Darts Checkout Chart: 170 to 2 — All Combinations Listed (Complete 2026 Guide)

Dart hitting double 16 to check out with 32 remaining on scoreboard

The Number That Haunted Me

I had 121 left. Two darts had already sailed wide. Then, with my third dart in hand and my heart hammering, I genuinely had no idea where to throw.

I hit single 20 and left 101. As a result, three more darts were wasted. Meanwhile, my opponent doubled out from 40 while I was still doing mental arithmetic at the oche.

That’s the moment I finally understood: knowing how to finish is a completely different skill from knowing how to score. Furthermore, the difference between a player who wins and a player who wastes three visits on a simple checkout almost always comes down to one thing — knowing your combinations.

That’s exactly what this guide is built for.

Below you’ll find the complete darts checkout chart from 170 down to 2 — every possible finish, clearly listed, with primary routes and alternative combinations where they matter most. Whether you’re printing this out to hang next to your board or memorising it one range at a time, this is the reference you’ll come back to again and again.

Let’s get into it.

Dart player frustrated at oche with 121 left on scoreboard unable to finish

How to Read This Checkout Chart

Darts checkout chart notation key: T for triple D for double S for single Bull for bullseye

Before jumping into the numbers, here’s a quick key so every entry makes sense:

  • T = Triple (e.g. T20 = Triple 20 = 60 points)
  • D = Double (e.g. D16 = Double 16 = 32 points)
  • S = Single (e.g. S18 = Single 18 = 18 points) — sometimes written without the S prefix
  • Bull = Inner Bullseye = 50 points (counts as a valid double finish)
  • Bogey = Score that cannot be finished in three darts — no checkout exists

Darts in each route are listed in the order you should throw them: first dart → second dart → third dart (if needed).

Important reminder: Your final dart must always land on a Double or the inner Bullseye to win the leg. Any dart that takes your score below zero, to exactly 1, or to zero without landing on a double counts as a bust — your score resets to the start of that turn.

The 7 Bogey Numbers — Learn These First

Before any checkout chart, memorise these seven scores. They are completely impossible to finish in three darts — no combination on the board can reach zero from them:

Bogey NumberWhy It’s Impossible
169Needs 119 from 2 darts before a double — not achievable
168No valid 3-dart route ending on a double or bull
166No valid 3-dart route
165No valid 3-dart route
163No valid 3-dart route
162No valid 3-dart route
159No valid 3-dart route ending on a double or bull
Darts bogey numbers infographic: 169 168 166 165 163 162 159 impossible to check out in 3 darts

If you land on any of these, throw a scoring dart to move off the bogey number before attempting to finish. Aim for 160, 161, 164, or 167 — all of which are valid three-dart checkouts.

Memory tip: All bogey numbers above 50 end in the digits 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, or 9. If your score ends in 0, 1, 4, or 7 — you’re always on a checkable number.

Complete Darts Checkout Chart: 170 to 2

🔴 Three-Dart Checkouts: 170 to 101

Three darts in flight toward dartboard in three-dart checkout sequence

These are the biggest finishes — the ones that require all three darts and maximum precision. Committing these to memory is what separates intermediate players from serious competitors.

ScorePrimary RouteAlternative RouteNotes
170T20, T20, Bull“The Big Fish” — highest possible checkout. Only one route exists.
169❌ BOGEYImpossible in 3 darts
168❌ BOGEYImpossible in 3 darts
167T20, T19, BullT19, T20, BullFirst two darts interchangeable
166❌ BOGEYImpossible in 3 darts
165❌ BOGEYImpossible in 3 darts
164T20, T18, BullT19, T19, BullTwo valid routes
163❌ BOGEYImpossible in 3 darts
162❌ BOGEYImpossible in 3 darts
161T20, T17, BullT19, T18, Bull
160T20, T20, D20First 3-dart out landing on a regular double
159❌ BOGEYImpossible in 3 darts
158T20, T20, D19
157T20, T19, D20Classic competitive finish
156T20, T20, D18
155T20, T19, D19T19, T18, BullTough finish — avoid if possible
154T20, T18, D20T18, T20, D20
153T20, T19, D18T19, T18, D19
152T20, T20, D16T19, T19, D18Lands on beginner-friendly D16
151T20, T17, D20T19, T18, D18
150T20, T18, D18T20, T20, D15
149T20, T19, D16T20, T13, D20
148T20, T16, D20T20, T20, D14
147T20, T17, D18T19, T18, D16
146T20, T18, D16T19, T19, D16
145T20, T19, D14T20, T15, D20
144T20, T20, D12T20, T16, D18
143T20, T17, D16T19, T18, D16
142T20, T18, D16T19, T17, D18
141T20, T19, D12T20, T15, D18Famous 9-dart-finish route: 180+180+141
140T20, T20, D10T20, T16, D16
139T20, T19, D11T19, T14, D20
138T20, T18, D12T19, T19, D12
137T20, T19, D10T19, T20, D10
136T20, T20, D8T20, T16, D14
135T20, T17, D12T19, T18, D12
134T20, T14, D20T20, T18, D10
133T20, T19, D8T20, T13, D16
132T20, T20, D6Bull, Bull, D16Bull + Bull route is a “Champagne Finish”
131T20, T13, D16T19, T14, D16
130T20, T18, D12T19, T19, D8Very common competitive finish
129T19, T16, D18T20, T19, D6
128T20, T20, D4T20, T16, D12
127T20, T17, D8T19, T14, D16
126T19, T19, D6T20, T18, D6
125T20, T15, D10T20, T19, D4Or Bull, T15, D20
124T20, T16, D8T19, T19, D4
123T20, T13, D12T19, T14, D12
122T18, T18, D7T20, T12, D13
121T20, T11, D14T17, T18, D8Tricky but very common — memorise this one
120T20, S20, D20T20, T16, D6Or T20, 20, D20
119T19, T10, D16T20, S19, D20
118T20, S18, D20T18, T14, D16
117T20, T19, D10T19, T20, D10
116T20, T16, D14T19, T11, D20
115T20, S15, D20T19, S18, D20
114T20, T14, D16T19, T13, D16
113T20, T13, D20T19, T12, D20
112T20, T12, D20T19, T15, D16
111T20, T11, D19T19, T14, D14
110T20, BullT19, T13, D16Only 2 darts needed! Classic finish
109T20, S9, D20T19, T12, D16
108T20, S8, D20T19, S11, D20
107T19, T10, D20T17, BullBull route is cleaner for many players
106T20, S6, D20T18, T12, D16
105T20, S5, D20T19, S8, D20
104T18, T18, D5T20, S4, D20
103T19, S6, D20T20, S3, D20
102T20, S2, D20T18, S12, D18
101T20, S1, D20T17, S10, D20
Darts 170 checkout: T20 T20 bullseye equals 170 The Big Fish maximum checkout

🟡 Two-Dart Checkouts: 100 to 41

Darts two dart checkout example: triple 20 plus double 20 equals 100 checkout

These are the workhorses of competitive darts. Hit these reliably and your win rate climbs dramatically.

ScorePrimary RouteAlternative RouteNotes
100T20, D20T16, D26Clean 2-dart finish — must-know
99T19, D21T13, D30Or T19, S12, D18 (3-dart)
98T20, D19T18, D22
97T19, D20T20, D18.5
96T20, D18T16, D24
95T19, D19T15, D25Or T19, S18, D20
94T18, D20T14, D26
93T19, D18T13, D24
92T20, D16T16, D22Lands on beloved D16 halving chain
91T17, D20T19, D17
90T20, D15T14, D24
89T19, D16T13, D25
88T20, D14T16, D20
87T17, D18T19, D15
86T18, D16T14, D22
85T19, D14T15, D20
84T20, D12T16, D18
83T17, D16T19, D13
82T14, D20T18, D14
81T19, D12T15, D18Common mid-game finish — memorise this
80T20, D10T16, D16
79T19, D11T13, D20
78T18, D12T14, D18
77T19, D10T15, D16
76T20, D8T16, D14T20 route is most popular
75T17, D12T15, D15
74T14, D16T18, D10
73T19, D8T13, D16
72T20, D6T16, D12
71T13, D16T19, D7
70T18, D8T10, D20
69T19, D6T11, D18
68T20, D4T18, D7
67T17, D8T9, D20
66T10, D18T14, D12
65T19, D4T11, D16Or Bull, D15
64T16, D8T14, D11
63T13, D12T17, D6
62T10, D16T12, D13
61T15, D8T11, D14Or Bull, S11 (3-dart)
60S20, D20T12, D12Simple single + double
59S19, D20T13, D10
58S18, D20T10, D14
57S17, D20T19, D0
56T16, D4S16, D20
55S15, D20T11, D11
54S14, D20T18, D0
53S13, D20T19, D-1
52T12, D8S12, D20
51S11, D20T17, D0
50BullS10, D201-dart finish on the Bull!
49S9, D20T7, D14
48S16, D16T8, D12D16 route preferred — leaves halving chain
47S15, D16S7, D20
46S6, D20S10, D18
45S13, D16S5, D20
44S12, D16S4, D20
43S11, D16S3, D20Or S19, D12
42S10, D16S6, D18
41S9, D16S1, D20

🟢 One-Dart Checkouts: 40 to 2

Every even number from 2 to 40 can be finished with a single dart. These are the cleanest, fastest possible finishes in the game.

Dartboard diagram showing all 20 double segments labeled for single dart checkout reference
ScoreDouble to HitSegment Location
40D20Top of board — “Double Top”
38D19
36D18
34D17
32D16Best beginner double — halving chain
30D15
28D14
26D13
24D12
22D11
20D10
18D9
16D8
14D7
12D6
10D5
8D4
6D3
4D2
2D1“The Madhouse” — hardest 1-dart finish
50BullInner bullseye — valid 1-dart finish

For odd numbers below 40: You must first hit a single dart to reduce to an even number, then finish on the double.

Odd ScoreEscape RouteThen Finish On
39S7 → 32D16
37S5 → 32D16
35S3 → 32D16
33S1 → 32D16
31S7 → 24D12
29S5 → 24D12
27S3 → 24D12
25S1 → 24D12
23S7 → 16D8
21S5 → 16D8
19S3 → 16D8
17S1 → 16D8
15S7 → 8D4
13S5 → 8D4
11S3 → 8D4
9S1 → 8D4
7S3 → 4D2
5S1 → 4D2
3S1 → 2D1
1❌ IMPOSSIBLECannot finish on 1
Darts odd number escape route chart: how to get from 17 to double 8 via single 1

The Most Famous Checkouts in Darts — Named Finishes You Should Know

Some checkouts are so celebrated they’ve earned their own names. Here’s the hall of fame:

NameScoreRouteWhy It’s Famous
The Big Fish170T20, T20, BullMaximum checkout — rarest, most prestigious finish in darts
The Big Fish Alternative167T20, T19, BullSecond-highest checkout — nearly as impressive
The Shanghai Checkout120T20, S20, D20Hits single, treble, double of 20 — same concept as Shanghai dart game
The Champagne Finish132Bull, Bull, D16Two bulls then a double — once considered “showboating” in UK pub culture
Double Top40D20The most-attempted single-dart finish — sits at the top of the board
The Madhouse2D1Narrowest double — notoriously difficult under pressure
The Perfect Leg501 in 9180+180+141The nine-dart finish — only achieved a handful of times on broadcast TV
Darts 170 Big Fish checkout with two treble 20s and bullseye as player celebrates

Which Double Should You Aim For? The D16 vs D20 Debate

Ask ten different experienced players which double is best, and you’ll get a strong split. Here’s the case for each:

The Case for Double 20 (D20 — “Tops”)

  • Worth 40 points — the highest single-dart checkout
  • Sits at the very top of the board — ergonomically comfortable for most right-handed players
  • Psychologically familiar — most players practice tops more than any other double
  • Miss outside → hits the wire and scores 0 (safe), or drifts into segment 5 or 1
Darts double 16 vs double 20 comparison infographic showing halving chain advantage

The Case for Double 16 (D16)

  • The famous halving chain: 32 → miss S16 → 16 (D8) → miss S8 → 8 (D4) → miss S4 → 4 (D2) → miss S2 → 2 (D1)
  • Every inside miss gives you another clean double opportunity — you never get stuck on an odd number
  • Miss outside D20 and hit S20 → leaves 20 for D10. Miss D10, hit S10 → leaves 10 for D5. Miss D5, hit S5 → leaves 5. Odd number. Dead end.
  • Miss outside D16 and hit S16 → leaves 16 for D8. Still clean. Always clean.

The verdict: D20 is better if your throwing accuracy is high and consistent. D16 is better if you’re still building your doubles game — the forgiving halving chain means missed darts don’t punish you as hard.

Most coaches recommend beginners start with D16 and switch to D20 once their accuracy justifies it.

The Most Common Checkouts in Competitive Play

According to data from PDC tour statistics, these are the checkouts that come up most frequently in real matches — the ones worth memorising above all others:

Top 10 Most Common Competitive Checkouts

RankScoreRouteWhy It Comes Up So Often
140D20Most common endgame double
232D16Second most common — halving chain favourite
336D18Popular preferred double for many club players
424D12Frequently reached from standard scoring paths
5100T20, D20Clean 2-dart — comes up constantly
681T19, D12Tricky but extremely common in mid-level play
776T20, D8Very frequent 2-dart from scoring T20 patterns
8121T20, T11, D14Appears regularly — difficult and must be memorised
950BullSimple 1-dart that many players unnecessarily complicate
10141T20, T19, D12Key 9-dart-finish route — common in strong players’ games

How to Use This Chart to Actually Improve

Having a checkout chart is the starting point — using it effectively is what creates real improvement. Here’s how to work through it:

Phase 1 — Master the 1-Dart Finishes (Week 1–2)

Spend your first sessions drilling the 20 even-number doubles from D1 to D20, plus the bullseye. These are the foundation of everything. Set yourself on each one and don’t move to the next until you’ve hit it. Track how many attempts each double takes you.

Phase 2 — Learn the Key 2-Dart Checkouts (Week 2–4)

Focus on the most common ones first: 100 (T20, D20), 96 (T20, D18), 92 (T20, D16), 81 (T19, D12), 76 (T20, D8). Practice them as pairs — throw the setup dart and then finish on the double. The setup dart matters as much as the finishing double.

Phase 3 — Build Your 3-Dart Repertoire (Week 4–8)

Start with the 3-dart checkouts you’ll actually reach in games: 121, 120, 117, 115, 110, 107, 100. Don’t try to learn all of 170–101 in one sitting. Learn five new routes per week and drill each one with 9 darts (3 complete attempts) before moving on.

Phase 4 — Hang the Chart, Play Games

Print this chart and hang it next to your dartboard. For the first month of serious play, it’s completely fine — even encouraged — to glance at it between turns. Referencing it while playing builds familiarity. Eventually the routes become instinctive.

6 Checkout Strategy Rules That Will Win You More Games

Six darts checkout strategy rules illustrated as icon grid for competitive players

Rule 1: Always Think About Your Miss

Before every checkout attempt, ask: “If I miss this dart inside, what score am I left on?” A great checkout route keeps you on an even number — ideally one in the halving chain — after a miss.

Rule 2: Avoid Bogey Numbers at All Costs

When you’re in the mid-game scoring phase (200–350 remaining), actively steer your scoring darts to avoid landing on the 7 bogey numbers. A tiny adjustment of one point mid-game can save you an entire extra visit.

Rule 3: Setup Shots Are as Important as Finish Shots

From 200 remaining, start thinking about which double you want to arrive at. Every dart from 200 downward should be moving you toward your preferred checkout, not just maximising score.

Rule 4: Don’t Overthink Two-Dart Finishes

When you have 60–100 remaining, most of these are clean 2-dart finishes. Identify your double, throw your setup dart, and trust your routine. Overthinking at the oche costs more games than missed doubles.

Rule 5: The Bullseye Is Your Friend

Many amateur players avoid the bull. Professional players actively use it. For scores like 110 (T20, Bull), 107 (T17, Bull), and 101 (T17, Bull), the bullseye is the cleaner, simpler route. Practice your bull regularly — it opens up finish options that your opponents are ignoring.

Rule 6: Develop Personal Alternative Routes

The checkout chart gives you recommended routes. Over time, you’ll find certain combinations suit your throw better than others. If you consistently hit D18 more reliably than D20, design your checkout paths to land on 36 instead of 40. Personalise the chart to your game — the chart is a framework, not a rulebook.

Frequently Asked Questions About Checkout Charts

Q: Is there only one correct route for each checkout? No — most checkouts have multiple valid routes. The chart shows the most commonly used and statistically best-percentage routes, but alternative combinations are always valid. As long as your final dart lands on a double, you win.

Q: Why can’t 1 be checked out? There is no “Double ½” on a standard dartboard. The lowest valid double is Double 1, which equals 2. A score of 1 is therefore an unfinishable dead end — which is why some groups play the “splitting the 11” house rule as a penalty.

Q: Can I use the outer bullseye to finish? In standard 501 and 301 rules, the outer bull (worth 25 points) does not count as a valid double finish. Only the inner bull (50 points) is valid. Always confirm this rule before a competitive game.

Q: When should I use an alternative route vs. the primary route? Use the alternative when: your primary double is wired (previous darts blocking the target), you’re stronger at a different double, or the primary route has a risky miss outcome. The goal is always the highest-percentage finish for your specific skill level.

Q: How long does it take to memorise the full checkout chart? Most players naturally memorise the checkouts they use most often within 4–8 weeks of regular play. Actively drilling with a chart speeds this up significantly. Full memorisation of all 161 checkouts typically takes 3–6 months of consistent play.

Q: What’s the best checkout for a beginner to try first? Start with 32 → Double 16. It’s the most forgiving route in the game thanks to the halving chain. Once you’re comfortable with D16 and its miss outcomes, expand to D20, D18, and the simple 2-dart finishes.

Quick Reference: Key Checkout Facts

FactDetail
Highest checkout170 — T20, T20, Bull
Lowest checkout2 — D1
Total valid checkouts161 (out of 169 scores from 2–170)
1-dart checkouts21 (D1–D20 + Bull)
7 bogey numbers169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162, 159
Best beginner doubleD16 (halving chain: 32→16→8→4→2)
Most attempted doubleD20 (Double Top)
Only 1-route checkout170 — no alternative exists
Inner bull value50 points — valid double finish
Outer bull value25 points — NOT a valid double finish

Final Thoughts: The Chart Is Your Starting Point, Not Your Ceiling

No professional darts player looks at a chart during a match. Instead, they’ve practiced these routes until the combinations are as automatic as reading their own name.

That’s your goal too — not to reference this chart forever, but rather to use it as a foundation until the routes become instinctive. To that end, stick it on your wall. Then run through it before practice sessions, and call your checkout out loud before you throw. Do that for a few months and you’ll discover something every serious darts player eventually learns:

Dart player throwing at double ring to check out and win a darts game

The finish is the fun part. Scoring triple 20s is satisfying, of course. But standing at the oche with 121 remaining, knowing exactly where to throw, and then watching those three darts execute the plan? That’s the feeling that keeps players coming back to the board night after night.

Now you have every combination from 170 to 2. As a result, the rest is just practice.

Found this chart useful? If so, bookmark it, print it, or share it with your darts group — and meanwhile, let us know in the comments which checkout you’re going to drill first!

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