Dart Board Distance – Official Height & Oche Measurements Guide

Getting the dartboard distance right is one of the first things that separates a casual setup from a proper one. The oche, the board height, and the throw line all follow fixed measurements, and the same numbers apply whether someone is practicing at home or stepping up in a tournament.

For steel-tip darts, the throwing line sits 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in) from the face of the board, with the bullseye centered at 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) above the floor. Soft-tip and electronic boards keep the same height but use a slightly longer throw of 2.44 m (8 ft).

Most setup errors trace back to one issue: the reference point. Whether the distance is measured from the wall, from the face of the board, or to the front of the oche changes the result, and that is where the confusion begins.

What Is the Correct Dartboard Distance and Height?

The standard dartboard setup is defined by the bullseye height and the distance from the board face to the oche. Both are fixed, and both apply consistently across steel-tip and soft-tip play, with one key difference in the throwing distance.

Dartboard Distance Quick Reference

• Bullseye height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
• Steel-tip distance: 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in)
• Soft-tip distance: 2.44 m (8 ft)
• Measure from: Face of board to oche

A few key points capture how the standard works in practice:

• The official oche-to-board distance for steel-tip darts is 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in), measured horizontally from the front face of the board.
• The bullseye must be centered at 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) above the floor.
• Electronic and soft-tip dartboards commonly use a longer 2.44 m (8 ft) throw distance.
• There is no official “ladies distance” in WDF or PDC rules; every player throws from the same oche.
• Measure from the face of the dartboard, not the wall behind it, to avoid an off-by-a-few-centimeters error.

How to Measure Dartboard Distance from the Wall

The most common setup error is measuring from the wrong reference point. The official distance runs from the front face of the dartboard to the front edge of the oche, not from the wall behind the board. For a deeper dive into the official numbers, see this dartboard height and distance setup guide.

Do you measure from the wall or the front of the board?

When the board is mounted directly against the wall, the wall-to-oche distance and the board-face-to-oche distance are effectively the same. When a bracket or cabinet holds the board away from the wall, the wall measurement adds the depth of the mount to the throwing distance, which puts the oche too close.

Setup guides from Target Darts and DartShopper both instruct players to measure from the board face. The full set of Dartboard dimensions and measurements follows the same convention.

What is the oche distance?

The oche is the throwing line. For steel-tip darts, it sits 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in) from the face of the board, measured horizontally at floor level. The same figure appears in the official setup guide from Lakeside World Darts.

For soft-tip and electronic boards, the oche distance is 2.44 m (8 ft), while the bullseye height stays at 1.73 m. The diagonal check of approximately 2.93 m from the center of the bullseye to the rear of the oche is a useful backup for steel-tip setups, particularly when the floor is not level.

What Is the Dartboard Distance in the UK?

There is no separate UK measurement. The steel-tip oche sits at 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in) from the face of the board and the bullseye at 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in), exactly as in the rest of the world.

What does the UK standard say about the oche?

UK-based setup guides, including those from Net World Sports and Darts UK, list the oche at 2.37 m for steel-tip and 2.44 m for soft-tip play. The soft-tip figure is also confirmed by Shot Darts.

Do UK guides use metric or imperial?

Most UK guides list both. Steel-tip distances appear as 2.37 m, 237 cm, or 7 ft 9.25 in depending on the source. The bullseye height is typically 1.73 m or 5 ft 8 in, and soft-tip distances are given as 2.44 m or 8 ft.

Is the Dartboard Distance Different for Ladies?

No. The regulation setup does not change for women’s or ladies’ competitions. The bullseye sits at 1.73 m and the steel-tip oche at 2.37 m, regardless of the gender of the players.

The standard is set by the format, not by the players. A steel-tip match uses the steel-tip measurements, and a soft-tip match uses the soft-tip measurements, for both men and women. General guides to dartboard height and distance list the same figures for every player.

How Do You Set Up the Dartboard Distance Correctly?

Setting up a standard steel-tip board takes a few minutes when the measurements are followed in order.

1. Mount the dartboard and mark the bullseye at 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) from the floor.
2. Measure 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in) horizontally from the front face of the board to the floor point where the oche will sit.
3. Place the oche tape along that point, with its front edge exactly on the measured line.
4. Check with a tape measure and a level; optionally confirm the diagonal from the bullseye to the rear of the oche, which should be approximately 2.93 m (9 ft 7.5 in).
5. Re-check the setup periodically, especially if the board is removed or re-mounted.

For soft-tip boards, replace step 2 with a horizontal distance of 2.44 m (8 ft). The diagonal check is most commonly cited for steel-tip setups and is especially useful on uneven floors.

What Is Certain and What Can Change in Dartboard Distance Rules?

Some measurements are fixed for official play, while others depend on the context. Knowing the difference prevents setup mistakes.

Why Does the Standard Dartboard Distance Exist?

Darts is a game of precision, and a fixed setup is what makes scores comparable between venues. Governing bodies standardized the board height and the oche distance so that players face the same challenge at every board they step up to.

Steel-tip and soft-tip darts are governed separately, which explains why the soft-tip throw distance is longer. Electronic boards use 2.44 m, while bristle boards used in steel-tip play follow the 2.37 m standard. This distinction is also noted in most comprehensive dartboard height and distance resources.

Retailer guides simplify these numbers for home players, and most do it accurately. For competition, the current rule book from the relevant governing body remains the authoritative source.

Which Sources Define the Official Dartboard Distance?

The measurements used for dartboard setup come from a combination of official rulebooks and established equipment guides. The World Darts Federation and the Professional Darts Corporation publish the rulebooks referenced for tournament play. Regional bodies such as the American Darts Organization and the Championship Darts Corporation apply the same standards in their events.

“The official dartboard distance is 2.37 meters from the throwline to the dartboard.”

DartShopper

“Hang your Dartboard at a height of 5ft 8in from floor to Bull.”

Red Dragon Darts

“Verify distances against the current WDF or PDC rule book for tournament play.”

WDF / PDC rulebooks

What Is the Dartboard Distance at a Glance?

Steel-tip darts use a 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in) oche distance and a 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) bullseye height. Soft-tip boards use a 2.44 m (8 ft) throw line at the same height. These numbers apply to men’s and women’s play alike, and the same rules are used across the UK and internationally. The Dartboard height and distance setup guide covers the same official figures for quick reference.

What Are the Most Common Dartboard Distance Questions?