Garage
Usually the best bet. Rain or Shine says garages often work better than basements because they tend to be wider and taller [1].
- Watch: the garage-door track and opener, which often sit in the swing path. Measure clearance under them, not the ceiling height [1].
- Watch: temperature swings. A garage gets hotter and colder than a finished room, so plan for heat and cold [1].
- Tip: if you still need to park, a portable launch monitor, a net and a mat can be packed away. A permanent enclosure usually can't.
Basement
Great if you have the height. Basements are often dedicated and quiet, but ceiling height is the usual limit.
- Watch: beams, ducts, soffits and lights. Measure to the lowest obstruction in your swing path [1] [2].
- Watch: the finished height. Turf or a subfloor raises the floor, and a projector or overhead launch monitor hangs below the ceiling. A 10 ft measurement can finish closer to 9 ft [1].
- If it's 8 ft: Rain or Shine calls that an irons-and-wedges room. It's a useful practice space, but full driver swings are unlikely to clear [1]. A camera unit that sits beside the ball suits low ceilings best [1].
Spare room
Often short on depth. Many bedrooms come in under the 15 ft minimum depth [1].
- Choose: a beside-the-ball camera launch monitor, since radar needs space behind you [1] [6].
- Choose: a short-throw projector, an offset tee, and a screen built to the opening. These are the fixes Rain or Shine lists for tight rooms [1].
- Accept: less than 10 ft from ball to screen means more bounceback [1].
Quick comparison
| Garage | Basement | Spare room | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling | Often good; door track is the catch | Often the limit | Varies |
| Width | Often generous | Varies | Often tight for both hands |
| Depth | Often enough for radar | Varies | Often under 15 ft |
| Climate | Swings with the seasons | Stable | Stable |
| Best launch monitor type | Any that fits the depth | Beside-the-ball camera if the ceiling is low | Beside-the-ball camera |
"Often" reflects the retailer observations cited above. Your room is what counts, so check it in the calculator.
Sources
Numbers on this page come from these published sources, which we checked in October 2026. Makers update their specs, so confirm the details for your exact model.
- Rain or Shine Golf, "How to Measure Your Space for a Golf Simulator"
- Carl's Place, "Measuring Your Space For An Indoor Golf Simulator"
- Garmin, Approach R10 Owner's Manual: Preparing for a Shot