Dartboard Cabinets & Backboards
Cabinets and backboards that finish a home dartboard setup.
They catch the throws that miss, before your drywall does.
Buying guide
Dartboard Cabinet and Backboard Guide
A dartboard cabinet is a wall-mounted case with doors that holds the board, protects the wall and usually keeps score; a backboard or surround only protects the wall. Whichever you choose, mount it so the center of the bullseye sits 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) off the floor. Traditional cabinets are built around an 18 in bristle dartboard, so check the fit before pairing one with anything else.
What is the difference between a cabinet, a backboard and a surround?
They differ in how much wall they cover and whether they close.
| Type | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet | A case with doors that hides the board and often holds scoreboards | Steel Tip Wood Cabinet, 22½ x 25½ x 3½ in outside |
| Backboard | A flat panel mounted behind the board | Back Board, 25 x 28⅜ in with a carpeted face |
| Surround | A foam or cork ring that fits around the board itself | Viper Wall Defender II, covering 3.8 sq ft |
A cabinet looks like furniture in a living space. A backboard or surround is the simpler choice for a garage or basement, and a surround needs no extra hardware.
Do I need a backboard or surround?
If you care about the wall, yes. Darts that miss the board or bounce out land in the wall around it, and every hole shows in drywall and paint. Match the coverage to how wide your misses go:
- Viper Dart Board Surround: 1 in high-density polyurethane, 2.7 sq ft.
- Viper Wall Defender II Cork: 3.8 sq ft with reversible cork faces, fits 18 in and 17.75 in boards.
- Defender III: 8.2 sq ft, for throws that stray wide.
- Back Board with Chalk Board: 41½ x 25 in with a chalkboard and tray for scoring, made in the USA.
Foam, cork or carpet: which wall protection material is best?
High-density foam is the most practical choice for most walls, cork adds a finished look, and a carpeted backboard suits a traditional wall-mounted setup. All three stop darts from reaching the wall; they differ in fit, looks and wear.
- Foam: the Viper Wall Defender II is 1 in high-density V-Foam that snaps together around a 17.75 in board with no tools or hardware, and holds up to repeated hits.
- Cork over foam: the Wall Defender II Cork is faced in real cork on both sides, so you can flip it as one side wears. It includes an adhesive compression band for a tight fit on 18 in or 17.75 in boards.
- Carpet on wood: the Horizon Darts Back Board has a rigid wood frame and a carpeted face that absorbs impact and hides minor scuffs.
How high do I mount a dartboard cabinet?
Mount the cabinet so the center of the bullseye, not the top of the cabinet, is 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) from the floor.
- Hang the board inside the cabinet first.
- Measure from the center of the bull to the top edge of the cabinet.
- Add that distance to 5 ft 8 in and mark the wall where the top edge goes.
- Fasten into wall studs, then check the bull height again.
Cabinet depth does not change the throw distance. Measure 7 ft 9¼ in (237 cm) for steel tip or 8 ft (244 cm) for soft tip from the face of the board, not from the open doors.
Will an electronic dartboard fit in a dartboard cabinet?
Usually not. Traditional cabinets are built for bristle boards, and electronic boards have a much larger body around the target. The Steel Tip Wood Cabinet is 20½ x 20½ in inside, while the Solar Blast electronic board is 29 x 21¾ in. The Rock Legends cabinets are likewise built to fit Winmau, Red Dragon and Nodor dartboards.
For an electronic board, mount it on the wall with a backboard or surround behind it, or skip the wall entirely with the Gran Darts Tripod Stand, which fits GranBoard models.
What should I look for in a dartboard cabinet?
- Construction: real joints hold up better than glued particle board. The Steel Tip Wood Cabinet uses finger-jointed pine with adjustable hinges.
- Scoring: chalk or wipe-clean panels inside the doors. The Rock Legends Iron Maiden Killer cabinet has home and away scoreboards and a magnetic closure, about 20 x 21¼ x 3 in (51 x 54 x 7.5 cm).
- Light: open doors and ceiling lights cast shadows. The Shadow Buster mounts to a flat-top cabinet with adjustable LED pods.
- Dart storage: a Dart Caddy holds four complete sets on the wall beside the board.