Dartboards
Bristle boards for steel tip play and electronic boards for soft tip play, in one place.
Bristle for traditional and league nights, electronic if you want the board to score for you.
Buying guide
Dartboard Buying Guide: Bristle vs Electronic
Buy a bristle dartboard if you throw steel tip darts and an electronic dartboard if you throw soft tip darts, because the board has to match the point. Both hang with the center of the bullseye 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) off the floor, but the soft tip throw line sits 2¾ in farther back. Compare bristle dartboards for traditional steel tip play or electronic dartboards for automatic scoring.
Bristle or electronic: which dartboard should I buy?
Pick bristle for steel tip leagues, serious practice and a board that needs no power. Pick electronic for families, parties, online play and soft tip leagues.
| Bristle | Electronic | |
|---|---|---|
| Darts | Steel tip | Soft tip, 20g or less |
| Scoring | By hand, chalk or dry erase | Automatic, with games built in |
| Throw line | 7 ft 9¼ in (237 cm) | 8 ft (244 cm) |
| Power | None | Batteries, USB or AC adapter |
| Upkeep | Rotate it, keep it dry, sharpen points | Replace tips and worn segments |
| Try | Winmau Blade 6 | GranBoard3s |
Can one dartboard take both steel tip and soft tip darts?
Not a standard one. Steel points damage the plastic segments of an electronic board, and plastic tips are made for electronic boards, not sisal. If you play both games, the practical answer is two boards, or one set of darts that converts.
Many soft tip darts accept steel 2BA conversion points, which turn them into steel tip darts for a bristle board. If what you really want is automatic scoring on a bristle board, the Gran Darts GranEye AI scoring system works with steel tip boards and mounts without drilling on the GranEye Mag Mount.
Which dartboard do I need for league play?
Match the board to your league: steel tip leagues throw at a regulation bristle board, about 17¾ in (451 mm) and sold as 18 in, while soft tip leagues play on electronic boards with the 15.5 in target that NDA rules reference.
- Steel tip practice: the Winmau Blade 6 is professional tournament approved and made to World Darts Federation specifications. The Winmau Tournament Dartboard is approved for international competition but smaller than a standard board, so it works best as a tougher practice target.
- Soft tip practice: the Solar Blast pairs a 15.5 in target with a regulation tournament spider.
Practice at league distances too: 7 ft 9¼ in for steel tip and 8 ft for soft tip, with the bull 5 ft 8 in off the floor.
What is the best dartboard for a family game room?
An electronic board with a built-in display suits most families, because it keeps score, runs many games and handles a crowd without anyone doing math.
- Solar Blast: 43 games, up to 16 players, voice prompts and a 15.5 in target.
- Viper 800: 57 games and up to 16 players, with four Cricket scores shown at once.
- Gran Board Dash: a quieter, app-scored board if your family already plays on phones or a smart TV.
Many families wait until kids are around 8 or 9 to start soft tip play, with an adult watching. If the adults want steel tip league practice too, add a bristle board on its own wall.
How much wall and floor space does a bristle or electronic dartboard need?
Plan on a clear lane about 4 ft wide and 11 ft long. That covers the 7 ft 9¼ in or 8 ft throw distance, room to stand behind the line and some space on either side of the board.
Check the size of the board body too, because electronic boards are much larger than their target: the Solar Blast is 29 in tall and 21¾ in wide. On any floor you want to protect, the Vinyl Dart Mat, 2 ft by 9 ft 9 in, marks the lane and has both throw lines printed on it.
What else do I need to set up a dartboard?
- Darts that match the board: steel tip for bristle, soft tip for electronic.
- Wall protection: a cabinet like the made-in-USA Steel Tip Wood Cabinet, or a no-tools surround like the Viper Wall Defender II.
- A throw line: the peel-and-stick Laserdart Throw Line works on hardwood, tile or carpet.
- Light: a ring light like the Winmau Polaris lights the whole face and cuts shadows on the doubles and trebles.
- Scoring for bristle boards: chalk, dry erase or an app.
See the full range in dartboard accessories.
Do dartboards come with darts?
Most electronic boards here include soft tip darts, while the bristle boards we carry list the board alone, so plan on buying steel tip darts separately.
- GranBoard3s: 1 set of darts, hanging instructions and screws.
- Gran Board Dash: 2 sets of darts, hanging instructions and screws.
- Viper 800: 2 sets of darts, 24 soft tips, an AC adapter and mounting hardware.
- Solar Blast: 6 darts and a manual.
Included darts are fine for getting started. Once someone in the house plays regularly, a tungsten set from soft tip darts or steel tip darts is the upgrade that makes the biggest difference.
Which lasts longer, a bristle or an electronic dartboard?
Neither has a fixed lifespan. A bristle board can last months or years, and the difference is rotation, sharp points and a dry room. An electronic board lasts as long as its parts: tips and segments wear out, but on many models they can be replaced, so a worn segment is a repair rather than a new board.
GranBoard owners can buy replacement segments in matched pairs for the GranBoard 2, 3 and 3s. Bristle board owners should rotate the board regularly and keep points free of burrs, since a burred point tears the fibers.