Guide
Dart Board Height and Throw Distance
Three numbers, measured correctly, and the board is right forever. Measured carelessly, it is wrong forever.
How these picks were made: from published manufacturer specifications, governing-body standards and the room arithmetic - not from first-hand use. We have not played on these tables. Read the method.
The three numbers
| Measurement | Imperial | Metric | Measured from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullseye height | 5 ft 8 in | 1.73 m | Finished floor to the center of the bull |
| Throw distance (oche) | 7 ft 9.25 in | 2.37 m | Board face, horizontally, to the back of the oche |
| Check diagonal | 9 ft 7.375 in | 2.93 m | Center of the bull to the back of the oche |
| Board diameter | 17.75 in | 451 mm | Across the scoring area |
Soft-tip electronic boards use the same height but commonly an 8-foot throw distance, because the playing face sits further out from the wall in its housing. The board's own manual is authoritative.
The two mistakes everyone makes
Measuring to the top of the board. The 5 feet 8 inches is to the center of the bullseye, which sits roughly 9 inches below the top edge of a standard board. Hanging the top edge at 5 feet 8 inches puts the bull nearly 9 inches low, which is enough to change your whole throw.
Measuring the distance along the diagonal. The 7 feet 9.25 inches is a horizontal floor measurement from the board face. Running a tape from the bullseye to the floor mark gives 9 feet 7.375 inches - the check diagonal - and using that as the throw distance puts the oche nearly two feet too far back.
Step by step
- Find the studs. A board and bracket are not heavy, but a cabinet with a board inside is, and the wall takes the whole load.
- Mark 5 ft 8 in up from the finished floor. That mark is where the center of the bullseye goes.
- Mount the bracket at the offset the board requires - measure from the board's own bull to its hanging point first.
- Hang the board and check the 20 segment is at the top. It is a surprisingly common error.
- Measure 7 ft 9.25 in horizontally along the floor from the board face. Mark the oche.
- Check the diagonal: a tape from the bull center to the back of the oche should read 9 ft 7.375 in. If it does not, one of the other two numbers is wrong.
- Fix the oche with a mat, a strip of tape or a raised bar. A raised bar is traditional; a mat is more practical.
Space around the setup
A dart board needs about 11 feet of total floor run: 7 feet 9.25 inches to the oche plus 2 to 3 feet of standing room behind it. Width barely matters - 2 feet each side of the board is plenty, and 3 feet is generous.
That is the smallest footprint of any game on this site, which is why a dart board fits a hallway, a garage wall or the dead corner of a basement that suits nothing else. Small-room setups here.
Quick picks
| # | Product | Best for | Board type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Viper Dart Throw Line Mat | Marking the oche | Mat with throw line | |
| 2 |  Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core Dartboard | The board to mount | Sisal, 7 ft 9.25 in | |
| 3 |  Viper Metropolitan Dartboard Cabinet with LED Light | Mounting with lighting | Lit cabinet |
What makes the setup easier
#1 · Marking the oche
Viper Dart Throw Line Mat
A mat with the oche marked at the regulation distance. Also the cheapest way to stop a dropped dart chipping a tile floor.
A mat with the oche printed at the regulation distance removes the measurement and protects the floor from dropped darts. The simplest correct setup available.
- What works
- Oche is marked correctly already
- Protects a hard floor
- What does not
- Rolls at the edges when new
#2 · The board to mount
Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core Dartboard
The league standard. Dense sisal and very thin wire, so bounce-outs drop and the segments stay tight after a season of use.
If you are measuring carefully, mount a board worth the effort.
- What works
- League standard
- What does not
- Price
#3 · Mounting with lighting
Viper Metropolitan Dartboard Cabinet with LED Light
A cabinet with integrated lighting, which solves the real problem: a ceiling light behind you puts your own shadow on the board.
Mounting a cabinet changes the measurement reference - and solves the shadow problem at the same time.
- What works
- Lights the board from its own plane
- What does not
- Needs an outlet
Sources
All height, distance and diagonal figures are the World Darts Federation's published playing rules. The soft-tip distance is the common manufacturer figure and varies by board.
