How do you measure the oche for darts?

May 24, 202311 min read

To measure the oche for standard steel-tip darts, mark the floor directly below the front face of the dartboard, then measure 2.37m, or 7 ft 9.25 in, from that mark to the front edge of the oche. The bullseye should be 1.73m high, and the diagonal from bull centre to the front edge of the oche should be about 2.93m.

Last reviewed: 23 August 2026. This guide covers standard standing steel-tip darts. Soft-tip boards, wheelchair darts and local league formats can use different setup measurements, so follow the rules for your match or venue.

Oche measuring workflow showing how to mark the board face line measure 2.37m and check the diagonal — The key workflow is simple: mark the board face, measure out, then verify with the diagonal.

The correct way to measure an oche

The oche is measured from the front playing face of the dartboard to the front edge of the throwing line. It is not measured from the wall, the cabinet, the back of a mat or the centre of a raised strip. For standard steel-tip darts, that distance is 2.37m, or 7 ft 9.25 in.

The height matters too. The centre of the bullseye should be 1.73m from the floor. Once height and distance are set, the diagonal from the bull centre to the front edge of the oche should be around 2.93m. That diagonal is a useful final check, especially in home setups.

What you need before measuring

You do not need specialist equipment, but you do need a careful process. Use a tape measure long enough to reach the full distance, a pencil or low-tack floor marker, a straight edge or spirit level to project the board face, and a second person if possible.

If you are setting up a permanent practice area, choose the board position before measuring the oche. Check doorways, windows, furniture, televisions and walkways. A technically correct oche is still a poor setup if people can walk across the throw or if bounce-outs can damage the room.

Step 1: set the board height first

Mount the board so the centre of the bull is 1.73m, or 5 ft 8 in, from the floor. Measure to the bull centre, not the top of the board, number ring, mounting screw or bracket position. The bracket may sit above or below the final bull height depending on the board and mount.

After mounting, rotate the number ring so 20 is at the top. If the board is on a stand, tighten it fully and make sure it is not leaning before you measure the oche. A leaning stand changes both the height and the effective distance.

Step 2: mark the board-face line

This is the step many players skip. Hold a straight edge vertically against the front face of the board and mark the floor directly below it. That floor mark is your zero point for the oche measurement.

Do not use the wall as the zero point. A dartboard has thickness, and a cabinet or bracket can add more depth. If you measure from the wall, the player will usually stand slightly too close. That error can train the wrong sight picture during practice.

Step 3: measure 2.37m to the front edge

From the board-face mark on the floor, measure 2.37m out into the room. In imperial measurement, use 7 ft 9.25 in. Place the front edge of the tape, mat line or raised oche at that point.

The front edge is the edge nearest the board. A player stands behind that edge. If you use a raised oche, the toe can touch the raised strip, but it should not cross the front boundary before the dart is released.

Step 4: confirm the diagonal

Measure from the centre of the bull to the front edge of the oche. The diagonal should be about 2.93m, or 9 ft 7.5 in. If the diagonal is wrong, do not immediately move the oche. First check the bull height, then check that the floor measurement started from the board face.

The diagonal check is especially useful if the floor is uneven, the board is on a stand, or the board sits inside a cabinet. It gives you a second way to confirm the geometry of the setup.

Common measuring mistakes

Measuring from the wall: the board face is the correct starting point.
Measuring to the back of the tape: the front edge nearest the board is the legal line.
Setting the oche before the board height: fix the bull height first.
Trusting a printed mat blindly: mats can move and printed lines can be misread.
Skipping the diagonal: it catches height and distance errors together.
Using steel-tip distance for soft-tip: soft-tip often uses a different distance.

Raised oche, mat or tape?

A raised oche is the clearest option because players can feel the boundary with their front foot. It is best for a dedicated darts area. A mat is practical in a home because it can protect the floor and show the distance clearly. Tape is acceptable for casual setups, but it needs checking because it can peel or move.

Whatever you choose, the measurement is the same for standard steel-tip darts: board face to front edge. If you buy a mat with several printed distances, make sure you use the steel-tip line rather than a soft-tip line.

Cabinets, surrounds and stands

A cabinet does not change the rule, but it makes the board-face mark more important. Open the cabinet, place the board in its playing position and mark the floor below the front face. Do not measure from the cabinet back panel or wall.

A surround protects the wall, but it is not the playing face. A stand is useful when drilling is not possible, but it can move. Recheck the measurement after moving a stand, tightening the height or changing the floor surface.

For a stable home setup, look at dartboards, dartboard surrounds, dartboard stands and darts accessories.

Soft-tip and wheelchair darts

Soft-tip darts often use 2.44m, or 8 ft, but the correct answer depends on the machine, board and league rules. If you play both formats at home, label the lines clearly so players do not practise from the wrong one.

Wheelchair darts can use adjusted board-height rules. If the setup is for adapted play, use the relevant event or governing-body guidance. Do not simply move the oche closer or farther without checking the format.

How to know if your oche has moved

A moved oche usually shows up as a sudden change in feel. The board may look slightly closer, the throw may feel easier than usual, or several players may start grouping differently. In a shared room, mats and tape lines can shift without anyone noticing.

Use a small hidden floor mark at the correct front edge. That lets you reset a mat quickly without leaving a visible mark in the room. If the board, cabinet or stand moves, re-measure from the board face rather than relying on the old floor mark.

Troubleshooting wrong measurements

If the floor distance reads correctly but the diagonal is short, the board may be too low, the line may be too close or the measurement may have started from the wall. Recheck the bull height first, then redo the board-face mark. Only move the oche once those two references are confirmed.

If the diagonal is long, the board may be too high or the oche may be too far away. Do not try to solve that by splitting the difference. A darts setup is based on fixed reference points. Correct the height, correct the board-face line, then confirm the diagonal again.

If two people get different measurements, agree where the front face is before pulling the tape. One person should hold the tape at the board-face floor mark while the other sets the line. Pull the tape straight along the floor rather than at an angle across the room.

Take a photo of the finished mark if the setup is temporary, so it can be restored accurately later.

Measuring in pubs, clubs and shared venues

In a venue, do not assume the oche is right because it looks permanent. Raised oches can be knocked, mats can move and boards can be replaced without the line being rechecked. A quick pre-match check avoids disputes later.

For league play, keep the check calm and factual. Measure bull height, board-face distance and diagonal before warm-up if there is a concern. Once the match starts, players should be focused on darts rather than arguing about tape measures.

Why this matters for practice

Practice only helps if it teaches the right conditions. A short oche can make scoring feel better at home and then worse in a match. A long oche can make you force the throw. Correct measurement gives your eyes, arm and rhythm a consistent target.

Once the oche is right, build practice around repeatable feedback. Read how to practise dart accuracy, how to improve your darts and the basic skills in darts after your setup is confirmed.

Simple home measurement checklist

Use this checklist before the first session and after any room change. Bull centre at 1.73m. Board secure and level. Board-face line marked on the floor. Oche front edge at 2.37m. Diagonal close to 2.93m. Lighting even. Walkway clear. Wall and floor protected.

If any item fails, fix the room before adjusting your throw. It is easier to correct a setup error than to rebuild a technique habit caused by practising from the wrong line.

Visual guide: how to apply this at the board

A practical decision map for applying the measure the oche for darts answer at a real board.

Use this matrix to turn the measure the oche for darts question into the right practice, scoring or setup decision.

Sources used

Use two checks, not one

The safest setup uses a horizontal measurement from the board face and a diagonal confirmation from the bull to the oche. If those two checks disagree, something is wrong with board height, board depth or throw-line placement. This matters because a small setup error repeated every day trains the wrong distance into your throw.

Bottom line

Measure the oche by marking the floor below the dartboard face, then measuring 2.37m to the front edge of the throw line. Set the bull at 1.73m high first, and use the 2.93m diagonal check to confirm the setup.