The Ultimate Dartboard Set Up

   

Pick up a tailor-made measuring tape for darts, such as the Mission Retractable Dartboard Measure, to help you easily measure a darts setup. 

Dartboard height

How high should a dartboard be? The height from the floor to the centre of the dartboard (known as the bullseye) is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73m). This is the same measurement for a soft tip dartboard.

The vertical line in the two graphics above indicates the 5’8” dartboard height whether you’re putting up a classic and more traditional board for steel tip darts or an electronic board to be used for soft tip darts.

Dartboard distance from throw line

The official distance to the throwing line is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37m) for a steel tip dartboard and 8 feet (2.44m) for soft tip. It’s important to measure from the face of the dartboard and not the wall. The equivalent measurement diagonally from the centre of the bullseye is 2.93m for steel tip and 2.98m for soft tip.

Check out the video below showing how to correctly measure the height of a dartboard and the length of an oche.

Hanging a Dartboard with a U-Shaped Bracket

Dartboards usually come with a basic metal hanger kit. This normally consists of a centre screw, a U-shaped hanging bracket and three spring clips for levelling the dartboard against the wall or backing surface.

Follow these steps to set up your own dartboard system from the wall with a U-shaped metal bracket:

1. Place the centre screw directly into the dead centre of the back of the dartboard.

2. Spread your spring clips in a triangular formation in the back of the dartboard.

3. Measure the correct height for your dartboard on the wall and then screw your U-bracket into the wall or backing surface. The bracket should be measured out so that the bottom of the U-slot sits at 5 feet 8 inches (1.73m) high. This is where the screw on the back of the board will sit.

4. Slide the board with the screw fitting into the U-shaped slot. It should fit snugly against the backing surface with minimal, if any, movement.

5. If there is more than a little movement, try to tighten the centre screw on the dartboard and then slide it back into the bracket. This will stop the board from moving or spinning out of place.

 

When you hang a dart board for the first time it can be a little tricky to get the centre screw height at the correct depth. The graphic below shows how much of the screw should be sticking out of the back of the board.

In image (1), the screw is tightened too far into the back of the board, so there won’t be enough of the screw sticking out to hook onto the bracket. The middle image (3) shows a screw that hasn’t been screwed into the board enough, which will mean the board will be very wobbly and off balance. It might take a few tries to get the centre screw at the right depth, like in image (2), so that it doesn’t wobble and is securely in place on the bracket.

 

Hanging a Dartboard using a Dartboard Clamp

Using a dartboard clamp is another option for hanging up your board and makes changing and rotating your board really easy. A clamp will hold the dartboard in place and will also slightly bring the board out from the wall, so check that the distance from the board to the oche is correct.

Hanging a dartboard with disc-mount hanging kits

Another option for a dartboard set up is using a disc-mount hanging kit. A disc is screwed into the back of the board and a wider U-shaped bracket is screwed into the wall or backing surface. The benefit of this setup is that you don’t need to worry about using spring clips and the width of the bracket keeps the board level and secure.

Things to consider before you hang a dartboard

There are several other things to consider when hanging up a dartboard. It is worth thinking about your darts setup and if you want to include a surround or cabinet to go with your board, as well as any dartboard lights so you can focus your aim and see your scores more clearly. A darts mat could also be added to clearly show you the distance of the oche in darts.

Dartboard surrounds and cabinets

Many players opt for either a dartboard surround or cabinet for their home darts setup.

It is important to protect the wall where your board is from any stray darts and a surround will, as in the name, surround your board.

A surround comes in a rubber-ring shape and is usually made from lightweight, yet heavy duty, materials and is available in a variety of colours and designs to match your own style.

 

A cabinet will keep both your wall and dartboard safe.

With options in various wooden materials, a darts cabinet has two closing doors, which when opened up have scoring panels to keep score of your matches.

The doors cover up the board when closed and show off a cool design on the front of your cabinet when you’re not playing darts.

Lighting for a dartboard set up

Including a dartboard light in your setup can improve gameplay as you will have a well-lit board to look at with no annoying shadows or glare on it.

If you are in a room with poor lighting, a darts light will help give you a clear view of the board when you are playing.

The lights in our range have been specifically designed to be fit for purpose and to make sure players can see every bullseye and treble 20 that you throw.

 

Marking the throw line for darts

Marking the throw line is a good place to start before hanging up your dartboard. This is because once your board is up you’ll need enough space to throw your darts from the correct distance.

Darts Corner carries a range of different darts mats which can ensure you always have your throw line marked on the floor for you.

A mat made from thick and durable materials will help protect your floor and also your darts, particularly if you are playing in a room with hard flooring.

The best place to put a dartboard

The most important factor when finding the best place to put a dartboard is that the playing area is big enough to comfortably play in. For the dartboard, a clear area on the wall measuring 1m height by 1m width will give you plenty of room to fit a board and with some extra space to also fit a cabinet or surround.

The playing area on the floor measured directly in front of the board should be at least 1.5m wide and 3.5m long. An area of this size will ensure you can comfortably throw your darts from the correct distance. We would also recommend keeping your board away from any windows or furniture to prevent any damage.

Now you’re ready to put your dart board up

Now that you know everything there is to know about hanging a dartboard up, you’re ready to get your own darts setup fitted at home. Having your own darts space is an ideal way to practice, improve your skills and also introduce friends and family to the game.

Here at Darts Corner, we have everything you need to get set up at home. From dartboards and darts mats to dartboard lighting, surrounds and cabinets, you can rely on high quality products and service when you order from us. We even have personalised options to make a special addition to your home darts setup.

Steve Reed is the design and purchasing manager at Darts Corner and has 30+ years’ worth of experience in the darts industry. He has designed the darts for many of the top professional players, including the setup that Phil Taylor used to win his 16th World Matchplay title during his final year on the PDC tour.

Steve played an integral role in the birth of Mission Darts, designing the products for the brand’s launch and working closely with its sponsored players to create their signature darts.