Best green screen 2024: top canvas kits for streaming, photography, and more
Kit out your livestreams and videos with the best green screens on the market
Using one of the best green screens is a great way to make your gameplay look cleaner and more professional. There's nothing wrong with having a boxed-out section of your stream dedicated to showing off your facecam and background, but with a green screen you can integrate yourself completely so there's no border. This can help to immerse your viewers in your content more, and depending on the game, it might not block as much UI if you want your audience to be able to see it.
Depending on your setup, a green screen could be among the best gear for streaming. A good one will also do far more than offer a colored background to superimpose your surroundings, too. High-quality materials will absorb lighting far better than others, for example, which will help your camera not to pick up so much glare. A good screen will be more wrinkle and crease-resistant. If dust buildup is an issue for you, some screens are even machine washable.
The concept of a green screen is simple, and we're sure you're familiar with it already if you're at the point of shopping for one. Green screens allow you to change the background of a picture or video by chroma-keying the green color into an image of your choice. The key to choosing the best green screen, however, is to figure out how you'll use it. A photographer, for example, will likely prioritize a thicker, larger canvas that will work with a range of lighting scenarios. However, an amateur streamer will need to think about how a green screen will pair with one of the best webcams, and will almost certainly be after something easy to use and store away.
The best green screens 2024
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1. Elgato Green Screen
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Corsair released the Elgato green screen with streamers in mind, so you'll find a range of features here that makes this pull-up canvas perfect for giving your stream a little edge. The narrower design keeps that footprint small but there's still enough width here for you to sit at a comfortable distance from the camera and keep the frame filled at the same time.
The whole canvas pulls up from its casing like a roller sign and is locked in place by an automatic pneumatic x-frame. That makes setup incredibly easy, and putting the screen away at the end is just a matter of releasing the frame and rolling the canvas back into the container. That means you won't need to keep your screen set up, which is particularly helpful if you're working with a smaller space.
Software like OBS and XSplit will enable you to use the Chroma keying-optimized surface to display your gameplay, and with a thick material and stable base, this is certainly a durable, high-quality piece of kit. While it's not quite carrying the dimensions for photography, it's the best green screen for those looking to get serious in their streams.
2. Fancierstudio Green Screen
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At just $50, Fancierstudio's green screen kit offers up an affordable alternative for those who need a simple canvas and don't need to spend big bucks on professional-level materials. The muslin fabric isn't wrinkle-resistant, which means you may need to put a little more work into steaming out any creases. However, the design of this setup is more geared towards those who don't need to set up and pack away too often, so folding those creases in shouldn't be a problem.
The included stand offers up plenty of versatility, with an adjustable frame reaching up to 8ft in height and 10ft in width, while also being able to shrink down to 3.5ft x 4.5ft. That's a good size mount, and perfect for capturing slightly wider shots or if you're concerned about filling a wider angle frame from a webcam.
It's worth noting that this is a fairly lightweight frame. That's great if you are packing down (a kit bag is also included), but does mean additional weights may be needed if you're photographing a particularly active subject.
This cheaper option is the best green screen for those just getting started in content creation or marketing photography, particularly those with a larger separate space to film. However, the adjustable height and good canvas size here ensure flexibility for a range of uses.
3. Neewer Green Screen Kit
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It should be noted that the best green screen kits rarely offer the level of lighting power that professionals require to properly balance a canvas and subject. However, if you're just getting started in photography and need a stock of equipment without breaking the bank they can offer everything you need to get the ball rolling.
This Neewer kit combines a 72x108-inch green screen with a mounting stand, support clasps, four 7ft light stands, two single headlight holders, four 45W daylight bulbs, two 33-inch umbrellas, and two 24 x 24-inch softboxes. That's a good selection of starter items, and perfect for getting to grips with lighting angles and color balancing without spending big bucks on professional-level gear.
Plus, you'll also find a black and white canvas color selection here as well, which means you're set up for product photography as well as chroma keying.
There's a lot to put together here, though, which means it's not best designed for quick sessions, or for shared spaces. However, with two kit bags included you'll be able to transport the full setup if necessary.
4. Neewer Collapsible Backdrop
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These easily collapsible backdrops are some of the best green screens for portability and speedy, versatile setups. The Neewer model comes a little larger than you typically find these foldaway screens, which means you'll be able to hang it both vertically and horizontally. Loops around the edge of the screen hang onto the support frame in either orientation for a quick set up, and the whole canvas folds into the carry bag when packing away as well.
The included support stand also offers plenty of versatility, with an adjustable height extending all the way up to 8.5ft. There's no stretch system on this mount, so any wrinkles brought about by folding will need to be steamed out for a smooth finish, but the supplied elastic clip will help you keep everything taut as well.
However, it's worth noting that this stand doesn't fit into the circular kit bag supplied with the green screen itself. Nevertheless, the canvas is flexible enough to sit against a range of surfaces and provides an excellent on-the-go screen as and when you need it.
5. Emart Green Screen
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If you need a larger green screen for bigger shoots and photography sessions, this canvas from Emart offers premium materials with a healthy set of dimensions to boot. At 120 x 144 inches, it's one of the biggest green screens on our list, and it's an ample size for wider shots, or if you're working with a particularly wide-angle lens.
While the stand isn't included here, you'll find pockets lining the top of the fabric to easily mount the canvas to a stand of your choosing, and clamps are provided. In place of that stand, though, you're paying a great price for Emart's well-known quality materials.
The 100% cotton muslin absorbs light well, and the weaved surface offers extra density to ensure well-balanced lighting and no reflections. Not only that, but this is one of the only machine washable green screens on our list, which means you can easily keep your canvas dust-free as well.
This is the best green screen when using something for photography and video rather than streaming or on-the-go content creation. The larger screen will take up a considerable amount of space, so it's best used in a permanent studio.
6. Webaround Big Shot Gen2
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Designed to attach onto the back of an office chair, this low maintenance contender for best green screen is perfect for those looking to make their work calls or interviews more professional, or if you're starting out in streaming and don't want to invest the cash (or space) for a full setup.
The 56-inch diameter is larger than other chair-mounted green screens, which means those in smaller spaces will feel a slight squeeze. However, that wider diameter also means you can sit at a good distance from the webcam and still keep the frame filled with the canvas as well.
The circular screen is secured to the back of a chair using a horizontal strap and vertical height adjuster, making for a particularly speedy set up. Pack down isn't quite as fluid, with a folding process that seems like it may need a little practice to perfect. However, with a stabilizer pulling the fabric taut behind you, this folding won't result in wrinkles on camera.
The best green screens 2023: FAQs
Which green screen is best?
Overall, we'd argue that the best green screen is the Elgato green screen. The set up is nice and easy, the material is resistant to wrinkles, and it has its own handy storage case. Alternatively, Fancierstudio's green screen is also a great choice for most. It's nice and spacious, so will cater to a variety of rooms and shots, it's adjustable, and it's cheaper than a lot of big brand green screens.
What size of green screen is best?
This will really come down to your budget and what you'll need one of the best green screens for. If you're just looking or something to block out your background for streaming and video calls, then you won't need a full-size, photography studio green screen that will block off an entire wall. In this case, a 58x70-inch should give you the room you need. If you need something more portable, the Neewer Collapsable Backdrop may be of use, as it's only 59x78.7 inches.
Is it worth buying a green screen?
For streaming, it really comes down to you, and how you want your content to look and feel. There are plenty of streamers and content creators who don't even show their faces, let alone get a camera as close to their face as possible. Certainly amongst the most popular streamers around, a green screen can give you more control of how much room your face cam will take up on screen. It will also help you to show face without blocking out important aspects of gameplay.
The best green screens, however, do have more uses than just streaming. There are limitless uses for green screens if you do a lot of photography work, or you create multimedia content for the internet. They're handy to have, but yes, we'd argue they're worth the trouble of buying them.
Looking to complete your gaming-centred furniture browse? Check out our guides to the best gaming chair, best gaming desk, and best gaming chair for consoles.
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Ever since playing Journey at the age of 15, I’ve been desperate to cover video games for a living. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship over at Expert Reviews. Besides that, I’ve been managing my own YouTube channel and Podcast for the last 7 years. It’s been a long road, but all that experience somehow landed me a dream job covering gaming hardware. I’m a self-confessing PlayStation fanboy, but my experience covering the larger business and developer side of the whole industry has given me a strong knowledge of all platforms. When I’m not testing out every peripheral I can get my hands on, I’m probably either playing tennis or dissecting game design for an upcoming video essay. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension. Location: UK Remote
- Tabitha BakerManaging Editor - Hardware