Short answer
Hang the board so the centre of the bull is 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) above the floor. For steel-tip darts the oche is 237 cm (7 ft 9¼ in) from the face of the board, which puts it 293.4 cm diagonally from the bull. Soft-tip darts use 244 cm (8 ft) at the same height. Light the board evenly from in front so the wires cast no shadow, and protect the wall and floor around it.
The numbers
| Steel tip | Soft tip | |
|---|---|---|
| Centre of the bull above the floor | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
| Oche, from the face of the board | 237 cm (7 ft 9¼ in) | 244 cm (8 ft) |
| Diagonal, bull to the oche on the floor | 293.4 cm | about 299 cm |
Measure the oche from the face of the board, not from the wall: a cabinet or surround moves the board forward. The diagonal is the check that the height and the distance are both right.
Mark it in four steps
- Height: mark 173 cm on the wall and hang the board so the bull's centre sits on the mark, with the 20 segment at the top.
- Plumb line: drop a line from the face of the board to the floor and mark that point.
- Oche: measure 237 cm (steel) or 244 cm (soft) from that point and fix the line, ideally a raised oche or a dart mat with the line printed in.
- Check: measure bull to the front edge of the oche on the floor: 293.4 cm for steel tip.
Light it without shadows
Ceiling lights behind the player throw the shadow of your own darts and of the wire onto the board. A ring light or an LED surround lights the board evenly from all sides. Mount it so the light falls on the face of the board, not into the thrower's eyes.
WinmauWinmau Polaris 120° Dartboard LightRing lightAED 436.50 
Knight ShotKnight Shot Dartboard Surround LED Light Round BlackLED surroundAED 338.01 
WinmauWinmau Plasma Dartboard LightRing lightAED 535.50 All dartboard lights.
Protect the wall and the floor
Missed darts land around the board and fall onto the floor. A surround catches the misses on the wall, a cabinet hides the board when you are not playing, and a mat protects tiles and parquet from points.
Which board
Bristle boards are for steel-tip darts; the fibres close again after each dart. Thinner wires mean fewer bounce-outs. Rotate a bristle board now and then (on boards with a removable number ring) so the wear spreads. Electronic boards are for soft-tip darts and keep the score for you.
Shot DartsShot Darts Rogue Bristle DartboardBristleAED 174.46 
WinmauWinmau Blade 6 Dual Core DartboardBristleAED 504 
WinmauWinmau Blade 6 Triple Core DartboardBristleAED 648 
WinmauWinmau Blade X Pro Core DartboardBristleAED 864 
WinmauWinmau Ton Machine Soft Tip Electronic DartboardElectronicAED 151.20 See all dartboards, or try the checkout calculator on our darts page.
Questions we get in the showroom (5)
How high should a dartboard be?
The centre of the bull is 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) above the floor, for steel-tip and soft-tip darts.
How far is the oche from a steel-tip dartboard?
237 cm (7 ft 9¼ in), measured horizontally from the face of the board. The diagonal from the bull to the oche on the floor is 293.4 cm.
How far is the throw line for soft-tip darts?
244 cm (8 ft) from the face of the board, with the bull at the same 173 cm height.
How much space do I need for a dartboard?
The throw distance plus room to stand and step back. As a rule of thumb, about 3.4 m from the board wall for steel tip, and about 1.5 m of width.
What is the best lighting for a dartboard?
Even light from in front of the board, from a ring light or LED surround, so the wires and darts cast no shadows. Our dartboard lights start at AED 436.50.