To measure a darts line, set the bullseye 173 cm from the floor, drop a reference point from the dartboard face to the floor, then measure 237 cm from that point to the front edge of the oche. As a final check, the diagonal from the bullseye to the oche should be about 293 cm.
Last reviewed: 23 August 2026. These measurements are for standard steel-tip darts. Soft-tip, wheelchair and some local formats can use different measurements, so check the rules for your board or league before marking a permanent line.
The direct answer
Measure the darts line from the face of the dartboard to the front edge of the oche. For standard steel-tip darts, that distance is 237 cm, or 7 ft 9.25 in.
Before marking the line, check the board height. The centre of the bullseye should be 173 cm, or 5 ft 8 in, from the floor. Once both measurements are correct, the diagonal from bullseye to oche should be about 293 cm, or 9 ft 7.5 in.
What you need
- A tape measure long enough to reach at least 293 cm.
- A pencil, low-tack tape or floor marker.
- A spirit level or phone level to check the board is vertical.
- A second person, if possible, to hold the tape steady.
- A proper oche, mat line or raised strip for the finished throw line.
The measurement order
Use this order: mount, drop, measure, verify. Mount the board first, because the line depends on the board face and bull height. Drop a reference point to the floor from the board face. Measure 237 cm from that point. Verify with the 293 cm diagonal.
The order is important because a dartboard is not flat against the wall. The face of the board projects forward. If you mark the oche from the wall first, the throwing distance will be short.
Step 1: set the bull height
Measure from the floor to the exact centre of the bullseye. The standard height is 173 cm, or 5 ft 8 in. Do not measure to the top, bottom or outer ring of the board.
If the board is mounted in a cabinet, make sure the cabinet does not make the board lean. The scoring surface should sit vertically. A leaning board changes the effective board face and makes the oche harder to mark accurately.
Step 2: drop from the board face
The official distance starts at the board face, not the wall. To find that point on the floor, imagine a vertical line dropping from the face of the board to the floor. Mark that floor point lightly.
A plumb line is the cleanest method. If you do not have one, hold the tape or a straight edge carefully from the board face and use a level to avoid drifting back to the wall.
Step 3: measure 237 cm to the oche
From the floor point below the board face, measure 237 cm straight out along the throwing lane. Mark the front edge of the oche at that point. That is the line the player must stand behind.
If you are using a mat, line up the correct printed oche mark with your measurement. If you are using tape, place the tape so its front edge is the legal line. If you are using a raised oche, the player-facing front edge is the point that matters.
Measuring alone
If you are measuring alone, tape the start of the measure securely at the board-face floor mark before pulling it out to the oche. Keep the tape straight and flat. If it lifts, curves or slides sideways, reset it rather than accepting an approximate practice line.
Step 4: verify the diagonal
Once the bull height and oche distance are set, measure from the centre of the bullseye to the front edge of the oche. The diagonal should be about 293 cm, or 9 ft 7.5 in.
This is a check, not the primary rule. If the diagonal is wrong, find the cause rather than moving the line blindly. The board height may be off, the board may lean, or the first measurement may have started from the wall.
If the measurements do not agree
If the 237 cm floor measurement and 293 cm diagonal do not agree, work backwards. First check that the bull is still 173 cm from the floor. Then check that the board face is vertical. Finally, check that the oche mark is the front edge, not the back edge of a mat or strip.
Do not solve the problem by moving everything a little. That creates a setup that is neither properly measured nor easy to repeat. Fix the reference point that is wrong. In most home setups, the mistake is measuring from the wall or letting the tape start behind the board face.
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal is too short | Oche too close or bull too low | Recheck board height and board-face start point |
| Diagonal is too long | Oche too far back or bull too high | Measure 237 cm again from the board face |
| Floor line looks crooked | Tape pulled at an angle | Measure straight down the throwing lane |
| Line changes after moving furniture | Temporary marker shifted | Use a clearer mat, tape edge or raised oche |
Reference measurements
| Setup point | Metric | Imperial | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullseye height | 173 cm | 5 ft 8 in | Board mounting |
| Board face to oche | 237 cm | 7 ft 9.25 in | Throwing distance |
| Bull to oche diagonal | 293 cm | 9 ft 7.5 in | Verification check |
Temporary setups
Temporary boards and stands need extra checking because they move. A board stand can be accurate one day and slightly off the next if it is folded, shifted or tightened unevenly.
When using a stand, measure after the board is fully secure. Check that the bull height is still 173 cm and that the stand has not leaned forward. Then measure the oche from the board face as usual.
For a temporary floor marker, avoid tiny dots that disappear under feet. A clear line is better. If the room is shared, use a marker that can be removed cleanly but restored in the same place.
Small rooms and safety clearance
Before marking the line permanently, check the whole throwing area. You need the measured lane, but you also need safe space behind and beside the thrower. A correct oche in a cramped doorway or walkway is still a poor setup.
Make sure nobody has to cross in front of the board while darts are being thrown. Keep fragile items away from the surround area, and avoid placing the oche where a player will be forced to change stance because of furniture.
If the room cannot safely fit the full steel-tip distance, do not pretend the line is regulation. Use the space for casual practice only, or consider a different room, a stand, or a soft-tip setup where appropriate.
Common mistakes
- Measuring from the wall: this ignores the depth of the board and makes the line too close.
- Using the back of a mat: the front edge of the oche is the legal reference.
- Skipping bull height: the diagonal check only works if the board height is right.
- Letting the tape bend: a curved tape gives a false distance.
- Copying soft-tip measurements: soft-tip setups commonly use a longer distance.
Why the front edge matters
A darts line is not a vague zone. The player must stand behind the front edge of the oche. If the mat or tape is wide, that edge should be defined before anyone starts playing.
This matters most in practice. If you sometimes stand behind the back of the tape and sometimes behind the front, your distance changes by the width of the marker. That seems small, but it trains inconsistency into every session.
How accurate does it need to be?
For casual play, a few millimetres will not ruin the evening. For serious practice, be as accurate as you can. The goal is not perfection for its own sake; it is repeatability.
A repeatable setup lets you compare sessions honestly. If your grouping improves, it is because your throw improved, not because the board or line moved. That is especially valuable for beginners building confidence.
When to remeasure
Remeasure after moving the board, changing a cabinet, switching to a stand, replacing a mat, or rotating the room layout. Also remeasure if players keep commenting that the board feels short or long compared with a pub or league board.
Board rotation is different. Rotating the number ring or board to spread wear should not change the bull height or oche distance if the board remains properly seated. Still, it is worth checking that the board has gone back flush and level.
For a home practice space, a monthly check is sensible. It takes less time than one warm-up game and protects the quality of every session. Reliable measurement is not glamorous, but it is one of the easiest ways to stop practice data becoming misleading.
Equipment that helps
A solid dartboard and a stable mounting point make the measurement easier to trust. If you cannot drill into a wall, a dartboard stand can still work well if it is checked regularly.
Use dartboard surrounds for wall protection, especially when beginners are playing. A mat, tape measure or other darts accessory can make the oche clearer and safer.
For the throwing setup, browse darts and dart sets. Good equipment does not replace accurate measurement, but it makes a properly measured board more useful.
Related setup guides
For more detail, read bullseye to throw line distance, dartboard to oche distance, dart throw line distance, how far and high a dartboard should be and what an oche is.
Sources used
- PDC rules of darts.
- Darts Regulation Authority rulebook page.
- Darts501 dartboard setup guide.
- Red Dragon Darts setup information.
- Dimensions.com darts throwing distance reference.
The common measurement mistake
The most common mistake is measuring from the wall instead of the face of the dartboard. The board has depth, and that depth changes the throwing distance if you ignore it. Measure from the board face to the oche, then confirm the diagonal if you want a second check. That prevents a neat-looking setup from being slightly wrong every session.
Bottom line
Measure a darts line by setting the bull at 173 cm, marking the floor below the board face, measuring 237 cm to the front edge of the oche, and checking the bull-to-oche diagonal at about 293 cm.
Visual guide: how to apply this at the board
FAQ
Do you measure a darts line from the wall?
No. Measure from the face of the dartboard, because the board has depth.
How far is the darts line from the board?
For standard steel-tip darts, the line is 237 cm, or 7 ft 9.25 in, from the board face.
What is the diagonal measurement?
The diagonal from bullseye to oche is about 293 cm, or 9 ft 7.5 in.
Where is the legal edge of the oche?
The front edge of the oche is the line the player must stand behind.
