What is best to put behind a dartboard?

Oct 1, 202311 min read

Best thing behind a dartboard featured image with protective surround

The best thing to put behind a dartboard is usually a proper dartboard surround, because it protects the wall around the board without changing the height, distance or scoring surface. For wider protection, use a backing board behind the surround. For shared rooms, use a cabinet. For rented spaces, use a stand.

Last reviewed: 24 August 2026. This guide compares surrounds, cabinets, backing boards and stands so you can protect the wall without making your dartboard setup unsafe, awkward or difficult to score from.

Infographic comparing the best things to put behind a dartboard including surrounds cabinets backing boards and stands — A surround is the best default. Add a backing board only when the missed-dart area is wider than normal.

The direct answer

For most home players, the best thing behind a dartboard is a purpose-made dartboard surround. It fits around the board, absorbs common missed darts, keeps the setup looking tidy and does not force you to mount the board at the wrong height.

If the wall is expensive, freshly plastered, close to furniture or used by beginners, combine a surround with a wider backing board. If the board is in a lounge, office or shared room, a cabinet can be cleaner. If you cannot drill into the wall, a dartboard stand is the better route.

Why a surround is the best default

A surround protects the danger zone that matters most: the area just outside the scoring surface. Most missed darts from a normal throw do not fly metres wide; they land close to the board, especially around doubles and the outside wire. A surround is designed for exactly that pattern.

The main advantage is that it leaves the board itself alone. You still mount the bull at the correct height, keep the throwing distance correct and rotate the board as needed. The protection sits around the board instead of becoming part of the scoring setup.

A good surround also looks intentional. That matters if the board is in a room other people use. A rough sheet of timber may protect the wall, but it can make the setup look temporary. A surround gives protection without making the room feel unfinished.

When a cabinet makes sense

A cabinet is best when the board lives in a shared room and needs to disappear between sessions. It covers the board, frames the setup and often gives you doors that can hold scoreboards or chalk panels. For a dining room, office or games room, that can be more useful than maximum wall coverage.

The limitation is coverage. A cabinet protects the immediate area around the board, but doors and frame edges are not a full missed-dart shield. Beginners can still miss outside the cabinet. If new players or children will throw regularly, use a surround or backing board as well.

When to use a backing board

A backing board makes sense when normal surround coverage is not enough. That includes narrow rooms, very valuable walls, low-confidence beginners, lighter soft-tip style throws, or boards placed near shelving and picture rails. The wider panel catches the misses that a surround might not reach.

The backing board should be flat, secure and large enough to protect the realistic miss pattern. Do not use a loose sheet that can wobble, split or shift when hit. If the panel moves, the dart can bounce unpredictably and the setup starts to feel unsafe.

For a premium setup, mount the backing board cleanly, then mount the dartboard at regulation height on top of it. The bull still needs to sit 5 feet 8 inches from the floor. Do not centre the board visually on a decorative panel if that puts the bull too high or too low.

Rental-friendly options

If you rent and cannot drill, use a stand rather than improvising with weak adhesive hooks. A stand allows you to set the board at the correct height, move it when needed and avoid permanent wall damage. It is usually the most sensible option for flats, student rooms and temporary spaces.

A stand still needs room behind it. Darts can bounce out, fall short or miss wide, so avoid placing it in front of glass, televisions, radiators or anything fragile. If the stand sits near a wall, use a movable mat or freestanding backing panel to protect the area behind it.

What not to use

Do not rely on thin posters, fabric, foam packaging, cardboard or a decorative picture behind the board. These may hide a mark, but they are not proper dart protection. Darts can pass through, tear the material or bounce out at awkward angles.

Also avoid thick soft surfaces that make the dartboard sit proud of the wall in an unstable way. The board should be mounted securely and square. Wall protection should support the setup, not turn the board into a moving target.

Safety and setup

Wall protection is only one part of a safe darts area. You also need a clear throw line, enough room behind the player, no foot traffic through the throwing lane and suitable lighting. A protected wall does not make a cramped or busy room safe.

Use a proper dartboard, mount it securely and check the height before you start thinking about decoration. The standard steel-tip setup uses a bull height of 5 feet 8 inches and a throwing distance of 7 feet 9.25 inches from the face of the board.

Choosing by room type

In a garage or dedicated games room, choose a surround plus backing board if the wall is rough, painted or likely to take heavy beginner use. Practical coverage matters more than furniture-style presentation.

In a lounge or office, a cabinet or clean surround is usually better. It keeps the board visually contained and avoids turning the room into a workshop. If protection still needs to be wider, use a neatly finished backing panel in a dark, non-reflective colour.

In a rented flat, a stand is normally the correct choice. Pair it with a portable mat and keep spare darts accessories nearby so the setup can be packed down properly.

Common mistakes

Putting protection before measurement: the bull height still has to be correct.
Using a board that is too small: narrow protection misses the actual beginner miss pattern.
Mounting into weak material: the dartboard must not wobble or pull away from the wall.
Ignoring bounce-outs: floor and nearby furniture may also need protection.
Choosing bright surfaces: glossy or busy backdrops make the board harder to read.

Best setup for beginners

Beginners should use a surround with either a wider backing board or a stand placed in front of a protected area. Early throws miss high, low and wide more often than experienced players expect. Protect the room generously at first, then refine the setup once the throw becomes repeatable.

Use robust darts or complete dart sets that match the player. Very light darts, damaged flights and loose stems can make misses worse, so the protection plan should include basic equipment checks too.

How big should the protected area be?

There is no single perfect size because it depends on player level and room risk. For competent adults, a surround may be enough. For beginners, children or party use, wider coverage is sensible. The more expensive the wall surface, the more cautious you should be.

Think in zones. The first zone is the board itself. The second is the immediate missed-dart ring, where a surround works well. The third is the wider beginner miss zone, where backing boards or freestanding panels become useful.

Material choices that actually work

The best backing materials are dense enough to stop a dart, stable enough not to flex, and tidy enough to live with. Cork tiles, felt-faced boards, timber panels and purpose-made dart backing systems can all work when they are installed properly. The finish matters because a bright or reflective backing can distract from the scoring surface.

For a home games room, dark cork or felt usually looks cleaner than raw timber. For a garage, durability may matter more than appearance. For a lounge, the backing should feel like part of the room rather than an emergency repair. The aim is not to create a huge billboard behind the board; it is to create a controlled landing area for misses.

Installation details to check

Check the wall before you choose fixings. Brick, plasterboard, timber studs and hollow walls all need different mounting approaches. A heavy cabinet or backing board should be fixed into something that can hold the weight safely. If the board or backing moves when darts land, the installation needs to be improved before anyone keeps playing.

After installation, measure again. The centre bull should still be at the correct height, the board should sit flat, and the oche distance should be measured from the face of the board rather than from the wall or backing panel. Small measurement errors can make practice feel normal at home but wrong when you play elsewhere.

Does wall protection affect scoring?

It should not. If wall protection changes the board angle, bull height, rotation, stability or visibility, the setup is wrong. A good protection system sits behind or around the board while the board remains regulation-ready.

This is why purpose-made products are usually better than improvised layers. They are designed to protect the room while leaving the playing surface readable and stable.

Maintenance after the setup is finished

Wall protection still needs occasional checks. Look for loose fixings, split surfaces, darts sticking too deeply, and marks that show misses are landing outside the protected area. If the same area keeps getting hit, either the setup is too narrow or the player needs a safer practice position.

Rotate the dartboard regularly if the manufacturer allows it and keep the number ring aligned after rotation. A clean board, stable surround and properly measured throw line do more for the quality of practice than a large but poorly installed backing board.

Visual guide: how to apply this at the board

A practical decision map for applying the best to put behind a dartboard answer at a real board.

Use this matrix to turn the best to put behind a dartboard question into the right practice, scoring or setup decision.

Sources used

Winmau dartboard setup instructions for standard height and distance context.
GLD Products dartboard hanging guide for mounting considerations.
PDC Europe rules for standard board setup context.
Red Dragon darts accessories for accessory-category context.
CITS sports dimensions guide for darts for dimensional reference.

Bottom line

Use a surround if you want the best all-round answer. Use a cabinet if the room needs to stay tidy. Use a backing board if the wall needs wider protection. Use a stand if you cannot drill or need a moveable setup.

The right choice protects the room while preserving the game. Measure the board first, keep the throwing lane clear, then choose the protection that matches the wall, the players and the room.