5 Easy Steps on How to Mount Your Dartboard for Steel Tip and Soft Tip
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Table of contents
1. WHERE SHOULD YOU MOUNT YOUR DARTBOARD? 2. STANDARD WALL MOUNTED 2.1 Measure Height From Floor 2.2 Install the Bracket 2.3 Prep Your Dartboard 2.4 Mount Your Dartboard 2.5 Measure Distance for Oche 3. DARTBOARD CABINETS 3.1 Measure the Cabinet Heights & Dimensions 3.2 Install the Dartboard Bracket 3.3 Mount Your Dartboard Cabinet 3.4 Mount Your Dartboard 4. DARTBOARD STANDS 4.1 Set Up the Dartboard Stand 4.2 Install the Bracket 4.3 Mount Your Dartboard 5. DARTBOARD ACCESSORIES 5.1 Dartboard Surrounds 5.2 Scoreboards 5.3 Phone & Tablet Holders 6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 7. FINAL THOUGHTS
So you're new to darts and want to mount your dartboard for the first time but don't know where to start? Don't worry, we got you covered!
There are more ways than one to mount your dartboard, including the standard wall-mounting process and dartboard stands. In this blog, we cover how to mount your dartboard with all types of dartboard mounts in 5 or fewer easy-to-follow steps.
WHERE SHOULD YOU MOUNT YOUR DARTBOARD?
There's no right or wrong answer to where you should mount your dartboard, as many players play darts from their garage, game room, or even on the go. Here are a few guidelines that make it easier to determine if the space you have is ideal for mounting a dartboard:
Lots of space to move around. The location you choose to mount your dartboard should have plenty of room to move around and play in since you will be walking to and from the board frequently. Bonus points if the space is big enough to accommodate you and a few others for a friendly competition!
Empty wall with enough space for a dartboard. This should come as a no brainer, but the wall you want to mount a dartboard onto shouldn't be too narrow or too cluttered. You'll want enough space to mount your dartboard and any accessories, like a dartboard cabinet or surround.
Some dartboard equipment, like dartboard stands and certain brackets, make it easier for you to transform your play space if you ever decide to move your dart setup elsewhere in the future. Thus, if you're planning on traveling a lot with your dartboard or the missus doesn't like the idea of drilling a dartboard into the wall, consider these alternative options to mount your dartboard that make it easy for you to move your setup. We'll cover how to mount your dartboard with dartboard stands later on in this blog, so keep on reading for more information!
STANDARD WALL MOUNTED
The most common way to mount your dartboard (soft tip or steel tip) is by mounting it on your wall. Most, if not all, dartboards come with a standard metal bracket that keeps your board hung securely on the wall, making wall mounting your dartboard convenient, simple, and easy.
We've summarized the process of mounting your dartboard into 5 easy steps, so follow our guide below to learn how to mount your dartboard:
1. MEASURE HEIGHT FROM FLOOR
First things first, you need to measure the height needed to mount your dartboard from the floor. Most players follow the official regulation standards used in tournaments since all pros and competitive players abide by these rules. You can choose to mount your dartboard at any height if you're just practicing at home, but we recommend just following the official guidelines for the easiest setup.
You can reference the two diagrams above from GLD for the appropriate measurements to mount your dartboard. Regulation height dictates that steel tip and soft tip dartboards measure 5 feet and 8 inches, or 1.73 meters, from the bullseye to the floor. If your floor is sloped (in other words, not perfectly level from the board to your throwline), measure the dartboard height from where your throwline should be to find the proper height for your dartboard.
After you've measured the appropriate height to mount your dartboard, mark the height with a pencil. Use the mark you created as a guideline to install your wall bracket of choice onto the wall.
MOUNT YOUR DARTBOARD FOR DISABILITY DARTS
Disabled players who use a wheelchair in their day-to-day lives can still mount their dartboard and enjoy darts regardless of their ability! Russ Strobel, the founder and president of the World Disability Darts Association (WDDA), created new dartboard regulation standards that can be used in both soft tip and steel tip games for players who play in a wheelchair.
The proper height to mount your dartboard for wheelchair users should be 4 feet and 6 inches, or 1.37 meters) from the bullseye to the floor. The oche distance remains the same at 7 feet and 9.5 inches (2.37 meters) for both standing players and wheelchair players.
Darts 501 dartboard set up diagram for disabled players.
2. INSTALL THE BRACKET
Now that you've marked the height to mount your dartboard, it's time to install the bracket. Dartboard brackets come with two parts: one part is shaped either like a U or an O and screws into the wall, and the other part is usually a screw or a puck that attaches to the back of your dartboard.
You can mount your dartboard with the standard U-shaped metal bracket that comes with most dartboards, but if you want a mounting system that makes your steel tip dartboard easier to rotate, opt for an O-shaped bracket (referring to the shape of the puck that drills into the back of your dartboard) instead.
Soft tip dartboards can be paired with the U-shaped bracket from Gran Darts for an easier slip-in setup. Both O-shaped and U-shaped brackets allow you to easily remove your dartboard for traveling.
Brackets used to mount your dartboard.
With your bracket of choice, take the part that screws into the wall and find its center point. This center point is where the bullseye should match up with the height you measured out once you mount your dartboard.
For metal brackets, the center point should be just above the curve of the U-shape. When you line up the bracket on your wall, the U-shaped curve of metal brackets will lay just below the height mark you made — this is correct.
The larger plastic/nylon brackets have a small hole in the center, right in the middle of the indented section where the puck goes. Line up the center hole with the height mark on the wall.
Once you've found the center point and lined it up with the height mark you made earlier, drill a screw through the bracket and the wall. This step is crucial to mount your dartboard, so make sure that the bracket is secured tightly in the wall.
WINMAU EDGE CORNER DARTBOARD BRACKET
The Winmau Edge Corner Dartboard Bracket is a bit of a special case that requires its own installation process entirely different from a simple bracket system. Watch our video to the left to learn more about this bracket system that can be used to mount your dartboard.
TARGET MOD HUB
Another unique mounting system you can use to mount your dartboard is the Target MOD System with the Target MOD Hub. It's an all-in-one system that allows you to rotate your dartboard, fix your accessories, and more! Watch our full product review on the MOD system to learn more about the products and all its features:
3. PREP YOUR DARTBOARD
By this point, you're almost done learning how to mount your dartboard! But before you can actually mount your dartboard, you'll need to prepare your dartboard for mounting.
As mentioned earlier, your wall bracket should have a part that drills into the back of your dartboard. This part will either be another screw for your metal bracket or a large puck for the O-shaped and U-shaped nylon brackets depending on what you prefer to use to mount your dartboard.
Line up the screw or the puck with the center of the back of your dartboard. The back of your dartboard should have a pre-marked center hole right where the bullseye would be, but if yours is not pre-marked you'll need to find the center manually. Once you've aligned the screw or puck with the center, drill it into the back of your dartboard.
Note that your metal screw should not sit flush against the dartboard and needs about a 1/4 inch sticking out to fit into the metal bracket. Without that extra space, you cannot mount your dartboard properly. If you're using a plastic puck, it can sit flush against the back of your dartboard as it doesn't need the extra space to fit against the matching bracket.
4. MOUNT YOUR DARTBOARD
Now that the bracket is installed in the wall and your dartboard is prepped for hanging, you're finally ready to mount your dartboard.
Place your dartboard against the wall and slide it into the bracket. It may be difficult to get the small screw into the metal bracket hole at first, so don't worry if it takes you a couple tries.
Once you mount your dartboard in the bracket, make sure that it's not too wobbly. If you find that your dartboard is too wobbly, you can try tightening the screw on the back or use dartboard wedges to reduce the shakey movement.
5. MEASURE DISTANCE FOR OCHE
Last but not least, you'll need to place your oche or throwline after you mount your dartboard. After all, what setup is complete without its oche?
Unlike the measured height required to mount your dartboard, the regulation distance for the oche is different between steel tip and soft tip. For steel tip, the oche needs to be 7 feet and 9 1/4 inches, or 2.37 meters, away from the face of the dartboard. Soft tip oches are placed slightly further away, 8 feet or 2.44 meters, from the dartboard.
To properly measure the distance from the board to the oche, measure straight down from the face of your dartboard to the floor and mark that spot as a reference point. Then, from that spot, you need to measure out the soft tip or steel tip distance to the oche. Line up the front of the oche with the end of your measuring tape and double-check the distance from the board to the throwline, both on the floor and diagonally, if needed. Finally, after installing the oche, you're done learning to mount your dartboard!
DARTBOARD CABINETS
Dartboard cabinets are a great upgrade from wall mounts as they keep your dartboard packed nicely in a wooden cabinet when not in use. The process is almost identical to wall mounting your board, except you'll need to add a little extra prep to mount your dartboard cabinet. Also, every cabinet is different, so make sure to double-check the box for any brand-specific mounting instructions.
1. MEASURE THE CABINET HEIGHT & DIMENSIONS
First, you'll need a few measurements in order to mount your dartboard cabinet properly. Start out by measuring the dartboard height needed to mount your dartboard, which is 5 feet 8 inches for both soft tip and steel tip. This marks the height from the bullseye to the floor. You'll also need to mark where the top corners of your dartboard cabinet will hang on the wall in proximity to the bullseye height. Many cabinets provide paper guides with markings for the cabinet corners and bullseye that you can hold up to the wall and drill into directly, which will save you a ton of time and effort.
But if your dartboard cabinet doesn't have any paper guides included in the box, you'll need to measure these dimensions yourself to mount your dartboard. The easiest way to go about it is by measuring the distance from the bullseye to the side of the cabinet and then measuring directly to the upper corner. Repeat for the other side and use these dimensions to mark where the top corners of the cabinet should hang on the wall. Drill a screw into each of these corner marks, but not the mark you made for the dartboard height. You will mount your dartboard cabinet onto these screws later.
2. INSTALL THE DARTBOARD BRACKET
Whether you use a metal bracket, a U-shaped bracket for soft tip, or an O-shaped bracket for steel tip, you'll need to install the dartboard bracket onto the cabinet before you can mount your dartboard. This step should be done before mounting your dartboard cabinet as it will be more difficult to drill the cabinet if it's hanging on the wall.
Use the pre-drilled holes in the dartboard cabinet as a guide for the center of your dartboard where the bracket should line up. Install the bracket as intended. Reference Steps 2 & 3 of the Standard Wall Mounted dartboard instructions for a more in-depth explanation of how to install the dartboard bracket.
Install the dartboard bracket before you mount your dartboard cabinet.
3. MOUNT YOUR DARTBOARD CABINET
After you install your bracket of choice, you're ready to mount your dartboard cabinet onto the wall. Remember the screws you drilled into the wall in step 1? These screws line up with where the top corners of your dartboard cabinet will hang on the wall.
Pick up your dartboard cabinet and slide the upper corners onto the two screws. It should slot together similarly to when you mount your dartboard onto a metal wall bracket. Double-check that your dartboard cabinet is leveled before you finish drilling the rest of the screws in the remaining corners. Only one more step to fully mount your dartboard with a dartboard cabinet!
4. MOUNT YOUR DARTBOARD
After you've securely mounted your dartboard cabinet, you can finally mount your dartboard inside the cabinet. Slide your dartboard into the bracket hanging inside the dartboard cabinet and ensure it fits snugly without too much wobble. And you're done!
DARTBOARD STANDS
Dartboard stands are perfect for dart players on the go who want to play outside of their usual home setup. Because dartboard stands allow you to adjust the height to your liking, you can adhere to either regulation standards for games or set the height to eye level for casual practice. It's super simple to use a dartboard stand to mount your dartboard and the instructions involved should be quite straightforward to follow.
1. SET UP THE DARTBOARD STAND
Setting up your dartboard stand is as easy as making sure the dartboard stand is standing upright. Tripod stands like the Winmau Xtreme 2 and the Gran Darts Tripod Stand only requires you to open the legs to stand up, while the Gran Board Pole needs to be extended to your wall height since it's a standing pole. Adjust your dartboard stand to the proper height of 5 feet and 8 inches before you mount your dartboard.
The Winmau Vertex stand is a bit unique in that the legs of the stand need to be installed into the dartboard backboard before setting it against the wall. Watch our video on the Winmau Vertex to learn a bit more about its handy features (spoiler: you can use it just about anywhere!):
Install the dartboard stand legs before you mount your dartboard.
2. INSTALL THE BRACKET
All dartboard stands use a bracket system to mount your dartboard and hold it in place. The Gran Board Pole and the Gran Darts Tripod Stand include both O-shaped and U-shaped brackets, making them versatile to use with soft tip and steel tip dartboards.
The Winmau Xtreme 2 can only be used with steel tip dartboards since it requires multiple holes to be drilled into the dartboard, while the Winmau Vertex backboard is too small to accommodate soft tip dartboards (which are typically larger than regulation standard steel tip dartboards) but doesn't require any drilling into the wall.
Reference Step 3 of the Standard Wall Mounted dartboard instructions for a more in-depth explanation of how to install the dartboard bracket onto your dartboard.
3. MOUNT YOUR DARTBOARD
With the dartboard stand set up and the bracket installed onto your dartboard, you can mount your dartboard at last. Slide it onto the bracket (or drill it into the bracket if you're using the Winmau Xtreme 2), ensure that the board is secure on the stand, and you're basically done learning how to mount your dartboard stand!
DARTBOARD ACCESSORIES
It's not a requirement at all, but many players like to dress their dartboard in accessories like dartboard lights and surrounds for additional functionality. These accessories would be installed at the very end after you mount your dartboard since they attach directly to the board. Here are some of the most common dartboard accessories that players like to use with their setup:
DARTBOARD SURROUNDS
Dartboard surrounds and backboards are there to protect the wall surrounding your dartboard from any stray darts. They essentially take the brunt of the damage from darts that miss the dartboard so your wall won't have a bunch of holes after every practice session.
Easy to install, dartboard surrounds fit directly around the rim of the dartboard after you mount your dartboard.
SCOREBOARDS
Games like darts 501 and cricket use scoreboards to keep track of the points and marks earned by each player. Having a scoreboard is especially helpful when doing all the darts 501 math every turn by hand. Dartboard cabinets often have one already installed on the inside of the doors, but you can easily mount your dartboard scoreboard right on the wall next to your setup.
PHONE & TABLET HOLDERS
If you have a darts scoring app like Dart Connect that you prefer to use for games and scorekeeping over a traditional scoreboard, there are phone and tablet holders that will display your device next to your dartboard. It's easy and convenient to use versus a traditional scoreboard since everyone already has a phone in their pockets!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What measurements do I need to mount my dartboard?
There are several measurements you need before you can mount your dartboard depending on what type of dartboard you have. See the list below for a quick guide to which measurements you need, but be sure to read the step-by-step tutorials above to learn how to mount your dartboard properly.
Steel tip:
Bullseye to Floor — 5' 8" (1.73m)
Dartboard to Oche/Throwline — 7' 9.25" (2.37m)
Soft tip:
Bullseye to Floor — 5' 8" (1.73m)
Dartboard to Oche/Throwline — 8' (2.44m)
Disability Darts:
Bullseye to Floor — 4' 6" (1.37m)
Dartboard to Oche/Throwline — 8' (2.44m)
Where should I mount my dartboard?
You can mount your dartboard anywhere in your home or game room that has enough space to accommodate both you and the board. If you plan on using something bulkier or larger to mount your dartboard like a dartboard cabinet, make sure the wall has enough space for that as well.
You'll be moving around a lot as you play, so having sufficient space will make it easier for you to mount your dartboard and have fun in your own space.
Can I mount my dartboard on my door?
Yes, you can mount your dartboard on your door, but you will need additional equipment to hang it from the door since most doors are hollow and unable to support the weight of a dartboard. Some brands sell specific door hangers to use with a dartboard, like the Gran Darts Belt that goes over a door, but many players also DIY their own door mount system.
Be sure to have a lock on your door if you decide to mount your dartboard on your door, as you don't want to be throwing darts at an unsuspecting visitor walking through the doorway unannounced.
Can I use a backboard with my dartboard to protect my wall?
Yes! We recommend anything you use as protection to keep your darts from puncturing any holes in your walls. A backboard is a great alternative to surrounds for players that need wider coverage.
Remember that when you mount your dartboard, you must first measure the throwline distance from where the bullseye lines up with the floor. To do this, measure straight down from the bullseye to the floor, and from that point measure your oche distance. It may look like your oche is quite far from the wall, but this is normal since the backboard provides extra padding that protrudes the dartboard further away from the wall.
When can I put on my dartboard accessories?
Most dartboard accessories directly attach to the dartboard or the mounting system you're using, thus you're likely only able to put on your dartboard accessories after you mount your dartboard. This also makes it easier for you to mount your dartboard, since there won't be any accessories getting in the way of the installation process.
Do I need a dartboard stand?
No, you don't need a dartboard stand. If you choose to mount your dartboard on your wall or dartboard cabinet, that is perfectly fine!
Dartboard stands are ideal for players who travel frequently and want to bring their favorite dartboard on the go. It requires no drilling into the wall to mount your dartboard, and the setup is easy for any person to follow. If you're looking to try a dartboard stand, we recommend the Winmau Vertex Stand!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Now that you know how to mount your dartboard on the wall, a stand, a cabinet, and more, you're free to play darts as your heart desires! Darts is a game of endless possibilities and we hope that this blog helped kickstart your lasting love for the game.
Don't forget to check out the rest of our blogs for awesome darts tips for pros and novices alike and learn how to play popular darts games like 501 and cricket with our beginner-friendly how-to guides.
