Dartboard Height & Distance: Official Measurements Explained 🎯

Picture this. You’ve just bought your first dartboard. You spend 20 minutes hunting for a stud in the wall, drill the bracket in, hang the board, and pace back 8 feet to throw your first dart. Feels about right, yeah?

Then your mate comes over and says, “Mate, that board looks way too high.” So you grab a tape measure. And sure enough — you eyeballed it completely wrong.

Don’t worry. It happens to nearly every first-time setup. The good news is, dartboard height and distance measurements are simple once you know the numbers. Get them right once, and your muscle memory will thank you every single game from then on.

This guide covers every official measurement you need — for steel tip, soft tip, wheelchair setups, kids, and home play. We’ll also walk you through exactly how to measure, what mistakes to avoid, and how to verify your setup is perfect without touching the tape measure twice.

Let’s get into it.

🤔 Why Official Dartboard Measurements Actually Matter

You might be thinking — does it really matter if I’m a centimetre or two off? For a casual Friday night game with mates, maybe not. But here’s the thing: muscle memory is ruthless.

Every time you throw a dart, your arm, shoulder, and eye are quietly learning the distance and angle to the board. If you practice at home on a board that’s slightly too high or set 10 cm too close, your body learns that setup — not the official one.

Then you step up to a board in a pub, a league night, or a tournament and suddenly everything feels wrong. Your throws land low. Your 20s become 5s. You’re not throwing worse — your calibration is just off.

So whether you’re a casual player or chasing a league spot, setting up your dartboard to official regulation measurements is the smartest thing you can do from day one.

The rules are set by the World Darts Federation (WDF) — the global governing body for darts — and mirrored by both the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and the British Darts Organisation (BDO). Every professional event from Alexandra Palace to the Premier League uses the exact same numbers you’re about to learn.

📏 The Official Dartboard Height

🎯 Quick Answer: The official dartboard height is 173 cm (5ft 8in) — measured from the floor to the centre of the bullseye. Same worldwide, same for all formats.

Let’s start with the most important measurement.

The official dartboard height is 5 feet 8 inches — or 173 cm — measured from the floor to the centre of the bullseye.

That’s it. One number. Same for steel tip, same for soft tip. Same in the UK, the USA, Germany, Australia, and everywhere else in the world where official darts is played.

A few things worth noting:

• You measure to the centre of the bullseye — not the top of the board, not the bottom
• The measurement starts from the floor where you stand, not from a mat or raised platform
• If you’re on thick carpet, measure from the carpet surface (because that’s where your feet are)

Why Is the Dartboard Height 5ft 8in?

Here’s a fun bit of history: the 5ft 8in measurement is believed to have originated from the average eye-level height of an adult in early 20th century Britain. The idea is that when you stand at the oche, the bullseye should sit roughly at your eye level — giving you a natural, comfortable throwing angle.

It’s stayed that way ever since, and it works beautifully. When the bullseye is at eye level, your throwing arc is natural, your shoulder doesn’t strain upward, and you’re not compensating for an awkward angle on every throw.

What About the Dartboard Size?

A regulation dartboard has an outer diameter of approximately 18 inches (457 mm). The playable scoring area — the outer edge of the double ring — measures about 13.4 inches (340 mm) in diameter.

The inner bull (the tiny red centre circle) is just 12.7 mm in diameter. The outer bull ring extends to 31.8 mm. Now you know why hitting a double bull feels so satisfying — that target is absolutely tiny.

Because a standard board is about 45 cm wide, the top of the board will sit roughly 22 cm above your height mark, and the bottom about 22 cm below it.

📐 The Official Dartboard Throwing Distance

🎯 Quick Answer: Steel tip distance is 237 cm (7ft 9¼in). Soft tip is 244 cm (8ft). Always measure from the face of the board — not the wall.

Now for the throwing distance — the space between you and the board.

The official throwing distance for steel tip darts is 7 feet 9¼ inches — or 237 cm. This is measured from the front face of the dartboard to the front edge of the oche (the throwing line).

This is the exact measurement used in every PDC tournament, every WDF event, and every official league match on the planet. Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Fallon Sherrock — they’ve all thrown from exactly 237 cm.

Steel Tip vs. Soft Tip: The Distance Difference

Here’s something a lot of people don’t know: soft tip and steel tip darts have different official throwing distances.

• Steel tip darts: 237 cm (7ft 9¼in)
• Soft tip darts: 244 cm (8ft)

That extra 7 cm for soft tip exists because electronic dartboards have slightly larger scoring zones. Standing further back evens things out and maintains the challenge.

The bullseye height is identical for both — still 173 cm. Only the horizontal distance changes.

⚠️ The Critical Measuring Mistake — Face, Not Wall

This is the single most common setup error, and it’s worth repeating loudly: you always measure from the face (front surface) of the dartboard, not from the wall behind it.

A standard bristle dartboard protrudes about 3–4 cm from the wall when it’s properly mounted. If you measure from the wall, you end up standing 3–4 cm too close. That might sound trivial, but multiplied across thousands of practice throws, it genuinely affects your calibration.

Always measure from the face of the board. If you’re alone and can’t hold the tape at both ends, try this: drop a piece of string with a small weight (a plumb bob, or even a nut or washer) from the centre of the bullseye to the floor. Mark that spot on the floor. Then measure outward from that mark to set your oche.

✅ The Diagonal Measurement Trick — Verify Everything at Once

Here’s the smartest shortcut in dartboard setup — and most players never learn it.

The diagonal distance from the centre of the bullseye down to the front edge of the oche should measure exactly 9 feet 7⅜ inches — or 293 cm.

Why is this useful? Because if you measure that diagonal and it comes out right, it means both your height and your throwing distance are correct simultaneously. You’ve verified the full setup with one measurement.

This is especially handy when your floor is uneven, your walls aren’t perfectly straight, or you’re setting up somewhere temporary. The diagonal cuts through all of that.

Here’s the maths behind it (don’t worry — you don’t need to calculate anything, just measure):

The dartboard height (173 cm) and the throwing distance (237 cm) form two sides of a right triangle. The hypotenuse — the diagonal — works out to 293 cm. That single number is the secret shortcut to a regulation-correct setup.

For soft tip darts, the diagonal is slightly longer: 9 feet 9½ inches — or 298 cm — to account for the 244 cm throwing distance.

📊 Full Official Measurements at a Glance

Here’s a complete summary table you can screenshot and stick to the wall while you’re setting up:

🔧 How to Set Up Your Dartboard: Step-by-Step

You don’t need fancy tools. A tape measure, a pencil, and a spirit level will get you there. Here’s the full process:

Step 1 — Choose Your Wall Space 🏠

You need a clear area on the wall of at least 1 metre wide by 1 metre tall for the board and surround. The playing floor area should be at least 1.5 metres wide and 3.5 metres long to play comfortably and safely.

Make sure there are no obstructions — doors swinging open, shelving, windows — in the throwing lane. Safety first.

Step 2 — Mark the Bullseye Height 📏

Measure up from the floor and mark 173 cm on the wall. This is where the centre of the bullseye must sit.

Use a spirit level to make sure your mark is level and square to the floor. A wonky board affects everything — your aiming references, your segment positions, your muscle memory.

Step 3 — Mount the Bracket 🔩

Most dartboards come with a U-shaped metal bracket and a centre bolt. Mount the bracket so the centre hook aligns with your 173 cm mark. If you’re going into drywall (plasterboard), always use wall anchors — a dartboard weighs around 4–5 kg, and the constant vibration of darts hitting the board will eventually loosen a screw that’s not anchored properly.

Step 4 — Hang the Board and Level It ⚖️

Hang the board and check one crucial thing immediately: the number 20 segment must be at the very top of the board, centred above the bullseye. An incorrectly rotated board throws off every segment — and if you’re aiming at 20s for three months on a misrotated board, it will absolutely show when you play elsewhere.

Use your spirit level across the top of the board to confirm it isn’t tilted.

Step 5 — Set the Oche (Throwing Line) 📍

Measure 237 cm from the face (front surface) of the dartboard along the floor. Mark this line clearly. Options include:

• Dart mat — the easiest solution; most mats have the throw line already printed on them
• Raised oche strip — a rubber or wooden strip that gives you a physical edge to stand behind
• Floor tape — works fine for casual home setups

Important: If you use a raised mat or oche strip, also check that it doesn’t push you further from the board than intended. Measure the distance to the front of where your feet will stand, not the front of the mat itself.

Step 6 — Verify With the Diagonal ✅

Grab your tape measure and run it diagonally from the centre of the bullseye to the front of your oche. It should read 293 cm for steel tip. If it does — you’re perfectly set up.

♿ Wheelchair Darts Measurements

🎯 Verdict: Wheelchair darts keeps the same throwing distance (237 cm) but lowers the bullseye height to 137 cm (4ft 6in) — comfortable seated eye level.

Darts is wonderfully inclusive, and wheelchair play has its own official measurements governed by the WDF.

Wheelchair dartboard setup:

The throwing distance stays the same as standard play — only the board height is lowered so the bullseye sits at a comfortable eye level for a seated player.

If you’re setting up a shared space that hosts both standing and wheelchair players, the cleanest solution is a wall-mounted bracket system that can be adjusted between heights, or simply two clearly marked oche positions at the same distance from two boards at different heights.

The playing area in front of the board should also provide an unobstructed clear floor space of at least 30 inches by 48 inches at the throw line to allow for wheelchair maneuverability.

👧👦 Kids & Junior Dartboard Measurements

There are no official WDF junior measurements for competitive play — youth competitions use the same regulation dimensions as adults. However, for younger children learning at home, it makes good sense to adapt the setup while they’re developing.

Suggested junior guidelines (unofficial, home play only):

The principle is simple: start closer and lower, then gradually move back to the full distance as they grow and improve. The most important thing for younger players is that they can reach the board and hit it consistently. If they’re straining to throw and still bouncing off the floor, they’re too far away.

⚠️ Safety Note: A dart thrown at speed can bounce back off wire dividers at pace. For very young children, soft tip darts on an electronic board are strongly recommended — far safer and just as fun.

By secondary school age, the board should be at full regulation height and distance.

⚠️ The Most Common Setup Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Even experienced players get tripped up during setup. Here are the most common errors and exactly how to avoid them:

❌ Mistake 1 — Measuring from the Wall, Not the Board Face

A mounted dartboard sits 3–4 cm in front of the wall. Measuring from the wall puts your oche in the wrong spot. Always measure from the front face of the board.

❌ Mistake 2 — Measuring to the Wrong Part of the Board

The official height measurement goes to the centre of the bullseye — not the top, not the bracket, not the bottom. Mark exactly where the bull sits.

❌ Mistake 3 — Ignoring Mat Thickness

If you’re using a raised dart mat or rubber oche, its thickness (usually 1–2 cm) raises the surface you stand on. Measure the bullseye height from the top of the mat surface, not the bare floor beneath it.

❌ Mistake 4 — Mounting Without Wall Anchors

Dartboards are heavy (4–5 kg) and absorb constant vibration. A screw in bare drywall will slowly work loose. Always use proper wall anchors in plasterboard — or ideally, find a stud.

❌ Mistake 5 — Forgetting to Rotate the Board

The number 20 should always be at the very top, dead centre. Some boards come out of the box correctly. Always double-check before your first throw.

❌ Mistake 6 — Skipping the Diagonal Check

Running the 293 cm diagonal check takes 30 seconds and confirms height and distance are perfect simultaneously. Always do it.

🏠 Dartboard Room Space Requirements

So beyond the board and the throw line, how much space do you actually need?

Minimum recommended room dimensions:

The ceiling height matters more than people realise. Your dart travels in an arc — it goes slightly up before curving back down to the board. In a room with a low ceiling, tall players can accidentally clip the ceiling on their throw. 2.4 metres is the safe minimum; 2.7 metres gives you proper comfort.

If you’re installing two boards in the same space (for doubles or back-to-back play), the WDF recommends at least 180 cm between the two bulls.

🛡️ Protecting Your Walls: Surrounds, Backboards & Mats

Let’s be honest — no matter how good you get, darts will miss the board sometimes. Especially early on. Here’s how to protect your space:

Dartboard surround: A foam ring that fits around the board and catches most stray darts. These cost around £15–30 and are the most popular solution. They’re easy to install and look tidy.

Cork backboard: Mount a large cork sheet or cork tiles behind the entire board area for broader coverage. Good for beginners who miss wider.

Dartboard cabinet: An enclosed wooden cabinet that frames the board, protects the wall, and stores your darts when not in use. More expensive but looks brilliant in a dedicated game room.

Dart mat: As well as marking your oche, a good mat protects your floor from falling darts and protects dart points from hitting hard flooring.

⚖️ Steel Tip vs. Soft Tip: A Full Comparison

Here’s a complete side-by-side comparison of the two main formats:

The main day-to-day difference you’ll feel is that extra 7 cm of throwing distance on soft tip boards. If you switch between both regularly, your brain will notice it. For competitive training, always practice at the format-specific regulation distance.

📋 Quick Reference: The Cheat Sheet Table

Print this. Screenshot this. Tape it next to your board.

❓ FAQ — Your Dartboard Setup Questions Answered

Q: Does the dartboard height change for women or shorter players?

No. The official measurement of 173 cm (5ft 8in) is the same for all adult players in official play, regardless of height or gender. Some recreational leagues offer alternative distances for ladies or juniors — such as 228 cm (7ft 6in) — but these are informal adaptations, not official WDF measurements.

Q: What if my floor is uneven — how do I measure correctly?

Measure from the surface where you’ll actually be standing. If you throw from a level area but the floor near the wall is slightly different, use a spirit level to find the horizontal plane. This is where the diagonal check (293 cm) is especially useful — it corrects for surface irregularities automatically.

Q: How do I measure the throwing distance if the board sticks out from the wall?

Always measure from the face (front surface) of the dartboard, not from the wall. Use the plumb bob method: hang a string with a small weight from the centre of the bullseye to the floor, mark that spot, and measure forward from there to your oche.

Q: Is there a difference between PDC and WDF measurements?

No. Both the PDC and the WDF use identical measurements: 173 cm bullseye height and 237 cm throwing distance for steel tip. They agree fully on this.

Q: What’s the oche, and how do I mark it?

The oche (pronounced “ockey”) is the throwing line — the line you stand behind when you throw. You can mark it with floor tape, a rubber strip, or a dedicated dart mat. For regulation play, the front edge of the oche sits exactly 237 cm from the face of the board.

Q: Can I use a shorter distance to help me learn?

Yes, especially as a beginner working on technique. Throwing closer helps you learn the motion and score consistently before stepping back to the full distance. Just know that you’ll need to retrain from 237 cm when you’re ready — don’t stay closer for too long if you want to play competitively.

Q: How do I know if my dartboard is mounted straight?

Two checks: first, the number 20 segment should be centred at the very top of the board. Second, use a spirit level placed across the top to confirm it isn’t tilted. A rotated board changes where every segment sits.

Q: Does soft tip darts really need a longer distance?

Yes — it’s the official standard. Electronic soft tip boards have slightly larger scoring zones, so the additional distance (244 cm vs. 237 cm) compensates and maintains a comparable challenge. The National Darts Association (NDA) and most electronic leagues enforce the 244 cm standard.

🏆 Get Your Setup Right — Then Start Playing

There you have it — everything you need to set up a dartboard that matches official regulation measurements anywhere in the world.

To recap the core numbers:

• 🎯 Bullseye height: 173 cm / 5ft 8in from the floor (steel tip and soft tip)
• 📏 Throwing distance: 237 cm / 7ft 9¼in (steel tip) or 244 cm / 8ft (soft tip)
• ✅ Diagonal check: 293 cm from the bullseye to the front of the oche (steel tip)
• ⚠️ Always measure from the face of the board, not the wall

Set it up once. Set it up right. Then spend your energy on actually throwing.

Found this guide useful? Share it with a mate who’s been playing from the wrong distance 😄 Drop a comment below telling us where you’ve set your board up — basement, spare room, garden shed — we want to know 👇

For the official WDF rules and measurements, visit the World Darts Federation’s official website.