In darts, 26 points is most commonly the score made by hitting single 20, single 5 and single 1. It is famous because 5 and 1 sit either side of 20, so 26 often means a player aimed at 20 but drifted into both neighbouring segments.
Last reviewed: 24 August 2026. This guide explains the score, the slang, the miss pattern and what beginners can learn from it.
The direct answer
Twenty-six points in darts usually means a visit of single 20, single 5 and single 1. Those three numbers add up to 26, and they sit together around the top of a standard dartboard.
The score is well known because it happens often when players aim at 20. A dart that misses left can land in 5. A dart that misses right can land in 1. Add one single 20 and the visit becomes 26.
Why is 26 called bed and breakfast?
In UK darts slang, 26 is commonly called bed and breakfast. The exact origin is usually treated as pub slang rather than a formal rule, but the phrase is widely recognised because 26 used to be associated with the old price of bed and breakfast in shillings.
You may also hear 26 called chips. Slang varies by region and group, but both phrases usually point to the same score: 20, 5 and 1.
Why 26 happens so often
The 20 segment is at the top of the board. Its neighbours are 5 and 1. If a player's height is close but the throw drifts sideways, the darts can spread across all three segments. That creates the classic 26.
This is why 26 is not only a joke score. It is feedback. The player may be close to the right vertical lane but not controlling horizontal release, shoulder alignment or follow-through consistently enough.
Is 26 a bad score?
It depends on context. For a beginner, 26 can be perfectly normal and even useful feedback. For a stronger player aiming at treble 20, it is usually a poor visit because none of the darts hit the treble.
The score itself is less important than the pattern. Three random misses across the board suggest one kind of problem. A tight 20, 5 and 1 pattern suggests a different problem: the throw is near the target but leaking sideways.
How to fix regular 26s
If you keep scoring 26, do not immediately change darts, stance and grip together. First, watch whether the darts are missing mainly into 5, mainly into 1, or evenly into both. A one-sided miss may need a small alignment adjustment. A two-sided spread may need a steadier release.
A practical fix is to aim at the big single 20, not the treble 20, for a short block of practice. Try to land 15 darts inside the large 20 segment. Once the grouping settles, move the focus back towards the treble.
If the miss is mostly into 5
A regular miss into 5 means the darts are leaking to one side of the 20. For a right-handed player this can come from pulling across the body, opening the wrist late, or standing at an angle that makes the arm travel diagonally. For a left-handed player, the cause may feel different, but the diagnosis is the same: the dart is leaving the intended lane.
Do not make a dramatic correction. Move your attention to a straight follow-through and finish with the hand pointing at the chosen part of the board. Then test over 12 to 15 darts before deciding whether the change helped.
If the miss is mostly into 1
A regular miss into 1 is the mirror problem. The dart is still near the 20 lane, but it is leaking to the other neighbour. Some players correct this by moving their feet, but beginners should first check whether the shoulder, elbow and wrist are staying in line.
If you change your stance, make the change small. A few centimetres can alter the angle enough. Large stance changes often create a new miss pattern before the old one is understood.
What 26 says about your throw
A 26 can mean your height control is better than your line control. The darts are landing near the top number, which is a good sign, but they are not entering the same lane. That can happen when the elbow moves sideways, the wrist opens at release, or the body leans across the throw.
It can also happen when the first dart blocks the treble or changes your sight line. Beginners sometimes over-adjust after the first miss, turning a small error into a spread across 20, 5 and 1.
Practice drill for 20, 5 and 1
Use a simple 30-dart drill. Give yourself 2 points for every dart in single 20, 1 point for every dart in 5 or 1, and 0 for anything else. The goal is not to punish the 5 and 1 immediately. It is to make the pattern visible.
After a week, change the scoring. Give yourself 3 points for single 20, 1 point for 5 or 1, and 0 for anything else. That progression rewards narrowing the group without rushing straight into treble practice.
A pressure version of the drill
Once you can group in the big 20, add pressure. Give yourself ten visits and count how many visits avoid both 5 and 1. A visit of 20, 20 and 20 is a clean success. A visit of 20, 20 and 1 is not. This makes the goal about lane control rather than total score.
For a second version, start each visit by aiming at big 20, then move to treble 20 only if the first dart lands in the 20 segment. That rewards accuracy before ambition. It also stops the common beginner habit of chasing treble 20 before the big single is reliable.
How professionals think about 26
At a high level, repeated 26s are costly because players expect to score heavily on the 20 bed. But even strong players use miss patterns as information. If the darts are drifting into 5, they may adjust stance, sight line or release. If they drift into 1, the correction may be different.
The important lesson for beginners is that better players do not just laugh at the number. They read the miss. That is the difference between a throwaway score and a useful practice clue.
26 in a real leg of 501
In 501, 26 is simply subtracted from the remaining score. If you start on 501 and score 26, you have 475 left. If you are on 200 and score 26, you have 174 left.
The score can matter near the end of a leg because it may leave awkward totals. Beginners should still score it accurately, call it clearly, and then think about the next visit rather than dwelling on the nickname.
Checkout consequences of 26
A 26 can be harmless early in a leg, but it matters more near checkout range. If you have 100 left and score 26, you leave 74. That is playable, but it is not as clean as leaving 80, 64 or 60 for many beginners. If you have 66 left and score 26, you leave 40, which is excellent because it gives tops.
This is why darts scoring is contextual. The same 26 can be disappointing, neutral or useful depending on the remaining score. Stronger players judge the leave, not only the visit total.
Why the nickname matters culturally
Bed and breakfast is part of darts' pub language. It turns a common miss into a shared joke, which is one reason the phrase has lasted. That culture is part of the sport, but the nickname should not distract beginners from the practical lesson.
If someone calls your score bed and breakfast, the useful response is not embarrassment. It is to ask what the darts are telling you. Were they grouped around the 20? Did they spread left and right? Did you rush the second dart after the first miss? That is where improvement starts.
Quick reference for 26
| Question | Answer | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Common combination | 20 + 5 + 1 | Shows a miss around the 20 lane |
| Nickname | Bed and breakfast | Traditional darts slang |
| Practice focus | Big single 20 | Build line control before treble chasing |
Is it your darts or your technique?
If the darts are damaged, badly mismatched or flying unpredictably, equipment can contribute to loose grouping. But if the same 20, 5 and 1 pattern appears repeatedly with different darts, the main issue is usually technique rather than gear.
Check flights and stems first, then keep the setup stable for several sessions. Changing equipment every time you hit 26 makes it harder to learn what your throw is actually doing.
Common beginner mistakes with 26
- Changing equipment immediately: fix the pattern before blaming the darts.
- Aiming only at treble 20: practise the big single 20 to improve line.
- Ignoring direction: note whether misses favour 5 or 1.
- Rushing the next visit: use the score as feedback, then reset.
- Taking the slang too seriously: the nickname is part of darts culture, not a rule.
Equipment that helps
A clear dartboard helps you see whether darts are drifting into 5 or 1. A dartboard surround protects the wall while you tighten grouping, and a dartboard stand can help create a legal setup without permanent mounting.
If your darts feel unstable, compare comfortable darts or beginner-friendly dart sets. Keep darts accessories such as flights and stems fresh, because damaged flights can exaggerate sideways drift.
Visual guide: how to apply this at the board
Related reading
For more scoring help, read how to score darts, what 25 points means, what 50 points means, how to improve your darts and where beginners should aim.
Sources used
- PDC rules of darts.
- PDC Europe rules overview.
- Darts501 dart game rules.
- Dartshopper 501 rules guide.
- Red Dragon darts rules.
Why 26 became memorable
Twenty-six is memorable because it is a common miss pattern around the 20 segment: single 20, single 5 and single 1. It feels worse than a random low score because the player was aiming at the highest scoring area. Understanding that pattern is useful because it points to horizontal error around treble 20 rather than a complete failure of aim.
Bottom line
Twenty-six points in darts is usually 20, 5 and 1. It is famous as bed and breakfast or chips, but it is also useful feedback: your throw is close to the 20 lane, but the line needs tightening.
FAQ
What is 26 called in darts?
It is commonly called bed and breakfast, and sometimes chips.
Why is 26 so common?
Because 5 and 1 sit either side of 20, so missed 20s often create 20 + 5 + 1.
Is 26 always 20, 5 and 1?
No. Any darts adding to 26 score 26, but the famous version is 20, 5 and 1.
How do I stop hitting 26?
Practise grouping in the big single 20 and track whether misses drift more into 5 or 1.
