A regulation dartboard is mounted with the centre of the bullseye 1.73m from the floor. That is 5 feet 8 inches. The measurement is to the bullseye centre after the board is hanging, not to the top of the board, the screw, the cabinet or the wall bracket.
Last reviewed: 24 August 2026. This guide explains the correct dartboard height, how to measure it accurately, how it links to oche distance, and the setup mistakes that make home practice unreliable.
The direct answer
The regulation dartboard height for standard steel-tip darts is 1.73m from the floor to the centre of the bullseye. In imperial measurements, that is 5 feet 8 inches. The throwing distance is measured separately: 2.37m from the face of the board to the oche.
Height and distance work together. A board at the right height but the wrong oche distance is still wrong. A board at the right distance but 20mm too high is also wrong. For useful practice, set both measurements correctly before judging your throw.
Measure to the bull, not the top
The most common mistake is measuring to the top of the board. A standard dartboard is roughly 45cm across, so measuring to the top puts the bull far too low. The correct reference point is always the centre of the bullseye.
This is why you should mark the bull height first, then work out where the mounting bracket or screw needs to sit. Brackets vary. The bullseye height does not.
Measure after the board is seated
A dartboard can sit slightly differently once it is fully seated on the bracket. Do not assume the height is correct just because your screw mark was accurate. Hang the board, let it settle into the bracket, align the 20 at the top, then remeasure from the floor to the bull.
If the board is inside a cabinet, measure to the bull after the cabinet and board are both installed. A cabinet can make the setup look tidy, but it should not hide a bad measurement.
Check the floor surface
Measure from the surface the player actually stands on. If you add a thick mat after mounting the board, the effective height changes slightly. For most casual setups the difference may be small, but if you are trying to create a serious practice area, the floor surface should be final before you mark the board height.
This is especially relevant in garages, sheds and games rooms where the floor may be uneven. Measure from the throw area, not from a random point next to the wall if the levels differ.
How height links to the oche
The oche distance for standard steel-tip darts is 2.37m from the front face of the board. That distance is not measured from the wall. If the board sits proud of the wall, inside a cabinet, or on a backing panel, the board face is the point that matters.
When the height and oche are both correct, the diagonal distance from the bullseye to the front edge of the oche is about 2.93m. This diagonal check is useful because it catches combined height and distance errors quickly.
Why 1.73m matters
The height creates a consistent geometry for the throw. If the board is too high, the player has to throw on a slightly steeper upward line. If it is too low, the release and entry angle can feel easier than it should. Either way, practice becomes less transferable to a proper setup.
Small errors also distort confidence. A player might think doubles are improving when the target is slightly low, or think they are struggling when the board is slightly high. Correct measurement removes that uncertainty.
Metric and imperial measurements
The standard height is usually written as 1.73m or 5 feet 8 inches. Those figures describe the same practical setup. If your tape measure shows centimetres, mark 173cm from the floor. If it shows imperial units, mark 5 feet 8 inches.
Do not round casually when installing a permanent board. A rough “about head height” setup is fine for a temporary party game, but it is not good enough for practice. If you are training averages, doubles, checkouts or league routines, the measurement should be deliberate.
Home setup checklist
- Mark 1.73m from the floor to where the bullseye centre should sit.
- Install the bracket so the hanging board places the bull on that mark.
- Hang the board, align the 20 segment and recheck the bull height.
- Measure 2.37m from the board face to the oche.
- Use the 2.93m diagonal check if you want a final confirmation.
What about soft-tip darts?
Soft-tip darts can use different setup rules depending on board type, venue and competition. Many soft-tip boards are set with a different throwing distance from steel-tip darts. Do not assume the steel-tip oche distance applies automatically.
The safest approach is to check the rules for the board or competition you are using. For the height question in a standard steel-tip home setup, however, the bullseye-centre measurement remains the key figure to understand.
Accessible and junior formats
Some accessible, junior or adapted formats may use different heights or distances to suit the players and event. That does not make those setups wrong; it means they are different formats. The regulation 1.73m height applies to standard adult steel-tip play.
If you are setting up for a club, school, care setting or mixed-ability group, confirm the intended format before drilling permanent holes. Practical accessibility can matter more than copying a professional stage exactly.
Wall mounting versus stands
A wall-mounted board is usually the most stable option if the wall is suitable. Use a quality dartboard, strong fixings and a clear measuring process. Add dartboard surrounds if missed darts may hit the wall.
If wall mounting is not possible, dartboard stands can work well. The same measurement rules apply: set the bull to 1.73m, measure the oche from the board face, and check that the stand has not moved after play.
Cabinets, backing boards and board depth
Cabinets and backing boards do not change the required bull height, but they can change how people make mistakes. A cabinet often makes the board look centred in a frame, so installers sometimes line up the cabinet visually and forget to check the bull. The cabinet can be level while the bull is still wrong.
Backing boards are useful when you want stronger fixings or cleaner wall protection, but they need the same final check. Once the board is attached, measure from the standing floor to the bull, then from the board face to the oche. The final geometry matters more than how neat the mount looks.
Equipment that supports a correct setup
Use a clear throw line, mat or setup aid from darts accessories if you want the oche to stay fixed. Choose comfortable darts or complete dart sets once the board is measured correctly. It makes no sense to judge dart weight or grip from a badly mounted board.
Lighting is also part of setup quality. A correctly mounted board still plays badly if shadows cover the doubles or treble 20. Make the scoring bed easy to read before working on accuracy.
Signs the height may be wrong
Height errors can show up as strange practice patterns. You may feel comfortable at home but cramped in a venue, or your darts may enter the board at a noticeably different angle when you play elsewhere. You might also find that doubles feel oddly easy or oddly difficult compared with a properly measured board.
Those symptoms are not proof on their own. Technique, lighting, nerves and board condition all matter. But if your home setup has never been checked with a tape measure, verify the height before changing darts, grip or throw mechanics. Measurement is the cheapest accuracy fix, and it protects every hour you spend practising.
Common height mistakes
- Measuring to the top: always measure to the bullseye centre.
- Drilling at bull height: the bracket or screw usually sits above or behind the bull centre.
- Ignoring the mat: measure from the standing surface the player will actually use.
- Skipping the recheck: measure again after the board is fully seated.
- Copying a random pub setup: public boards can be wrong too.
When to adjust the height
Adjust the board if the bull is not at 1.73m, if the floor surface has changed, if the cabinet or backing board has moved, or if the board is being transferred to a stand. Recheck after any change to the mounting system.
For a serious practice space, write the correct measurements down and keep a tape measure nearby. It takes less than a minute to check, and it prevents months of practice against a subtly wrong target.
Final verification routine
Run the same quick routine whenever you move the setup. First, check the bull height. Second, check the oche from the board face. Third, check the diagonal from bull to oche. Fourth, throw a normal visit and make sure the board does not move.
This routine is deliberately simple. The goal is not to turn setup into a chore. The goal is to make the board disappear as a variable, so missed doubles and scoring patterns tell you something useful about your throw.
Visual guide: how to apply this at the board
Related reading
For complete setup guidance, read how to mount a dartboard, what size a dartboard is, bullseye to throw-line distance, whether dartboard stands are worth it and what the throwing line is called.
Sources used
- PDC rules of darts for standard darts setup context.
- PDC Europe rules for dartboard height and oche distance.
- Red Dragon darts rules for common darts rules and setup guidance.
- GLD Products hanging guide for practical mounting checks.
- CITS sports dimensions guide for darts for height and distance confirmation.
Bottom line
A regulation dartboard should be mounted so the bullseye centre is 1.73m from the floor. Measure the bull after the board is hanging, then set the oche 2.37m from the board face. Those two checks make the setup fair, repeatable and worth practising on.
If you only check one thing today, check the bull height with the board already seated on its bracket. That single measurement catches most permanent setup errors.
FAQ
How high is a regulation dartboard?
The centre of the bullseye should be 1.73m from the floor, which is 5 feet 8 inches.
Do you measure dartboard height to the top or bullseye?
Measure to the centre of the bullseye. Do not measure to the top of the board or the mounting screw.
Does a dart mat change the height?
It can slightly change the effective standing surface, especially if the mat is thick. For a precise setup, measure from the surface the player stands on.
Is the dartboard height different for soft-tip darts?
Soft-tip formats can vary by board and competition. Check the rules for the format you are playing.
