Dartboard Regulation Measurements

Whether your game is cricket, one of the 01 varieties or something else, you'll want to hang your dartboard correctly to play a regulation game. While you might be tempted to throw the board up in any old spot without making measurements, getting the position correct will improve your game and help you when you play at the local pub or in a tournament.

  1. Height

    • The center of the dartboard should be at 5 feet, 8 inches off the ground. Quality dartboards are designed to be mounted from the back center instead of hung, so you can take the measurement with a tape measure and mark it with a pencil. Then install the mounting bracket based on your marking and attach the dartboard using the screw on its back. If your dartboard uses a top hanger, you'll need to measure the distance from the center of the board to the hanger and add that to the 5 feet, 8 inches.

    Distance

    • The second important measurement for your dartboard is the distance to the toe line, which represents the closest throwing distance. The toe line should be 7 feet, 9 1/4 inches from the dartboard. When a diagonal measurement is taken, it will be 9 feet, 7 3/8 inches from the center of the dartboard to the toe line. Soft-tip boards should be 8 feet from the center.

    Misconceptions

    • To get the toe-line measurement, you need to measure from the dartboard, not from the wall. Because the dartboard is hanging on the wall, you should use a plumb held down from the center of the board. Then measure the distance from the plumb. If you don't have a plumb, measure how far it is from the wall to the front of the board, then add this in to your measurement from the wall. For instance, if it's 2 inches, you would set the line at 7 feet, 11 1/4 inches from the wall. Alternately, use the diagonal measurement from the double bull.

    Toe Line

    • Mark off the toe line with a piece of tape or raised bar that is 2 feet long. The American Darts Organization suggests using a raised bar that is 1 1/2 inches tall; the distance measurement will be from the back of the bar to the plumb line. If you choose to use flat tape, the measurement will be from the plumb to the front edge of the tape closest to the board.

    Position

    • The dartboard should be positioned so the "20" quadrant is centered at the very top. If your board is center-mounted, you can spin the board into place. If it is hanger-mounted, it should already be positioned correctly.

    Considerations

    • While the aforementioned dartboard measurements cover regulations of the game, there are many considerations when setting up your board. Aim for a space of at least 5 feet (width) by 11 feet (length) to play darts in. The space should be clear of any furniture, breakables and other items that could get in your way. It's always a good idea to use a dartboard backing to prevent damage to your wall. Hard floors such as concrete or tile can damage dart tips, while darts can pierce wood and linoleum.