Buying Guide
LED Screen Buying Guide
LED screens have become the default choice for churches, events, retail and advertising in Kenya because of their brightness and flexibility, but choosing the wrong pixel pitch or panel type for the application wastes money either way. This guide explains the technical decisions that matter when specifying an LED screen.
Understanding Pixel Pitch
Pixel pitch is the distance in millimetres between the centres of adjacent LED pixels. A smaller pitch means higher resolution and sharper images at close viewing distance, but costs significantly more per square metre.
| Pixel Pitch | Minimum Viewing Distance | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| P1.5 – P2.5 | 1.5 – 2.5 metres | Indoor control rooms, retail, close-up broadcast |
| P3 – P4 | 3 – 4 metres | Indoor stages, conference backdrops, church screens |
| P5 – P6 | 5 – 6 metres | Larger indoor venues, medium outdoor displays |
| P8 – P10 | 8 – 10 metres | Outdoor events, billboards, stadium screens |
Indoor vs Outdoor Panels
Outdoor LED panels are built to a higher brightness (typically 4,000–6,000+ nits vs 800–1,500 nits indoors) and carry an IP65 or better rating to withstand rain and dust. Using indoor panels outdoors will result in a washed-out, unreadable image in daylight and eventual water damage.
- Indoor panels: lower brightness, finer pixel pitch options, no weatherproofing needed
- Outdoor panels: high brightness for daylight readability, sealed against rain and dust, heavier-duty cabinets
- Semi-outdoor / covered installations still need weather-rated panels if exposed to wind-driven rain
Fixed Installation vs Rental/Touring Panels
Fixed installation panels are optimised for a single permanent location, front or rear-serviceable depending on wall access, and typically cheaper per panel. Rental panels use quick-lock cabinets designed for fast rigging and de-rigging, front-serviceable access, and more rugged road cases — essential for event companies moving screens between venues weekly.
Brightness and Refresh Rate
Refresh rate matters most when the screen will be filmed or broadcast — a low refresh rate causes visible flicker or banding on camera, even if it looks fine to the naked eye. For any screen appearing in livestreams or TV broadcast, specify a minimum refresh rate of 3,840Hz or higher.
Always match brightness to ambient light, not just screen size
A screen positioned facing direct sunlight needs substantially higher nits than the same size screen in shade or indoors, regardless of pixel pitch.
Configuration and Aspect Ratio
LED walls are modular, built from individual cabinets (commonly 500x500mm or 500x1000mm), so screens can be configured to almost any size or aspect ratio — useful for irregular architectural spaces or curved installations.
Processing and Content Playback
An LED screen needs a video processor to scale and map content correctly across the panel array, plus playback software or hardware appropriate to the use case (media server for events, simple HDMI input for churches, or a content management system for retail signage).
Indicative Budgets
| Application | Typical Spec | Indicative Budget (KES) |
|---|---|---|
| Church/conference indoor screen | 3m x 2m, P3 indoor panel | KES 1,200,000 – 2,500,000 |
| Event rental screen (per m²) | P3.9 rental panel with processing | KES 60,000 – 100,000 per m² |
| Outdoor billboard/screen | P8 outdoor panel, weatherproofed | KES 3,500,000 and above (size dependent) |
Frequently asked questions
What pixel pitch is best for a church stage screen?+
P3 to P4 pixel pitch is typically ideal for church stage screens, since most congregants view from 3 metres or further, balancing sharpness with cost.
Can indoor LED panels be used outdoors if covered?+
Covered outdoor spaces open to wind and humidity still require weather-rated panels; only fully enclosed, climate-controlled spaces are suitable for indoor-only panels.
How is an LED screen priced — per panel or per square metre?+
LED screens are almost always priced per square metre, since the total cost depends on how many modular cabinets are needed to reach the required size.
Do LED screens require ongoing maintenance?+
Yes, periodic cleaning, checking of receiving cards, and occasional pixel/module replacement are needed to keep an LED wall performing well over years of use.
What's the difference between fixed and rental LED panels?+
Rental panels are built for fast rigging and touring with front access for servicing, while fixed panels are designed for permanent, single-location installation and are typically more cost-effective for that purpose.