Dartboard height & distance

Setting up a dartboard correctly starts with the right height, throwing distance and oche position. These measurements help you practise in consistent conditions and make your home setup feel closer to a proper darts match. If you are new to darts terminology, you can also use our darts glossary to understand terms such as bullseye, oche, double and treble.

Quick answer: official dartboard measurements

For a standard steel tip setup, the bullseye should be 173 cm from the floor. The oche or throwing line should be 237 cm from the front of the dartboard. If you play soft tip darts on a electronic board, the throwing distance is usually 244 cm. This is the setup most players use when they want to practise in the same conditions as a competitive darts match. The most important detail is that the distance is measured from the front of the dartboard to the front edge of the throwing line, not from the wall.

How to set up a dartboard correctly

To hang a dartboard correctly, start by marking the bullseye height on the wall. For a standard steel tip dartboard, the centre of the bullseye should be 173 centimeters from the floor. Make sure the board is level and that the 20 segment is at the top. Once the board is mounted, measure the throwing distance from the front surface of the dartboard to the front edge of the oche.

For steel tip darts, the distance should be 237 centimeters. Do not measure from the wall behind the board, because the thickness of the dartboard adds extra distance.

A practical way to check your setup is to measure diagonally from the bullseye to the front edge of the oche. For a standard steel tip setup, this diagonal distance is 293 centimeters.

How high should a dartboard be?

The standard dartboard height is 173 cm, or 5 feet 8 inches, measured from the floor to the exact centre of the bullseye. Do not measure to the top or bottom of the board. The bullseye is the reference point because dartboards can vary slightly in frame and cabinet size.

When mounting the board, mark the bullseye height on the wall first. Then position the bracket so that the centre of the board lines up with that mark once the board is hanging. A small spirit level helps keep the 20 segment at the top and prevents the board from sitting at an angle.

How far should you stand from a dartboard?

For steel tip darts, the official throwing distance is 237 cm, or 7 feet 9.25 inches. This is measured horizontally from the face of the board to the front edge of the oche. The oche can be a raised block, a strip of tape, a mat or any clear line that marks where the player must stand.

For soft tip darts on an electronic board, the common distance is 244 cm, or 8 feet. This slightly longer distance is one of the key setup differences between steel tip and soft tip darts.

How to measure the oche correctly?

Place your measuring tape against the front surface of the dartboard and measure straight out to the front edge of the throwing line. Do not measure from the wall behind the board, because the thickness of the dartboard adds extra distance.

A practical alternative is to measure diagonally from the bullseye to the front edge of the oche. For a standard steel tip setup, this diagonal distance is about 293 cm. You can also measure the thickness of your dartboard first and subtract that from the wall-to-oche distance.

A common mistake is measuring from the wall behind the dartboard. Because a dartboard has thickness, this creates a setup that looks right but does not play correctly. For consistent practice, always measure from the face of the board, use the official diagonal measurement, or correct the wall measurement by accounting for the board’s thickness.

Best place to hang a dartboard at home?

Choose a space with enough room behind the oche, good lighting and a safe throwing area. Avoid placing the board near doors, windows, walkways or fragile objects. A dart mat can help protect the floor and makes it easier to keep the throwing line consistent.

If you are using a steel tip board, add a surround or cabinet to protect the wall. If you are using a soft tip electronic board, make sure there is access to power and enough space for the scoring display.

Common dartboard setup mistakes

The most common mistakes are measuring from the wall, using the top of the board as the height reference, placing the oche too close, or hanging the board slightly rotated. These small errors can affect your throw, especially when you are training regularly.

A correct setup helps make your practice more reliable. Once your board height and throwing distance are consistent, you can focus more on scoring, finishing and improving your checkouts. If you want to practise finishing routes, our darts checkout guide explains how to approach common finishes and doubles.

‍

‍

‍