The correct dartboard distance comes down to one fixed rule: measure from the front face of the board, not the wall behind it. For steel-tip darts, the throw line sits 237 cm (7 ft 9¼ in) from the board face. Soft-tip boards use a longer line at 244 cm (8 ft).
Both standing formats share the same bullseye height: 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) from the floor to the center of the bullseye. Wheelchair play uses a lower height of 137 cm (4 ft 6 in) but keeps the 237 cm throwing distance used in standard steel-tip games.
The most common setup error is measuring from the wall. Brackets, cabinets, and mounts add depth, so the board face is the only reliable reference point for the oche.
What Is the Correct Dartboard Distance?
Published setup guides and equipment references agree on the core measurements. Here is the short version:
- Steel-tip distance: 7 ft 9¼ in / 237 cm
- Soft-tip distance: 8 ft / 244 cm
- Dartboard height: 5 ft 8 in / 173 cm (bullseye center)
- Measurement start: From the front face of the board to the front edge of the oche
Several details matter when checking or installing a board:
- Regulation distances are standardized across darts setup guides.
- Steel-tip and soft-tip boards share the same bullseye height of 173 cm for standing play.
- The height is measured to the center of the bullseye, not the top or bottom edge.
- The throwing distance is measured from the face of the board to the front edge of the oche.
- Wheelchair play uses a 137 cm bullseye height and the same 237 cm throwing distance in cited guides.
- Home players do not need sub-millimeter precision; staying within ±2 cm is fine for practice.
- No separate “ladies’ distance” appears in the reviewed standards.
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Steel-tip bullseye height | 173 cm / 5 ft 8 in |
| Steel-tip throwing distance | 237 cm / 7 ft 9¼ in |
| Soft-tip bullseye height | 173 cm / 5 ft 8 in |
| Soft-tip throwing distance | 244 cm / 8 ft |
| Wheelchair bullseye height | 137 cm / 4 ft 6 in |
| Wheelchair throwing distance | 237 cm / 7 ft 9¼ in |
| Height reference point | Center of the bullseye |
| Distance reference point | Front face of the board to front edge of the oche |
| Diagonal measurement (steel-tip) | About 293 cm / 9 ft 7⅜ in |
Dartboard Distance from Wall
The oche distance is never measured from the wall. The board’s front face is the starting point because brackets and dartboard cabinets add depth. A board mounted flat against a wall and one hung inside a cabinet can sit at different distances from the wall while both remain correct at 237 cm from the throw line. Setup guides make this distinction explicit.
Dart Board Height and Distance
The Dartboard height is fixed at 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) from the floor to the center of the bullseye for standing play. The same figure appears across equipment guides and official measurement references, regardless of whether the board uses steel-tip or soft-tip darts.
Dart Distance in Meters and cm
In metric terms, the steel-tip distance is 2.37 m (237 cm), and the soft-tip distance is 2.44 m (244 cm). These are horizontal measurements from the board face to the front edge of the throw line. Some reference sites also list the diagonal distance from the bullseye to the floor at the oche, which is about 293 cm for the standard steel-tip setup.
How to Measure Dart Board Distance
Measuring the setup takes less than five minutes with a tape measure and a marker. The key is knowing which reference points to use.
Dart Distance Calculator
No online calculator is needed. The distance is a straight horizontal measurement: 237 cm from board face to the front edge of the oche for steel-tip, or 244 cm for soft-tip. For a quick diagonal check, measure from the center of the bullseye to the floor at the throw line; the steel-tip figure is about 293 cm, a value listed in Net World Sports’ buyers guide and Western Australia’s sports dimensions guide.
Measuring the Oche from the Board Front
Mount the board first, then run a tape measure from the front face of the board to the floor at the intended throw-line position. Mark the front edge of the oche at 237 cm for steel-tip play. Anglepress’s setup guide and Throwdown Darts’ how-to both emphasize the front edge of the line as the correct reference point.
Distance from Dart Board for Ladies
The setup guides reviewed here do not define a separate throwing distance for women. Ladies’ matches use the same 237 cm steel-tip line as the men’s game.
Always measure from the front face of the board, not the wall behind it. Wall brackets and cabinets add depth, so measuring from the wall can place the oche several centimeters too close.
Are There Different Distances for Soft-Tip or Wheelchair Play?
Yes, two documented variations exist: soft-tip boards use a longer throw line, and wheelchair play lowers the bullseye height.
Distance for Ladies – Is There a Regulation?
The “ladies’ distance” is a recurring question in darts discussions, but the cited standards do not support it. Women’s darts is played from the same oche position as men’s: 237 cm from the board face for steel-tip, with the bullseye at 173 cm. The setup guides that list regulation measurements give the same figures regardless of the player’s gender.
Soft-Tip vs Steel-Tip Distance
Soft-tip electronic boards use a 244 cm (8 ft) throwing distance, while steel-tip boards use 237 cm (7 ft 9¼ in). The board height stays at 173 cm to the center of the bullseye for both. The longer soft-tip line is documented in Dartscorer’s setup page and repeated across electronic dartboard guides.
Wheelchair Dartboard Distance
For wheelchair play, the most commonly cited regulation setup lowers the bullseye to 137 cm (4 ft 6 in) while keeping the 237 cm throwing distance used in standard steel-tip games. That figure appears in Dartrankings’ setup guide and Shot Darts’ distance rules.
How Exact Should the Home Setup Distance Be?
For casual practice, the home throw line does not need to be perfect to the millimeter. Keeping it close to the official figure builds consistent throwing habits.
Is a Slight Deviation Acceptable?
Home players do not need sub-millimeter precision. Staying within ±2 cm of the regulation distance is acceptable for good practice, according to the setup guidance in the reviewed sources. The exact figure matters more when preparing for league play or tournaments.
Making Adjustments for Room Constraints
A small room can make the full 237 cm difficult to fit. In that case, the practical approach is to move the setup or accept a shorter line for casual throwing. If the distance is shortened, measure the oche position from the board face so the adjustment is deliberate and consistent.
A home setup does not need to be exact to the millimeter. Staying within ±2 cm of the official distance is fine for regular practice.
One setup page lists the horizontal oche as 2.73 m instead of 2.37 m. The correct steel-tip value is 2.37 m; the larger figure appears to be a typo.
How Did the Standard Dartboard Distance Develop?
Darts was not always played from a fixed distance. The oche varied by venue, and players adapted to whatever the room allowed. Standardization took hold in the 1920s, when organized darts bodies in Britain began promoting uniform measurements. The steel-tip line settled at 237 cm, and that figure has remained the reference point since.
- Early darts: Throwing distances varied from venue to venue, with no universal standard.
- 1920s unification: Organized darts bodies in Britain worked to standardize the throwing distance.
- Steel-tip standard: The oche settled at 237 cm / 7 ft 9¼ in from the board face, with the bullseye at 173 cm / 5 ft 8 in.
- Soft-tip standard: Electronic boards later established 244 cm / 8 ft as their throwing distance.
- Modern consistency: Current setup guides still list the same figures, including the 137 cm / 4 ft 6 in wheelchair bullseye height.
What Is Certain and What Remains Unclear About Dart Distance?
Some measurements are firmly established across sources. Others depend on context or contain small inconsistencies.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| The steel-tip oche is 237 cm / 7 ft 9¼ in from the board face. | Whether a deviation of a few centimeters matters for casual home play is not defined by any published tolerance. |
| The soft-tip oche is 244 cm / 8 ft. | The idea of a separate “ladies’ distance” persists informally but is not supported by the cited guides. |
| The bullseye is 173 cm / 5 ft 8 in from the floor for standing formats. | One source lists the oche as 2.73 m instead of 2.37 m, which appears to be a typo. |
| Wheelchair play uses a 137 cm / 4 ft 6 in bullseye height in cited guides. | Wheelchair setups can vary by league; the 237 cm distance is the most commonly cited figure, not a universal rule. |
Why Is the Dartboard Distance Set Where It Is?
The 237 cm distance sits between two competing needs. It is far enough to make scoring a genuine challenge and close enough to keep the game accessible. A much shorter line would inflate scores; a much longer one would put the board out of reach for many players.
Other throwing sports use the same logic. Horseshoes, for example, sets a fixed throwing distance to balance skill and reachability. The same principle applies in darts: the oche position defines the difficulty of the game.
Board type also plays a role. Bristle boards, used for steel-tip darts, keep the 237 cm line. Electronic soft-tip boards use 244 cm. Because soft-tip darts are lighter, the longer distance helps maintain the challenge.
Which Sources Define the Official Dartboard Measurements?
Published setup guides from darts suppliers, sports dimension references, and coaching sites agree on the core measurements. The figures used in this overview come from those publicly accessible references.
The standard steel-tip dartboard setup is 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) from the floor to the center of the bullseye, with the oche/throw line set 237 cm (7 ft 9¼ in) from the face of the board to the front edge of the line.
Lakeside World Darts setup guide
For soft-tip boards, the usual horizontal throwing distance is 244 cm (8 ft), while the board height remains 173 cm (5 ft 8 in).
Dartrankings setup guide
For wheelchair play, the most commonly cited regulation setup is 137 cm (4 ft 6 in) to the center of the bullseye, with the same 237 cm throwing distance used for standard steel-tip play.
Shot Darts distance rules
What Should You Remember About Dart Distance?
One measurement dominates every setup: for steel-tip darts, the oche sits 237 cm from the front face of the board, with the bullseye at 173 cm. Soft-tip boards stretch the line to 244 cm, and wheelchair play lowers the bullseye to 137 cm while keeping the 237 cm throw. Measure from the board face, mark the front edge of the line, and keep the setup within a centimeter or two of the official figures. For a complete reference, see the Dartboard setup official measurements.
What Else Do Players Ask About Dart Distance?
Can I use a tape measure for distance?
Yes. Measure from the front face of the board to the front edge of the oche at floor level.
Why is the distance not measured from the wall?
The distance is always measured from the board’s front face to the throw line, not from the wall. Brackets and cabinets add depth.
Why is soft-tip distance longer?
Soft-tip darts are lighter and require a longer throw to maintain challenge.
What is the diagonal measurement from bullseye to oche?
About 293 cm (9 ft 7⅜ in) for a standard steel-tip setup.
What height should the bullseye be for wheelchair play?
137 cm (4 ft 6 in) from the floor, with the same 237 cm throwing distance used for standard steel-tip play.
How close does my home setup need to be?
Staying within ±2 cm of the official measurements is acceptable for practice.
One source lists 2.73 m. Is that correct?
No. The correct steel-tip value is 2.37 m. The 2.73 m figure appears to be a typo in a single source.
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Philip Rowe is Senior Reporter at UKBullet.uk, covering breaking UK news stories.