Darts
Darts at home: board height, oche and wall protection
Hang the bullseye 1.73 m from the floor and mark the oche 2.37 m from the board face. Then protect the wall and light the board.
Measure height from the finished floor and distance from the face of the board, not the wall. Work out your own marks.
Tools
Dartboard setup calculator
Work out the bullseye height, oche position from the wall and diagonal check for a steel-tip or soft-tip dartboard.
ToolDarts checkout calculator
Find a double-out darts checkout for any score from 170 to 2, with three, two or one dart in hand, plus a full printable checkout chart.
ToolGames room layout planner
Plan a games room with more than one game: check whether a pool table, dartboard, table football, air hockey or table tennis fit together, with a plan.
Set up
Dartboard height and oche distance
Set up a dartboard at the standard height and throwing distance with a step-by-step method, measurements in metric and imperial, and a checklist.
GuideGames-room lighting: pool tables, darts and table tennis
Light a pool or snooker table, a dartboard and a table tennis area evenly, without glare or shadows, with practical mounting guidance.
GuideA family games room: tables, junior cues and safety
Plan a games room for children and adults: which games suit which ages, junior cue sizes, darts safety, folding tables and storage.
Play
How to play 501 darts: rules, scoring and finishing
The rules of 501 darts explained simply: who throws first, how scoring works, finishing on a double, going bust, legs and sets.
GuideDarts games to play at home: cricket, killer and more
Six darts games for home: cricket, around the clock, killer, Shanghai, halve-it and 301, with simple rules for every level and age.
Choose and buy
Dartboards and surrounds for home
A practical, spec-based guide to bristle and soft-tip boards, wiring, surrounds, cabinets, lighting and home practice setups.
Buying guideChoosing darts: weight, barrels, shafts and flights
Choose steel-tip or soft-tip darts by weight, barrel material, grip, shaft and flight, with a simple way to find what suits you.
History and fun
A short history of darts
The story of darts, from early pub games to bristle boards and television, with a note on which famous stories are disputed.
GuideGames-room fun facts: snooker, pool, darts and table tennis
Quick, true facts about snooker, pool, darts and table tennis, from the 147 maximum break to impossible darts scores.
Quick answers
How high should a dartboard be?
The centre of the bullseye is commonly set 1.73 m (5ft 8in) from the floor, with the steel-tip oche 2.37 m from the face of the board. The setup calculator gives the marks for your wall.
How much space does a dartboard need?
Allow the throw distance plus room to stand behind the oche, roughly 3–3.5 m from the board, in a lane nobody needs to walk through. Fit a surround to protect the wall.
Steel-tip or soft-tip?
Steel-tip darts and a bristle board are the classic pub and league setup. Soft-tip boards often score automatically and are the safer choice for children. Read the dartboard buying guide.
Key terms
Other games: Pool · Snooker · Table tennis · Air hockey · Table football