Best Dart Board Buying Guide: Picks, Setup & Prices

A good dart board turns a spare wall into a home game room, club practice station, or family challenge zone. This guide covers bristle vs electronic boards, true competition measurements, and realistic costs from Irish retailers—so you can buy the right setup without overspending. According to Bullseye Darts NZ, the first decision is board type: bristle (sisal) self‑heals and lasts under steel‑tip darts; paper or cork boards wear quickly and are toy‑grade.

Last checked: 2026-06-12

Most popular bristle board: Winmau Blade 6 · Highest-rated electronic board: Unicorn Eclipse Smartboard · Standard board height: 5 ft 8 in (bullseye) · Standard throwing distance: 7 ft 9.25 in

What is the best dartboard to buy?

The “best” board depends on whether you plan to throw steel‑tip or soft‑tip, your budget, and whether you want a board for practice, league play, or casual home games. For steel‑tip players, the Winmau Blade 6 is widely regarded as the top bristle board due to its thin spider wire and dense sisal that self‑heals quickly. It’s a fixture in professional tournaments (PDC events use the same measurements).

If you want electronic scoring and soft‑tip play, the Unicorn Eclipse Smartboard (€285.00) is the premium choice. It connects to apps for online matches and tracks statistics automatically—but it costs significantly more than a basic bristle board.

For beginners on a tight budget, the Hit Sport Spire Dartboard (€44.95–€49.95) comes with six steel‑tip darts and is a functional entry point. However, the included darts are brass and relatively thick; upgrading to tungsten darts later will improve your grouping.

Top budget‑friendly bristle board

The Bullseye Darts NZ beginner guide recommends a bristle board as the first real purchase. The Winmau Blade 6 sits at the top of many reviewers’ lists, but the earlier Winmau Blade 5 is still widely available and often discounted. Both use the same self‑healing sisal material.

Best electronic dartboard for home use

Electronic boards use plastic tips and require soft‑tip darts. The Unicorn Eclipse Smartboard is the most feature‑rich option: it includes over 100 games, voice prompts, and a LCD score display. Its throw distance is 8 ft (2.44 m) instead of the steel‑tip 2.37 m. Do not use steel‑tip darts on an electronic board—they damage the sensors.

Professional choice for competition play

For serious practice, the Winmau Blade 6 is the standard. Its “Thin Wire” system reduces bounce‑outs, and the board is available with or without a rotating number ring. Dartshopper notes that the board’s dimensions (17¾ in diameter) are unchanged since the 1920s, when the National Darts Association of England fixed the measurement standards.

The bottom line: If you only play steel‑tip at home and want to improve, buy a Winmau Blade 6 (around €70–€90 online). If you want electronic scoring and online play, invest in the Unicorn Eclipse Smartboard at €285. For a holiday‑home or kids’ set, the Hit Sport Spire is fine.

How much does a good quality dart board cost?

Prices in Ireland range from €45 to €285 depending on board type, included accessories, and brand. Here is a clear breakdown of the three main tiers.

Entry‑level sets (under €50)

The Hit Sport Spire is the cheapest board that is still a proper bristle (not paper). At €44.95–€49.95, it includes six steel‑tip darts and a basic surround ring. The darts are brass, which are heavier and thicker than tungsten—but for a child or casual player, this set works. Expect the board to last about a year with occasional use.

Mid‑range options (€50 – €150)

The Winmau Professional Darts Set (€109.95) adds a cabinet and a better quality board. This is a popular choice for home bars and family rooms. The cabinet protects the board and often includes a scoreboard on the door. The board itself is a step up in density from the entry‑level Hit Sport Spire.

Professional boards (€150+)

At the top end, the Unicorn Eclipse Smartboard (€285) is the only electronic board we recommend for serious play. It includes a high‑resolution LCD, an automatic score‑trend graph, and a built‑in speaker. For steel‑tip players, the Winmau Blade 6 board alone costs about €70–€90, but you will need to buy a surround and lighting separately. A complete competition‑grade steel‑tip setup (board + surround + ring light) typically totals around €160–€200.

“A basic but decent bristle board for home use can often be found around £30, with a simple surround also around £30 and a dedicated ring light roughly £50… a common starter budget of about £110 for board, surround, and lighting.”

– Facebook Darts Discussion group (user estimates)

The bottom line: Budget €45–€50 for an entry set, €70–€90 for a standalone quality bristle board, and €285 for a full‑featured electronic board. Don’t forget to budget for a surround (€20–€40) and a dart mat (€15–€30).

What is the correct distance and height for a dartboard?

The most common mistake beginners make is measuring the throw line from the wall instead of from the face of the board. The official steel‑tip measurements are:

• Bullseye height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) from floor to centre of bullseye.
• Throwing distance: 7 ft 9¼ in (2.37 m) from the face of the board to the toe line (oche).
• Diagonal check: 9 ft 7⅜ in (2.93 m) from bullseye to oche confirms both are correct.

These numbers come from GLD Products (manufacturer guide) and Dartshopper. Both apply to steel‑tip play. For soft‑tip (electronic) boards, the horizontal distance extends to 8 ft (2.44 m) but the bullseye height stays the same.

Step‑by‑step: setting up your dartboard

1. Choose a location: a solid wall or into a stud. Avoid weak plasterboard without anchors—GLD Products warns the board may wobble or tear out.
2. Mark the bullseye height: 1.73 m from the floor. Use a spirit level.
3. Mount the board (or cabinet) so the centre lines up with this mark.
4. Measure from the face of the board 2.37 m forward to the oche. Place a throw line (tape or a dart mat).
5. Double‑check with the diagonal: 2.93 m from bullseye to oche.
6. Install a surround ring to protect walls and a ring light (non‑glare) for even illumination.

Beginner guides from Bullseye Darts NZ recommend a dart mat to protect floors and clearly mark the oche. A simple surround costs about €20–€40.

“Throwing is done from the so‐called ‘oche’… The oche is 2.37 m from the surface of the dartboard, so not from the wall the board is attached to.”

– Dartshopper editorial guide

Are 22 or 24 g darts for beginners?

Both weights work well for new players. The 22–24 g range is the most common for steel‑tip beginners because it offers a balance between control and throwing effort. Bullseye Darts NZ suggests that 22 g darts are easier to control for most beginners, while 24 g darts give a slightly heavier feel many players prefer.

For context, many professional players use 24 g darts. The PDC does not mandate a specific weight, so you see pros using 22 g, 24 g, or even 26 g. Weight choice ultimately depends on your throwing style: a smoother throw often suits heavier darts; a snappy throw prefers lighter ones.

The catch: Beginning with cheap brass darts (which are heavy and thick) can build bad habits. If your budget allows, start with a set of tungsten darts (slimmer, better balance) in the 22–24 g range. Tungsten darts start around €20–€30 for a basic set.

Best dartboard for beginners, kids, club, and home

Our pick: Winmau Blade 6 for most buyers, Hit Sport Spire for tight budgets

Alternatives worth considering

Beyond the main picks, two other boards appear frequently in Irish retailers:

• Winmau Professional Darts Set (€109.95) – a cabinet set that includes a decent board, a surround, and two sets of darts. A neat all‑in‑one for a home bar.
• Unicorn Eclipse Pro (electronic, around €200) – a step below the Smartboard but still good quality if you don’t need app connectivity.

Pros and cons of board types

For precise setup, refer to the official dart board distance measurements to ensure your throwing line is correctly positioned.

Frequently asked questions

Sources cited

• GLD Products – How to hang a dartboard
• Dartshopper – Dart tips: height and distance
• Bullseye Darts NZ – Beginner’s guide to choosing your first dart set
• YouTube – Beginner Darts Setup Guide