The top 7 green screens for streamers

With a green screen and a virtual background, you can stream from anywhere you want and never have to worry about your viewers seeing your messy bedroom or discovering that you broadcast from a storage area. In this buying guide, we provide some basic info about green screens, why you might need one and how to choose the best green screen for your streams. We also picked our favorite green screen backgrounds.

Why do you need a green screen for streaming?

A green screen lets you create virtual backgrounds or add special effects to your stream. Using chroma keying, you can key out the color of the screen, making your background “disappear.” Then, you can use live streaming software or webcam software to add a virtual background.

To use chroma key, your screen does not have to be green. Chroma keying involves keying out everything of a certain color that appears on the screen. If you had a light brown screen, for example, chroma keying might make your hair disappear right along with the background! Green is used most often because it doesn’t match most hair colors and skin tones.

Streamers add virtual backgrounds to their broadcasts to make their streams look more professional. Some use cases for green screens include:

• Gamers who want the “sitting inside the game” effect
• Streams or tutorials that require full-screen screencasting
• An amusing background to have fun with the audience
• Maintaining consistency if you frequently stream from different physical locations
• Display branding or calls to action (CTAs) in the background

For more info about how to use a green screen during a live broadcast, read our guide to chroma keying for live streams.

How do you choose a green screen?

Although green screens are relatively inexpensive, don’t just purchase the cheapest one you can find. You’ll want to take some other considerations into account.

• Size: The proper size for your green screen depends on your camera. First, you need to decide how far away the camera will be from you and your background. Obviously, the farther away you place it, the more of the green screen you can see. The camera’s angle of view also helps you determine the right size for a green screen.
• Material: Green screens should not be reflective. Muslin is a good choice because it’s a dull fabric and easy to clean. It can be difficult to store or take with you, though, as muslin will show wrinkles and creases over time. Spandex and nylon are good choices because they stretch and don’t wrinkle. But they tend to reflect more light than muslin.
• Stand: You will need a stand for your screen — or you can purchase a screen that mounts on your desk chair. The stand should be sturdy enough that it keeps your green screen stretched tightly, allowing no wrinkles whatsoever. Some green screens are sold with a stand included; others are not.
• Portability: If you plan to put your screen away when you’re not using it, you’ll need a screen that stores easily. Some screens are sold with carrying bags and some are designed to fold up for better storage.
• Price: You can find a green screen for about $50, although some may cost much more or much less. Remember that a higher price doesn’t always mean better quality. Choose a green screen that suits your streaming needs and judge it based on the above criteria.

Best green screens for streaming

Any of these seven background screens would be ideal for streamers of all levels, although some are more expensive than others. A few are more suited to photographers, but they still work well for live content creators.

1. Elgato Collapsible Chroma Key Panel

If you want a big green screen you can easily store, the Elgato Collapsible Chroma Key Panel is a safe choice. You can lock it into place with the X-frame and adjust it to suit your setup. Plus it’s wrinkle-resistant. When you’re done streaming, slide it back into its case and store it for later.

• Dimensions: 58.27 x 70.87 in / 148 x 180 cm
• Weight: 20.5 lbs / 9.3 kg
• Material: 100% polyester

Pros

• Extremely portable
• Easy to set up
• Non-reflective, wrinkle-resistant material
• Built-in X-frame

Cons

• A bit heavy
• The clips to close the case tend to be flimsy

Price

• $159

2. EMART Green Screen

For a green screen with ultimate portability and setup ease, try the EMART Green Screen. The carrying case doubles as a stand, with legs that swivel out to support it. You simply open it and drag it up into position, locking it in place at any height you want. Setup doesn’t get much faster than that. The EMART screen uses high-quality materials, and the price reflects it.

• Dimensions: 61.02 x 72.44 in / 154.99 x 184 cm
• Weight: 19.6 lbs / 8.89 kg
• Material: Muslin

Pros

• Quick setup
• Non-reflective material
• Designed for streamers and content creators

Cons

• Frame isn’t so sturdy

Price:

• $138

3. Webaround Big Shot Office Chair Green Screen

For gamers or streamers who mostly sit in front of their cameras, the Webaround Big Shot Office Chair Green Screen is a quirky solution. The screen is a large disc that slides over the back of your desk chair, forming a giant green halo behind you when you sit down. It also comes in other colors and various sizes to fit your background needs. The Webaround screen is collapsible and fits in a nifty carrying bag.

• Dimensions: 56 in / 142.24 cm (diameter)
• Weight: 1.8 lbs / 816 g
• Material: Polyester

Pros

• Portable and lightweight
• Good for streamers with small studios or limited space
• Material stays taut

Cons

• The green screen moves if you move
• Only covers your immediate background

Price

• $48

4. Neewer Chromakey Double-Sided Backdrop

If you want a flexible color option for your screen, the Neewer Chromakey Double-Sided Backdrop is a great pick. One side is green; the other is blue. It’s collapsible as well, folding up into a disc you can store easily or carry with you. You will need to get a stand to hang it on.

• Dimensions (extended): 5 x 6.6 ft / 150 x 200 cm
• Dimensions (collapsed): 24.8 in / 63 cm (diameter)
• Weight: 17.31 oz / 490.73 g
• Material: Muslin

Pros

• Durable metal frame
• Double-sided
• Stretched tightly over frame for no wrinkles
• Collapsible and comes with carrying bag

Cons

• Stand sold separately
• Folding it back up can be tricky

Price

• $59

5. LimoStudio Green Backdrop

The LimoStudio Green Muslin Backdrop is one of the most inexpensive on this list, so if you’re on a budget, it’s worth a look. It doesn’t come with a stand or frame, however. The LimoStudio screen has a pre-stitched loop, so you can slide it onto a rod. It does come with clips, so you can clip it up when needed as well.

• Dimensions: 6 x 9 ft / 182.88 x 274.32 cm
• Weight: 1.25 lbs / 0.57 kg
• Material: Polyester

Pros

• Machine washable and ironable
• Available in a larger size if needed

Cons

• Not wrinkle-resistant and requires a lot of ironing/steaming
• No stand included

Price

• $27

6. Neewer Green Screen Kit

The Neewer Green Screen Kit is a good investment if you don’t have any lighting or photography equipment already. It comes with two green screens in different sizes, a light stand, light holder, CFL daylight bulb, white umbrella, a 24 x 24 in softbox, backdrop clamps, background stand and carrying bags. It’s a good value considering everything that comes in the kit, plus it’s extremely portable.

• Dimensions: 8.5 x 10 ft / 260 x 300 cm and 6 x 9 ft / 180 x 280 cm
• Material: Muslin

Pros

• Easy to transport
• Green screen can be ironed
• Good value for the money

Cons

• No setup instructions included
• Equipment could be sturdier

Price

• $239

7. Fancierstudio Green Screen Muslin Background

For a green screen that extends to and covers the floor, try the Fancierstudio Green Screen Background. It’s a good deal for the price, as it also comes with a stand to hang it from and a carrying case for portability. The screen is nine feet long, and you can adjust it to the length you need.

• Dimensions (minimum): 3.5 x 4.5 ft / 106.68 x 137.16 cm
• Dimensions (maximum): 6 x 9 ft / 182.88 x 274.32 cm
• Weight: 11.3 lbs / 5.13 kg
• Material: Muslin

Pros

• Adjustable and covers the floor
• Comes with frame and carrying case
• Portable

Cons

• Not wrinkle-resistant
• Screen doesn’t always stay steady

Price

• $85

Tips for streaming with a green screen

To use a green screen for a live broadcast, you’ll need to set up your scene and then ready the chroma key in your streaming software.

Here are a few tips for setting up your studio with a green screen:

• Always get a bigger screen than you think you need
• Use plenty of lights so there are no shadows on your green screen
• Make sure your PC is powerful enough to handle live streaming AND chroma keying at the same time
• Put the screen far enough behind you that you don’t cast shadows on it
• Set up your screen, lights and camera and run a test before going live
• Avoid wearing anything green or reflective in front of the screen

FAQs

Let’s wrap up

Choosing the right green screen is about finding the best value for your needs. Think about what you’ll use your screen for before you start looking. As long as you have the proper lighting, just about any green screen made from high-quality material will get the job done.