The UK is one of the leading locations in the world for professional dart players, and it's no surprise as we've been playing the game for centuries in our pubs, clubs and homes. If you're looking to try your hand at one of the country's most popular games, you're going to need the right equipment. Luckily, home dart sets are widely available.
We've put together this guide with everything you need to know about traditional steel point and soft tip electronic boards, including wiring, mounting, stands, cabinets and much more. With options for beginners, pros, kids and adults, we've even ranked the top 10 dart boards available on Amazon, Argos, Decathlon and John Lewis. So all you'll need to do is concentrate on hitting the bullseye!
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of dartboards available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Winmau | 2 ![]() Winmau | 3 ![]() Unicorn | 4 ![]() Unicorn | 5 ![]() Target | 6 ![]() Winmau | 7 ![]() Canaveral | 8 ![]() Unicorn | 9 ![]() Winmau | 10 ![]() Gentlemen's Hardware |
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Name | Blade 6 Championship Dartboard and Darts Set | Masters Bristle Dartboard | MK 2 ELECTRIC DARTBOARD | Striker Dartboard with Gorilla Arrow Pro Dart Board Stand | Darts Arc Dartboard | Blade 6 Xtreme Dartboard Set | STEEL TIP DARTBOARD T 520 | Striker Home Darts Centre | Home Double Sided Dartboard Set | Roll-Up Dartboard |
Features | Get Everything You Need for a Professional Setup at Home | Industry Leading Brand at an Affordable Price | Safe and Fun Electronic Board With 25 Games That Also Counts Scores | Set Up Wherever You Like With This Freestanding Mounted Board | Wall Mounted Cabinet With Specialised Lighting Bar for Improved Visibility | Blade Wired Board With Wall Protector to Minimise Bounce Outs | Eco Friendly Dart Board Made From 95% Rice Straw and 5% Steel | Traditional Wood Finish Wall Cabinet and Board That Pays Homage to Classic Setups | Excellent Budget Board and Accessories Bundle | A Travel-Friendly Alternative to Stay Entertained on the Road |
Price | £68.00 | £25.00 | £29.49 | £109.95 | £92.95 | £75.00 | £29.99 | £59.95 | £35.00 | £28.00 |
Steel Point / Electronic | Steel point | Steel point | Electronic | Steel point | Steel point | Steel point | Steel point | Steel point | Steel point | Roll up travel board (soft tip) |
Wiring | Bladed | Round | - | Not specified | Round | Bladed | Triangle | Not specified | Not specified | - |
Staple-Free | Yes | Staple-free bullseye | - | Staple-free bullseye | Staple-free bullseye | Yes | Staple-free bullseye | Staple-free bullseye | No | - |
Removable Ring | Yes | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | - |
Mounting Type | Cabinet | Wall | Wall | Freestanding | Cabinet | Wall | Wall | Cabinet | Cabinet | Wall |
Accessories | Darts, chalk, duster, scoreboard | - | Darts | Darts, protective surround | Darts, scoreboard, lighting strip | Wall protector, darts | - | Darts, scoreboard, pen, eraser | Darts, chalk, duster, scoreboard | Darts, tavel bag, wall hanger |
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Darts has been a well-loved game for centuries, and as a result, there are many variations of the dartboard available. However, the two main styles you will need to consider are steel point and electronic.
Steel point dartboards are the traditional style we all know and love. They're made from compressed sisal, which is a regenerative material. This means that when you throw a dart at the board it will stick, but once removed, the hole will close back up. The sisal is mounted onto a backing board and secured with a wire frame, giving traditional boards their distinctive look.
Electronic boards are much more modern. They are designed with multiple small holes across the entire board's surface for the darts to land in. Because of this, they're sometimes known as soft tip dartboards, with blunt darts that are much safer for games with children. This style also features automatic score counting on an LCD screen, so it will need to be powered by mains or battery to be fully operational.
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The most important element in a game of darts is accuracy. Just a few centimetres can be the difference between a win and a loss, and with the most high-value landing spots taking up just a tiny proportion of the board, it's not uncommon that you miss a vital shot. Even worse, sometimes the dart will hit the dividers between spaces and bounce out entirely!
That's why it's important to pay attention to the wiring on a board to ensure you can get the best game out of it. Most boards have triangle and round wiring, but more modern boards may come equipped with bladed wiring which is up to 50% thinner than traditional styles. Thinner wiring means a larger surface area for your darts to land, reducing the chance of bounce outs and enhancing your overall game.
If you do opt for triangle or round wiring, you can find staple-free boards. Staples secure the wiring to the board's surface and can take up a lot of space in high-scoring areas. Staple-free options are secured with other adhesives to limit this effect. Just keep in mind that boards marketed as 'staple-free bullseye' will often include staples elsewhere.
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This feature is easily overlooked by new players, but is vital if you want to get the most out of your purchase. In a game of darts, there are higher scoring spots on the board that you will commonly aim for. These spots will become more damaged as you play, and although sisal is regenerative when punctured, it needs time to return to its original state.
This is where rotating your board comes in! Rotating your board every so often prevents uneven wear and gives the surface chance to properly regenerate. This job is made easier if you choose a board with a removable number ring, as you'll be able to detach the scores from the board, rotate it, and return it to the wall with all the numbers still in the correct place.
Your overall experience will likely be improved by included mounting and playing accessories. For example, you should consider where you intend to play and how you want to store your board when not in use. Some boards have freestanding mounts which are like tall tripods that can be easily folded away. However, if you play more often or like to keep your board on display, you might prefer a wall mounting cabinet.
Some boards also come with wall protectors so you won't have to plaster the walls after every misjudged shot! Plus, it's handy to keep an eye out for other key accessories such as scoreboards, chalk, and of course, darts. If you're an absolute beginner, seek out an all in one set.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£68.00
Steel Point / Electronic | Steel point |
---|---|
Wiring | Bladed |
Staple-Free | Yes |
Removable Ring | Yes |
Mounting Type | Cabinet |
Accessories | Darts, chalk, duster, scoreboard |
£25.00
Steel Point / Electronic | Steel point |
---|---|
Wiring | Round |
Staple-Free | Staple-free bullseye |
Removable Ring | Yes |
Mounting Type | Wall |
Accessories | - |
£29.49
Steel Point / Electronic | Electronic |
---|---|
Wiring | - |
Staple-Free | - |
Removable Ring | - |
Mounting Type | Wall |
Accessories | Darts |
£109.95
Steel Point / Electronic | Steel point |
---|---|
Wiring | Not specified |
Staple-Free | Staple-free bullseye |
Removable Ring | Yes |
Mounting Type | Freestanding |
Accessories | Darts, protective surround |
£92.95
Steel Point / Electronic | Steel point |
---|---|
Wiring | Round |
Staple-Free | Staple-free bullseye |
Removable Ring | Yes |
Mounting Type | Cabinet |
Accessories | Darts, scoreboard, lighting strip |
£75.00
Steel Point / Electronic | Steel point |
---|---|
Wiring | Bladed |
Staple-Free | Yes |
Removable Ring | Yes |
Mounting Type | Wall |
Accessories | Wall protector, darts |
£29.99
Steel Point / Electronic | Steel point |
---|---|
Wiring | Triangle |
Staple-Free | Staple-free bullseye |
Removable Ring | No |
Mounting Type | Wall |
Accessories | - |
£59.95
Steel Point / Electronic | Steel point |
---|---|
Wiring | Not specified |
Staple-Free | Staple-free bullseye |
Removable Ring | Yes |
Mounting Type | Cabinet |
Accessories | Darts, scoreboard, pen, eraser |
£35.00
Steel Point / Electronic | Steel point |
---|---|
Wiring | Not specified |
Staple-Free | No |
Removable Ring | No |
Mounting Type | Cabinet |
Accessories | Darts, chalk, duster, scoreboard |
£28.00
Steel Point / Electronic | Roll up travel board (soft tip) |
---|---|
Wiring | - |
Staple-Free | - |
Removable Ring | - |
Mounting Type | Wall |
Accessories | Darts, tavel bag, wall hanger |
Written and researched by Alicia Byrne
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