Darts
Every dart Horizon sells, steel tip and soft tip together.
Not sure which you need? Our steel tip versus soft tip guide breaks it down.
Buying guide
Steel Tip vs Soft Tip Darts Guide
Steel tip darts have a sharp metal point for bristle dartboards, and soft tip darts have a plastic tip for electronic dartboards that keep score automatically. Match the dart to your board first, then pick a weight: steel tip players mostly throw 22 to 26 grams, soft tip players 16 to 20. Horizon Darts has sold both from Kansas City, Kansas, since 1985. Shop by type in steel tip darts or soft tip darts.
What is the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?
The point decides everything else. A steel tip dart sticks into the fibers of a bristle board and you keep score yourself. A soft tip dart's plastic tip catches in the holes of an electronic board, which senses the hit and scores it.
| Steel tip | Soft tip | |
|---|---|---|
| Point | Hardened steel | Flexible plastic, screw-in |
| Board | Bristle (sisal), about 18 in | Electronic, 15.5 in target in NDA play |
| Typical weight | 22–26g | 16–20g |
| Weight limit | 50g per dart (ADO) | 20g complete dart (NDA) |
| US throw line | 7 ft 9¼ in (237 cm) | 8 ft (244 cm) |
| Bullseye height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| US rules | American Darts Organization | National Dart Association |
Should I buy steel tip or soft tip darts first?
Buy for the board you will throw at most. If your bar or league plays on electronic machines, or you want a home board that keeps score for the family, start with soft tip. If you practice on a bristle board or join a steel tip league, start with steel tip.
Setting up at home from scratch? A bristle board like the Winmau Blade 6 needs no power, while the GranBoard3s scores through an app and lets you play opponents online. Our dartboards guide compares the two boards in more detail.
Can one set of darts play both steel tip and soft tip?
Yes, if the dart is built to convert. A convertible dart takes a plastic tip for electronic boards and a threaded steel point for bristle boards, so one barrel covers both games.
- Laserdart WidowMaker Convertible: 90% tungsten, slim multi-grip barrel, 18g, 20g or 22g.
- KC Landshark Convertible #3: compact, front-weighted 90% tungsten with shark cuts, 18g.
- Double Play #20: 80% tungsten, knurled and grooved, 16g, conversion points included.
Many standard soft tip darts also accept 2BA steel conversion points. A converted soft tip dart is still light by steel tip standards, and steel points should never be thrown at an electronic board.
Why are soft tip darts lighter than steel tip darts?
Because electronic boards and their leagues cap the weight. National Dart Association rules allow a complete soft tip dart of no more than 20 grams, counting barrel, shaft, flight and tip, so most soft tip players throw 16 to 20 grams. GranBoard also recommends soft tip darts of 20 grams or less.
Steel tip rules allow up to 50 grams per dart, and most steel tip players settle between 22 and 26 grams. That is why one model often comes lighter and shorter in soft tip: the Black Widow Soft Tip #1 runs 16g to 20g, while the Black Widow Fixed Steel Tip Ringed runs 20g to 28g.
Are steel tip or soft tip darts better for beginners?
Soft tip is the easier start for most new players, because the electronic board does the math and runs dozens of games. Steel tip teaches you to keep score and finish on a double, the traditional way to win an 01 game.
Either way, a brass starter set is fine for learning. Try the Super Bee Brass #5 (16g) for soft tip or the Class Brass #1 (19g) for steel tip. Once you throw regularly, tungsten is the upgrade that matters most: it is slimmer at the same weight, so your darts group tighter.
Which barrel shape should I choose: straight, torpedo or compact?
Pick the shape that suits where your fingers sit on the dart. Straight barrels keep a simple, even profile; torpedo barrels swell through the body and taper at the ends; compact barrels are short, so they take up less room when darts pile into the same segment.
- Straight: Powder Keg #4, a plain, evenly tapered 28g barrel with no rings or knurling.
- Torpedo: Powder Keg #1, a ringed, center-balanced 25g torpedo.
- Tapered with grip zones: Laserdart Custom Competition, 90% tungsten with three separate grip sets.
- Compact: Laserdart Lantern Shark #2, an ultra-compact soft tip built for fewer deflections on a crowded board.
Shape is personal, so compare the length and diameter listed for each weight with a dart you already throw well.
Do steel tip and soft tip darts use the same shafts and flights?
Usually, yes. Most steel tip and soft tip darts take standard 2BA shafts, so the same shafts and flights fit both. Older bar darts are the main exception: the Soft Tip Bar Dart uses a one-piece flight and shaft on a 1/4 in thread.
The barrels differ at the front, where a soft tip barrel is threaded for plastic tips and a steel tip barrel holds a steel point. Some models come in both, so league players can keep the same grip on either board. The Harrows NX steel tip comes in 22g, 24g and 26g, and the Harrows NX soft tip in 18g and 20g.
Can I try darts in person or borrow them before I buy?
Yes, both. Our retail store shares a building with our warehouse at 2415 S 50th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, with steel tip and soft tip darts under one roof. Anywhere else in the US, the Dart Lending Library lets you borrow up to two sets of Laserdarts or select Horizon Darts models for 10 business days and keep what works. Want advice first? Call 1-800-542-3278 or contact our team.