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Getting dartboard height wrong is one of the most common setup mistakes in home game rooms, and it throws off every match you play afterwards. Whether you are hanging your first board in a garage or repositioning one in a finished basement, dartboard height and throw distance work together as a single measurement system. Get one wrong and the other stops mattering.
Quick answer: Most manufacturers and governing bodies spec the bullseye at roughly 5 feet 8 inches (about 173 cm) from the floor, measured to the centre of the bull. Throw distance is separate and depends on whether you are playing steel tip or soft tip darts, so measure both before you drill anything.
Standard Dartboard Height Explained
Dartboard height refers to one specific point: the centre of the bullseye, not the top of the board or the cabinet. As a rule of thumb, plan for that centre point to sit at roughly 5 feet 8 inches (about 173 cm) off the floor. This figure comes from steel tip dart organisations and has become the de facto standard for soft tip electronic boards too, so you rarely need to adjust it based on dart type.
Bullseye Height for Steel Tip vs Soft Tip
The bullseye height itself is generally the same across steel tip and soft tip formats, but always check the spec sheet that ships with your specific cabinet or electronic board, since a small number of soft tip cabinets mount the board slightly differently. If you are converting a cabinet from one dart type to another, this is worth double-checking rather than assuming.
Throw Distance and the Oche
Throw distance, measured from the face of the board to the toe line (the oche), is where steel tip and soft tip actually diverge. Steel tip play commonly measures out to roughly 7 feet 9.25 inches, while soft tip electronic dartboards are typically played at around 8 feet. These figures vary slightly by governing body and manufacturer recommendation, so it is worth confirming the exact numbers for your setup in our Dartboard Rules: Height, Distance and Scoring Guide before you mark a permanent line on the floor.
A Sizing Walkthrough for Your Space
Standard numbers assume a flat wall, a flat floor and unlimited space. Most home installs do not offer all three, so use this walkthrough to adapt the standard dartboard height to your actual room.
Step 1: Confirm Your Floor Reference Point
Measure from the finished floor, not the subfloor, and account for any rug or mat you plan to stand on. A thick mat under the oche can effectively raise the shooter and subtly change the felt throw angle, so measure with the mat in place if you intend to use one permanently.
Step 2: Mark the Bullseye Centre First
Rather than hanging the board and hoping, mark the bullseye centre point on the wall first using a tape measure and level. Most installers find it easier to work from this single point outward than to hang the board and adjust afterwards.
Step 3: Account for Cabinet Depth and Backboard
If you are mounting a cabinet or a backboard rather than a bare board, the bullseye height rule still applies to the dartboard face itself, not the cabinet frame. Cabinet doors and surrounding backboards add width and sometimes depth that can affect where players stand, particularly in narrower rooms. Our Dartboard Backboard Buying Guide covers sizing tradeoffs if you are choosing a backboard to go with your setup.
Step 4: Measure and Mark the Oche Distance
Once the board is mounted at the correct height, measure out from the wall in a straight line to set your oche. Plan for about 8 to 9 feet of usable floor space in front of the board once you include a small buffer for the player’s stance and backswing, and adjust if your room is tighter than that.
Step 5: Check Sightlines and Lighting
Height and distance are only useful if the player can actually see the board clearly. Overhead glare, dim corners and shadows cast by nearby furniture all affect scoring accuracy in ways that have nothing to do with measurements. If your cabinet sits in a dim spot, it is worth reviewing our Dartboard Cabinet Light Buying Guide for options that fit typical home setups.
Dartboard Height Checklist
- Bullseye centre marked at roughly 5 feet 8 inches (about 173 cm) from the finished floor, confirmed against your board’s spec sheet
- Correct throw distance set for your dart type, steel tip or soft tip, measured from the board face
- Floor reference point checked with any mat or rug already in place
- Cabinet or backboard depth accounted for separately from bullseye height
- Oche marked permanently once height and distance are both confirmed
- Lighting checked from the throw line, not just from across the room
Common Mistakes When Setting Dartboard Height
The most frequent error is measuring to the top of the board or the edge of the cabinet instead of the bullseye centre, which can throw the whole setup off by several inches. A close second is setting height and distance on two different days using two different tape measures or reference points, which introduces small errors that compound. Sloped ceilings and low basement rooms also catch people out, since a cabinet or backboard that looks fine at eye level can crowd a tall player’s backswing once games actually start. Finally, many buyers skip remeasuring after moving house or renovating a room, assuming the old marks still apply even though the new floor, wall or trim may sit slightly differently than the old one.
FAQ
What height should a dartboard be for a garage or basement conversion?
The same standard applies regardless of room type: aim for a bullseye centre of roughly 5 feet 8 inches from the finished floor. What typically changes in garages and basements is available throw distance, since support poles, stairs and low ceilings can force compromises on the oche line rather than the board height itself.
Does dartboard height change for kids or shorter players?
Official height stays fixed regardless of who is playing, since darts is scored against a standard target rather than an adjustable one. Many households with younger or shorter players simply accept a steeper throw angle rather than remounting the board, though some casual setups lower the board slightly for practice sessions.
How do I measure dartboard height and distance without a chalk line kit?
A standard tape measure, a level and painter’s tape will get you a workable setup. Mark the bullseye height first, then measure straight out from the board face along the floor to set the oche, using the level to confirm your tape stays parallel to the floor rather than sagging.
Is dartboard height the same for electronic soft tip boards?
Bullseye height is generally consistent across steel tip and soft tip formats, but throw distance is usually longer for soft tip play. Always check your specific board’s manual, since a small number of electronic cabinets recommend slightly different figures.
Final Recommendation
Treat dartboard height and throw distance as one combined measurement rather than two separate jobs, and confirm both against your board’s own spec sheet before committing to permanent marks on the wall or floor. If you are shopping for a new cabinet or mounting kit to make this easier, a decent laser tape measure takes the guesswork out of getting the bullseye centre and oche line right the first time. You can compare options here: laser tape measures on Amazon. Once height and distance are locked in, the rest of your setup, from cabinet choice to lighting, becomes a much easier decision.