The Ultimate Dart Board Height Guide: Official PDC Standards & Pro Tips

Setting up a dart lane correctly is the single most important step before throwing your first arrow. Whether you are building a professional man cave or hanging a board in the garage, precision is key. A variance of just half an inch can throw off your muscle memory and invalidate your practice sessions.

This guide covers the official PDC and WDF standards for 2025, ensuring your home setup matches the conditions of the World Championship stage.

Quick Summary: Key Measurements at a Glance

• Standard Height: 5 feet 8 inches (1.73m) from floor to bullseye center.
• Steel Tip Distance: 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37m) from face of board to oche.
• Soft Tip Distance: 8 feet (2.44m) from face of board to oche.
• Diagonal Check (Steel): 9 feet 7.5 inches (2.93m) from bullseye to throw line.

What is the Official Dart Board Height?

The official standard height for a dartboard is exactly 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) measured from the floor to the center of the bullseye.

This measurement is universal. It applies to both steel tip and soft tip boards under Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and World Darts Federation (WDF) rules. Consistency is vital; if you practice at a different height, your target acquisition will suffer when you play in a league or tournament.

Critical Measurement Tips

• Floor Level: Measure from the actual floor where you will stand. If you have a raised oche (throwing mat) or uneven basement concrete, you must measure from the standing surface, not the wall base.
• Center Point: The measurement aligns with the exact center of the bullseye, not the top of the board or the mounting bracket.

Soft Tip vs Steel Tip Setup: The Distance Difference

While the board height remains constant at 5'8", the throwing distance changes: Steel Tip requires 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37m), while Soft Tip is typically set at 8 feet (2.44m).

Understanding the Soft Tip vs Steel Tip Setup distinction is crucial for players who compete in both formats. While the height doesn't change, the "Oche" (throw line) placement does.

The Distance Breakdown

• Steel Tip (Standard): The Oche is placed 7 feet 9.25 inches horizontally from the face of the board. Note that this is measured from the face of the sisal, not the wall. If your board is 1.5 inches thick, your floor mark must be 7' 9.25" + 1.5" from the wall.
• Soft Tip (Electronic): Most major soft tip leagues (like DARTSLIVE or Phoenix) require an 8-foot throw line. However, some international competitions are moving to align with the steel tip standard of 2.37m. Always check your specific league rules, but 8 feet is the safe default for home electronic boards.

The "Diagonal Check": How to Guarantee 100% Accuracy

The diagonal measurement from the center of the bullseye to the throw line should be exactly 9 feet 7.5 inches (2.93m) for steel tip setups.

Professional installers call this the "Hypotenuse Hack." Walls are rarely perfectly perpendicular to floors, especially in older homes or garages. Using a tape measure along the floor often leads to errors if the wall is slanted. The diagonal check uses the Pythagorean theorem to ensure your geometry is perfect.

Diagonal Measurements by Type

1. Steel Tip: 9 feet 7.5 inches (2.93m).
2. Soft Tip: 9 feet 9.5 inches (2.98m).

If your diagonal measurement matches these numbers, your dart board height and throw line are perfectly aligned.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

To install your board, mount the central bracket screw so it sits exactly at 5 feet 8 inches, ensuring the bullseye centers on this mark.

Follow this checklist to replicate a professional PDC setup at home:

1. Locate the Stud: Darts are heavy. Use a stud finder to locate a wooden beam. If mounting into drywall, use heavy-duty Toggle bolts or a specialized backing board.
2. Mark the Height: Mark a spot on the wall exactly 5 feet 8 inches (1.73m) from the floor. This is where the center of the bullseye must rest.
3. Align the Bracket: Most brackets have a U-shaped slot. Ensure the bottom of the U-slot (where the screw rests) aligns with your mark.
4. Prepare the Board: Screw the hanging bolt into the exact center of the back of the dartboard. Pro Tip: Do not screw it in all the way; leave about 1/4 inch of clearance so it slides easily into the bracket.
5. Level the Board: Hang the board and use a spirit level or a measuring app to ensure the "20" segment is perfectly vertical at 12 o'clock. Winmau boards with the "Rota-Lock" system allow you to adjust leveling wheels against the wall to stop wobble.

Accessibility Standards: Wheelchair Dart Board Height

According to WDF rules, the official wheelchair dart board height is lowered to 1.37 meters (approx. 4 feet 6 inches) to the center of the bullseye.

Inclusivity is a major part of modern darts. The "Wildfire 137" frame is a popular setup that allows a board to be rotated or adjusted between the standard 1.73m height and the 1.37m wheelchair height.

Wheelchair Setup Specifics

• Height: 1.37 meters (4' 6") from floor to bullseye.
• Distance: Remains the same as standard play (2.37m or 7' 9.25").
• Posture: All throws must be made while the player's torso is behind the oche line.

Advanced Setup: Auto-Scoring & Tech Requirements

Auto-scoring systems like Scolia require a minimum ceiling height of 2.15 meters (approx. 7 feet) to accommodate the camera rig.

If you are upgrading to a "Next-Gen" darts setup with systems like the Scolia Home or Winmau Omni, simply measuring the board height is not enough. You must account for the vertical clearance needed for cameras and lighting rings.

Gap Analysis for Smartboards

• Scolia Home: Requires a flat wall surface of at least 75cm width and a ceiling height of 2.15m. The cameras mount above the board, so low basement ceilings may be incompatible.
• Lighting Rings: Systems like the Winmau Plasma or Target Corona add width. Ensure you have at least 15-20cm of clearance on all sides of the board.
• Cable Management: Plan for power outlets. Unlike traditional sisal boards, smart setups need power. Avoid running extension cords across the standard height for dartboard throwing lane to prevent tripping hazards.

Common Mistakes & Expert Tips

The most common error is measuring the throwing distance from the wall instead of the face of the dartboard, which creates a "short oche."

• Mistake: The "Wall" Measurement: A standard bristle board is about 1.5 to 2 inches thick. If you measure 7' 9.25" from the wall, you are actually throwing from ~7' 7", which makes the game easier and ruins your tournament calibration.
• Mistake: Ignoring Mat Thickness: If you buy a professional raised rubber mat (oche), it might be 1-2 inches thick. You must measure the 5'8" board height from the top of the mat, not the sub-floor.
• Pro Tip: The Plumb Line: Tape a piece of string with a weight (washer or nut) to the center of the bullseye. Let it hang down to the floor. This marks the exact horizontal zero point on the floor. Measure your 7' 9.25" from this hanging string to get perfect accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the official height of a dart board?

The official height is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) from the floor to the center of the bullseye.

How far do you stand from a dart board?

For standard steel tip darts, the distance is 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters) from the face of the board to the front of the oche (toe line).

Is soft tip dart board height different?

No, the height is usually the same (5 feet 8 inches), but the throwing distance is often longer (8 feet) compared to steel tip.

How is dart board height measured for wheelchair users?

According to WDF rules, the wheelchair dart board height is set at 1.37 meters (approx. 4 feet 6 inches) from the floor to the bullseye.

Do I measure distance from the wall or the board face?

Always measure from the face (front surface) of the dartboard. Measuring from the wall will make your throwing distance too short by the thickness of the board.

What is the diagonal measurement for a dart board setup?

For a standard steel tip setup, the diagonal distance from the center of the bullseye to the throw line is exactly 9 feet 7.5 inches (2.93m).

Does the thickness of a dart mat affect board height?

Yes. You should measure 5'8" from the surface you stand on. If you use a raised mat or oche system, add its thickness to the wall measurement.

How much ceiling height is needed for a dartboard?

While the board sits lower, you typically need at least 7-8 feet of ceiling height to accommodate the parabola of the dart flight and lighting systems.

References

• PDC Rules of Darts
• Scolia Home Requirements
• WDF Wheelchair Darts Rules