Darts distance rules: what you need to know

Your dartboard setup should be an area where you can throw darts in a safe and comfortable environment. A place where you can play your favorite darts games for hours with friends or practise in stealth so you can really bust out the moves later. Luckily, setting up your own dartboard and creating a fantastic darting space isn’t tricky, piggy-bank-breaking, or time-consuming.

Let’s make it official – your darts setup, that is

If you want to be fully legit, you can set up your dartboard and dart den to meet official World Darts Federation (WDF) regulations. In this article, we’ll walk you through the official distance for dartboards and dartboard height measurements you need to know. We’ll also throw in advice to help you create a pro-worthy dartboard setup at your place. This includes mounting options, the best lighting for high-scoring darts games, protecting your floors, walls and darts, and how to keep everyone in your game room safe and puncture-free.

The two measurements to remember are: the height of your dartboard measurements for dart board height, and the distance between the dartboard and the toe line dart board throw line. You’ll be meeting official dart board regulation height and darts distance regulation by following these guidelines.

Dartboard height measurements

The official measurements for dart board height are as follows: 173cm (5 feet, 8 inches) from the floor to the centre of your dartboard (aka the bullseye, and the exact centre of your dartboard).

Dartboard distance measurements

The official distance from the dartboard is 237cm (7 feet, 9.25 inches) from the front of your dartboard to the back of the throw line (aka Oche or toe line).

An accessible darts setup

The official dart board height for players who use a wheelchair is 137cm (4 feet, 6 inches), with the throwing distance also 237cm (7 feet, 9.25 inches), from the dartboard to the throw line.

Electronic darts measurements

The official electronic dart board height, also known as a soft tip dart board, is 173cm (5 feet, 8 inches) from the floor to the bullseye. The soft tip dart board throwing distance is 244cm (8 feet). An increase from the previous distance of 237cm.

Pro advice from Wayne Weening on the best place to hang your dartboard (so you’ll actually play).

And if you lose track of this article, no worries. Our range of quality Shot dart mats will take away the guesswork – it has the essential distances written on it, as well as providing that all-important protection for your hardwood floors, while also saving dart points from themselves. Because any dart going three rounds with a concrete garage floor will always lose. To help your points stay, err, pointy, Shot bristle dartboards also feature staple free technology for fewer bounce outs.

The room you need for your darts setup

We recommend an area of at least 152cm W x 3.35m area of (about 5 feet wide by 11 feet long) for safe and enjoyable darts games. This will help look after you and your mates and keep the furnishings in your game room, man-cave, or she-shed nice and ship shape.

Lights, surrounds, action!

Ok, now you’ve got your area mapped out and measured, what else could you do to get the most out of your home darts games? If you’ve got great lighting in your darts space, you’re already going to have higher scores. But if it’s too dim, or casts weird shadows, you may want to consider adding better light to the space or a light around your dartboard itself such as the Shot Stadium Dartboard Lights. Another item to consider adding in order to elevate your space and game is a dartboard surround. It’s a lightweight, easily installed way to protect your walls, and bring a bit of style to your dart lane.