Setup · 2 min read
Dartboard height and oche distance
The official dartboard height (5ft 8in to the bull), oche distance (7ft 9¼in) and diagonal measurement, plus tips for setting up a board at home.
If your board at home is set up differently from the one you play matches on, your practice won't carry over. These are the standard measurements used for steel-tip darts.
The measurements
- Height: 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) from the floor to the centre of the bull.
- Throwing distance: 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 m) from the face of the board to the front of the oche, measured along the floor.
- Diagonal: 9 feet 7⅜ inches (2.93 m) from the centre of the bull to the front of the oche. This is a handy check that both measurements are right.
Soft-tip (electronic) boards often use a different throwing distance, so check the rules for your league if you play soft-tip.
Setting up at home
- Fix the board so the 20 segment is at the top and the bull is at exactly 5 ft 8 in.
- Drop a plumb line or use a set square from the face of the board to the floor.
- Measure 7 ft 9¼ in along the floor and mark the oche. A strip of tape works, but a raised oche is better because you can feel it with your foot.
- Check the diagonal from the bull to the oche. If it isn't 9 ft 7⅜ in, one of the other measurements is off.
Lighting and surround
Light the board evenly from the front so there are no shadows from your darts. A surround protects the wall from bounce-outs and wild throws.
Once your board is set up, try our free practice games, all designed to be played with your phone next to the board.