Are dartboard colours standardised?

May 1, 202311 min read

Dartboard colours standardised featured image with matching colour zones

Dartboard colours are standardised in layout, but not always in exact shade. A standard steel-tip dartboard uses alternating light and dark single segments, red and green doubles and trebles, a green outer bull, and a red centre bull, with the 20 segment fixed at the top as the darker main segment colour.

Last reviewed: 24 August 2026. This guide explains which dartboard colours matter for regulation play, what can vary between brands, and what to check before buying a board.

Infographic explaining standard dartboard colour layout and why shade can vary between manufacturers — The standard is mainly about readable contrast, segment position and scoring zones, not identical paint codes.

The direct answer

Yes, dartboard colours are standardised in the sense that the colour pattern is familiar and regulated for normal steel-tip play. The big single wedges alternate between a light and dark colour. The double and treble rings alternate red and green. The outer bull is normally green and the centre bull is normally red.

No, the exact shade of red, green, black or cream is not identical on every board. One manufacturer may use a deeper green, another may use a brighter red, and modern boards may adjust contrast for television, lighting or brand style. The scoring layout matters more than the precise colour tone.

What the colours do

The colours help players read the board quickly. They separate scoring zones, create contrast between adjacent segments, and make doubles, trebles and the bull easier to identify under pressure. A dartboard is not coloured randomly; the colour system is part of the scoring language.

The most important job is contrast. If two neighbouring segments looked the same, the board would be harder to read. Alternating colours let the eye find boundaries quickly, especially around the crowded treble and double rings.

The single segments

The large single-scoring areas traditionally alternate between light and dark sections, often described as white or cream and black. These areas score the face value of the number. Hitting the large single 20 scores 20. Hitting the large single 5 scores 5.

The light and dark pattern also helps orientation. The 20 segment is positioned at the top centre and is the darker of the two main segment colours under many published rules. This is why a rotated board should be set so the 20 is back at the top in the correct orientation.

The red and green rings

The narrow outer ring is the double ring, and the narrow inner ring is the treble ring. These bands normally alternate red and green around the board. The colour tells you that the area is a multiplier zone, while the number above the wedge tells you what value is being multiplied.

For example, the red or green treble 20 segment scores 60. The red or green double 16 segment scores 32. The colour alone is not the score; colour plus position plus number creates the score.

The bull colours

The bull is usually split into a green outer bull and a red centre bull. The outer bull scores 25. The centre bull scores 50 and counts as a double in standard double-out rules. Some descriptions call the centre bull the inner bull or bullseye.

This red-and-green bull pattern is one of the most recognisable features of a modern dartboard. It gives the centre a clear visual hierarchy: outer target, then the smaller high-value centre.

What can vary between boards?

Exact colour shade can vary. So can the number ring colour, the logo position, the printed surround, and the contrast style. Some boards use a warmer cream rather than a stark white. Some use darker greens or reds. Some have high-definition number rings or different anti-glare finishes.

Those variations do not automatically make a board non-standard. The question is whether the scoring layout, dimensions, numbering and orientation are correct. A board can look slightly different while still playing like a regulation board.

Why the 20 segment matters

The 20 segment is the reference point for the entire board. It sits at the top centre. From there, the number sequence runs around the board in the familiar order. If the board is rotated for wear, the number ring must be moved so 20 returns to the top.

This is also why colour and orientation are linked. If the 20 is not at the top, the board is not set correctly for normal play, even if the colours themselves look familiar.

Rotation and colour pattern

Rotating a dartboard spreads wear across the sisal, especially around the treble 20. When you rotate the board body, the number ring moves separately so 20 returns to the top. The colours beneath each number may change because a different physical wedge is now sitting under that number.

That is normal. The key requirement is that the board is oriented correctly and remains readable. Players sometimes worry if the colour under 20 changes after rotation, but the practical point is the same: 20 must be at the top, and the board must keep its alternating contrast.

Why TV boards can look different

Boards used in professional broadcasts can look sharper or more saturated because of lighting, cameras and anti-glare design. The red may look brighter, the green may look deeper, and the pale singles may look cream rather than white. That does not mean the scoring pattern has changed.

Home players should not chase television appearance too literally. A board that looks dramatic in a product photo may not be the clearest option in a spare room or garage. The best test is whether you can read the doubles and trebles quickly from the oche under your own lighting.

Are novelty colour boards legal?

Novelty colour boards can be useful for decoration or casual play, but they should not be assumed suitable for competition. A board with unusual colours may still be readable, but organised play usually expects a recognised regulation board with standard dimensions, numbering and scoring zones.

If you are buying for league practice, choose clarity over novelty. The board should prepare you for the colour and contrast pattern you will see in proper matches. A dramatic colour scheme might look good online but be harder to use under normal lighting.

Colour and lighting

Lighting changes how dartboard colours appear. A board that looks crisp in product photos may look dull in a dim room. Bright overhead lights can also create glare on wires or number rings. The best colour scheme is the one that stays readable in your actual playing space.

This is why good lighting and a clear board matter together. The aim is not the brightest board; it is a board where the doubles, trebles and boundaries remain easy to read while you throw.

Colour-blind players and visibility

Players with colour-vision differences may rely more heavily on position, contrast and segment shape than on red-versus-green distinction. A high-contrast board and good lighting can help more than a novelty colour palette. The wires, boundaries and number ring should be visually clear.

If visibility is a concern, avoid boards where the red and green bands are low contrast or where decorative printing distracts from the scoring area. Readability is part of performance.

Training implications

Practising on a standard colour layout helps your eye learn the board. Players do not consciously read every number on every throw. Over time, they recognise target zones, colour blocks and common routes. A standard-looking board supports that automatic recognition.

This matters for doubles and trebles. If your practice board has unusual colours or distracting decoration, you may spend more effort locating targets. Standard colours reduce friction. They let you focus on throw quality, scoring decisions and checkout routes.

How to inspect a board before buying

Look at the product photos and ask three questions. Are the doubles and trebles clearly separated from the singles? Is the 20 shown at the top centre? Does the board have a movable number ring so the playing surface can be rotated? If any answer is unclear, read the specification before buying.

Also check whether the board is a proper sisal or bristle board. Colour correctness does not rescue a poor surface. A good-looking board that wears quickly or causes bounce-outs is still a bad practice board.

Buyer checklist

Standard layout: alternating single segments and red/green multiplier rings.
Correct orientation: 20 at the top centre.
Readable contrast: clear separation between adjacent segments.
Movable number ring: lets you rotate the board while keeping 20 at the top.
Low glare: colours and wires should remain visible under lighting.
Recognised board type: choose a proper bristle/sisal board for serious play.

Equipment and setup

Choose a clear dartboard first, then build the setup around visibility. A dartboard stand is useful if wall mounting is not possible, while dartboard surrounds protect the area around the board without changing the scoring colours.

Use consistent darts or dart sets for practice, and keep spare flights, stems and points available. A readable board plus reliable darts makes practice less frustrating.

Common mistakes

The first mistake is thinking every board must use identical shades. It does not. The second is thinking colour is only decorative. It is not; it helps define the scoring zones. The third is buying a novelty board for serious practice and then struggling when playing on a standard board elsewhere.

The practical rule is simple: buy a board that looks like the boards used in normal matchplay, reads clearly under your lighting, and can be rotated without losing correct number orientation.

For league practice, familiar contrast matters more than personal taste.

Visual guide: how to apply this at the board

A practical decision map for applying the dartboard colours standardised answer at a real board.

Use this matrix to turn the dartboard colours standardised question into the right practice, scoring or setup decision.

Sources used

Standardisation is about function

The point of standard colours is quick recognition. Players, scorers and viewers need to distinguish singles, doubles, trebles and bull areas without hesitation. Small shade differences between manufacturers matter less than whether the board preserves that shared visual language.

Bottom line

Dartboard colours are standardised as a layout and scoring language, not as one exact set of paint shades. For serious play, choose a board with the familiar alternating single segments, red and green doubles and trebles, a clear bull, correct 20 orientation and strong contrast under your lighting.