A dartboard is the cheapest game you can put in a man cave, and the easiest to get wrong. Hang it a few inches high or mark the line a step too close and every throw feels off when you play anywhere else. These are the regulation numbers, how much wall and floor they take, and how to hang a board.
Quick answer: hang the board so the center of the bullseye is 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) above the floor. Mark the throw line 7 ft 9¼ in (237 cm) from the face of the board for steel-tip darts, or 8 ft (244 cm) for a soft-tip electronic board. To check both at once, measure from the bullseye to the back of the throw line: it should be 9 ft 7⅜ in (293 cm) for steel-tip.
| Measurement | Steel-tip (bristle) | Soft-tip (electronic) |
|---|---|---|
| Floor to center of bullseye | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Board face to throw line, along the floor | 7 ft 9¼ in (237 cm) | 8 ft (244 cm) |
| Diagonal, bullseye to back of throw line | 9 ft 7⅜ in (293 cm) | 9 ft 9⅝ in (299 cm) |
| Board size | 17¾ in (451 mm) across | Varies; 15½ in target on the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 |
How much room it takes:
| Space | Allow |
|---|---|
| Throwing lane | At least 5 ft wide and about 11 ft long |
| Clear wall beside the board | 2 ft (60 cm) on each side |
| Two boards side by side | 3 m (about 10 ft) apart, bull to bull |
| Where the other player waits | About 5 ft (1.5 m) behind the throw line |
Height, steel-tip distance and diagonal are the World Darts Federation figures as published in Western Australia's sports dimensions guide (which also gives the board spacing and the 1.5 m waiting line); the soft-tip 8 ft distance is from CyberDarts and Harrows Darts, and the lane and wall clearance are from Harrows' setup guide. The soft-tip diagonal is calculated from its height and distance. Board size is the bristle-board diameter from Pool Table Portfolio's regulation guide.
How to hang a dartboard
- Pick a wall with an 11 ft clear lane in front of it and nothing breakable within 2 ft of the board. Fix the bracket into a stud or use wall anchors rated for the board's weight; a bristle board like the Winmau Blade 6 weighs about 11 lb.
- Measure 5 ft 8 in up from the floor and mark it. That is where the center of the bullseye goes, not the top of the board or the bracket.
- Work out how far the bracket sits above the bullseye on the back of your board and fix it that distance above your mark. Hang the board with the 20 segment at the top.
- Measure 7 ft 9¼ in along the floor from the face of the board (8 ft for soft-tip) and put down your throw line. A cabinet that stands 3 to 4 in off the wall moves the face forward, so measure from the board, not the wall.
- Check the diagonal from the bullseye to the back of the line: 9 ft 7⅜ in for steel-tip. If it's off, the board is too high or low, or the line is in the wrong place.
What to buy
| Pick | Key specs | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Winmau Blade 6 Bristle, steel-tip | 17.72 in (45 cm), 11 lb, dual-core bristle, thin 60° wires | A tournament-style board that cuts bounce-outs |
| Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 Electronic, soft-tip | 15.5 in target, 39 games with 179 variations, up to 8 players | Keeps score for you; throw from 8 ft |
| Dartboard surround Wall protection | Ring that fits around a standard 17¾ in bristle board | Catches the darts that miss the board |
| Throw line marker Oche | Stick-down line or raised oche | Fixes the 7 ft 9¼ in line so nobody creeps forward |
Winmau Blade 6 specs are from its Costco listing and the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800's from Scheels. Check the listing before you buy, since sizes vary by model year.
Lighting and protecting the room
Light the board evenly from the front so the wires don't throw shadows across the segments; a single ceiling light behind the player leaves your own shadow on the board. Put a surround or a cabinet around the board to catch misses, and lay a mat over a hard floor, because darts that bounce off tile or concrete blunt their tips and bend their shafts.
Dart board setup FAQ
How high should a dart board be?
Hang it so the center of the bullseye is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) above the floor. That height is the same for steel-tip and soft-tip boards.
How far do you stand from a dart board?
Stand behind a throw line 7 feet 9¼ inches (237 cm) from the face of the board for steel-tip darts, or 8 feet (244 cm) for soft-tip. Measure along the floor from the board's face, not from the wall.
How much room do you need for a dart board?
Allow a lane at least 5 feet wide and about 11 feet long, with 2 feet (60 cm) of clear wall each side of the board. If you hang two boards, space them 3 m (about 10 feet) apart, bull to bull.