If like me, you enjoy a good game of darts and have decided to buy a dart board for your man cave, garage, games room or somewhere else, you will need to know the correct dart board height and distance set-up to ensure the dart board is hung on the all at the correct height and how far back from the board you need to stand when you throw your darts.
Proper Dartboard Setup
Luckily for you, we’ve got all the information that you will need when it comes to setting up your dart board. We will be covering the most common set up that most leagues use. If you are going to be competing in a particular league it is best to double-check with them to ensure that they don’t have a special set up policy.
These numbers are all based the three major sanctioning bodies, the World Dart Federation (WDF), the British Darts Organization (BDO), and the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). We’ve provided this information within the article and in a hand image below.
Dartboard Height
The height that a dartboard is hung is normally measured from the floor up to the center of the dartboard (center of the bullseye).
This distance is 5 feet, 8 inches or 68 inches up. (1.73 meters) Getting the dartboard hung on the wall is merely the first step.
Distance to the Dartboard
In addition to the getting the dartboard hung you’ll also need to mark the oche. This is the line that you must be behind to make a legal throw.
The distance here needs to be 7 feet, 9 ¼ inches or 93.25 inches (2.37 meters). It is important to note that this distance starts at the front of the dart board, not the wall on which it is hung.
Distance from the Bullseye to the Oche
Once you have your dartboard hung and the oche marked out, it is a good idea to measure the diagonal distance, starting at the center of the bullseye and going to the oche. This will help to ensure that you have everything else measured correctly.
This distance should come out to be 9 feet 7 3/8 inches, or (2.93 meters). Note, the graphic below shows 9 feet 7 1/2 inches.
This is because I found it easier measuring 7 1/2 inches rather 7 3/8s. The Dart Board police will not arrest you if you’re 1/8 of an inch out.
Other Considerations
Ladies Darts Throwing Distance
People will often ask at what distance ladies should throw from. The simple answer is that in most cases everyone throws from the same line.
Again, if you are part of a particular league you can double-check with them to see if they have a local rule on the topic.
Wheelchair Dartboard Setup
The above numbers are all based a standing adult. For those players that are restricted to a wheelchair the numbers need to be changed slightly.
While the distance from the board to the oche remains the same, the height of the board is lowered to 4 feet 6 inches or 54 inches (1.37 meters). It is also important to note that the oche in this case is generally placed between the front and back wheels.
Dartboard Setup Tips
There are a number of things to keep in mind while you are setting up your regulation dartboard. If you are playing with a roll up magnetic dartboard, especially if it’s for kids, then the following do not really apply.
- Wall protector – One of the first things to consider when you are hanging your dart board is a cabinet or dart board surround or protective ring. This will help protect the walls from any mis-throw darts. It is important to note that if you swap from not having a cabinet to adding one later you will need to remeasure the distance to the oche. You will also find that after some time throwing darts on a board that is perfectly lined up you will be able to very quickly feel it if you visit someone else who doesn’t have their board set up correctly.
- Darts Mat – A darts mat is a great idea for protecting your floors. Plus many mats come with a number of distances marked out so you will know you are standing the correct distance from the board.
- Score board – When playing most dart games, you will need to keep score, so it will be worth investing in a chalkboard or wipe board. Many cabinets come with a built-in chalk board.