Dart Distance: Official Rules, Height & Chart

Anyone who has ever set up a dartboard at home has probably wondered: is there a right distance to stand? There is — and it’s surprisingly precise. The official dart distance for steel tip darts is 2.37 meters (7 ft 9.25 in), a figure that comes from the World Darts Federation rulebook and has been the standard for decades.

Regulation distance (steel tip): 7 ft 9.25 in (2.37 m) ·
Regulation distance (soft tip): 8 ft (2.44 m) ·
Bullseye height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) ·
Measurement from: Oche to front face of dartboard ·
Governing body: World Darts Federation (WDF)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

• Steel tip distance: 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in) from oche to board face (Lakeside World Darts (tournament organizer))
• Soft tip distance: 2.44 m (8 ft) (Dartscorer Club (darts scoring resource))
• Bullseye height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (Dartscorer Club)
• Diagonal bull-to-oche distance: 2.93 m (9 ft 7.5 in) (Net World Sports (sports equipment retailer))

2What’s unclear

• The exact origin of the 7 ft 9.25 in measurement is not documented in surviving records (Red Dragon Darts (darts equipment retailer) notes historical standardization)

3Timeline signal

• Early 20th century: British pub leagues standardize the throwing distance (Lakeside World Darts)
• 1970s: WDF formalizes rules for international competition (Red Dragon Darts)

4What’s next

• New measurement technologies may allow more precise home setup (Dartscorer Club)
• Soft tip distances may shift with electronic board innovations (Dartscorer Club)

Five key measurements, one pattern: every official dimension was chosen to balance fairness, safety, and the physics of dart flight.

Label	Value
Regulation distance (steel tip)	2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in)
Regulation distance (soft tip)	2.44 m (8 ft)
Bullseye height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Measurement from	Oche line to front face of dartboard
Governing body	World Darts Federation (WDF)

The implication: the distance is not arbitrary — it’s the same for all players, ensuring a level playing field at every tournament.

What is the official distance for darts?

The official throwing distance for steel tip darts is 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in), measured from the front edge of the oche to the face of the dartboard, according to the World Darts Federation (WDF) rules. For soft tip (electronic) boards, the distance is 2.44 m (8 ft), as documented by Dartscorer Club.

Steel tip dartboard distance

• Steel tip: 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in) — used in professional tournaments (WDF, PDC)
• Measurement: from the oche line to the front face of the board (Lakeside World Darts)
• The oche itself is a raised strip 38 mm high and 610 mm long under WDF rules (Red Dragon Darts)

The pattern: steel tip is the traditional pub standard, and the WDF rules keep it consistent worldwide.

Soft tip dartboard distance

• Soft tip: 2.44 m (8 ft) — common in electronic dartboards
• Reason: lighter darts travel slightly differently, so the extra distance compensates (Dartscorer Club)
• Some electronic boards also have smaller scoring areas, making the 8 ft distance a practical compromise

The trade-off: soft tip players get a longer throw, but the lighter darts require more precision.

Why is the dart distance 2.37 meters (7 feet 9 1/4 inches)?

The precise number 2.37 m equals 7 ft 9.25 in exactly — though the metric conversion is actually 2.3688 m, as Lakeside World Darts notes. The origin of the fraction is murky, but it stems from early 20th‑century British pub league standardization.

Historical origins of the 2.37 m rule

• Based on the original pub game setup in England, where dartboards were hung on pub walls and the throwing line was marked by a chalk line or a piece of wood (Red Dragon Darts)
• By the 1970s, the WDF codified the distance for international play
• No single document records why 7 ft 9.25 in was chosen — it may have been a practical compromise between board size and room dimensions

The catch: the exact origin remains undocumented, but the number has been locked in for decades.

Why the exact fraction 7 ft 9.25 in?

• The fraction avoids a round number, likely because it was measured in imperial units and later converted to metric
• Lakeside World Darts confirms the metric conversion is 2.3688 m, but the standard is published as 2.37 m
• Some believe the 0.25 in was added to prevent players from crowding the board

What this means: the distance is not a random number — it’s the result of historical practice that has been refined and codified.

How long does a full game of darts take?

A standard leg of 501 darts usually lasts 5–15 minutes for two players, according to common tournament experience. Full matches can range from 30 minutes to 2+ hours, depending on format and skill level. The distance setup does not affect duration directly, but a consistent oche distance ensures fair play.

For professional matches, the pace is faster, but the distance remains the same — the rule is non-negotiable.

What is an illegal throw in darts?

An illegal throw, or “foot fault,” occurs when a player steps over the oche line. The Government of Western Australia (sports dimensions guide) states the oche is the line behind which the player must stand. Both feet must stay behind the line until the darts land — no part of the foot may cross it.

Foot fault rules

• Player must not cross the oche line during the throw
• Both feet must remain behind the line until all three darts are thrown and land (Red Dragon Darts)
• A tape encroachment line may be placed 1.5 m behind the oche (DLGSC WA)

Throwing motion rules

• No throwing in a way that endangers others — darts must be thrown toward the board
• Players cannot use a sling or mechanical aid

The implication: the distance rule is enforced through the oche line, and violations are penalized with a loss of the throw.

Why is 26 called breakfast in darts?

Scoring 26 points with three darts (20, 5, 1) is called “breakfast” in British pub slang. The term likely comes from working‑class pub culture, where a cheap breakfast cost about 26 pence in the early 20th century. The Lakeside World Darts site mentions the slang as part of darts tradition. The distance setup has nothing to do with the term, but it’s a fun piece of darts lore.

What are the official dartboard height and distance rules?

The bullseye height is 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) from the floor to the center of the bullseye, as confirmed by Dartscorer Club. The horizontal distance from the oche to the board face is 2.37 m (237 cm) for steel tip and 2.44 m (244 cm) for soft tip.

Dart board height and distance chart

Four measurements, one reference: here’s a compact spec table for quick setup.

Specification	Steel tip	Soft tip
Throwing distance	2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in)	2.44 m (8 ft)
Bullseye height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Oche height	38 mm (WDF) or 25 mm (WA)	38 mm (WDF) or 25 mm (WA)
Oche length	610 mm (WDF) or 915 mm (WA)	610 mm (WDF) or 915 mm (WA)
Diagonal bull to oche	2.93 m (9 ft 7.5 in)	2.93 m (9 ft 7.5 in)
Board face to oche (horizontal)	2.37 m	2.44 m

The pattern: steel and soft tip share the same bullseye height and oche dimensions, differing only in the throwing distance.

Dart distance in centimeters

• Steel tip: 237 cm from oche to board face (Dartscorer Club)
• Soft tip: 244 cm (Dartscorer Club)
• Bullseye height: 173 cm (Dartscorer Club)

Why this matters: centimeters are the most precise unit for home setup, especially when using a measuring tape.

How to measure the oche distance (step by step)

Setting up the oche correctly is straightforward with a tape measure.

1. Mount the dartboard so the center of the bullseye is exactly 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) from the floor. Use a level to ensure the board is straight.
2. Measure from the front face of the board — not the wall. The face is the playing surface. (Throw For 180 (darts setup guide))
3. Mark the oche line at 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in) for steel tip, or 2.44 m (8 ft) for soft tip, measured horizontally from the board face to the front edge of the oche. (Darts Connect (darts setup resource))
4. Alternatively, use the diagonal method: measure from the bullseye to the oche point at floor level. That distance should be 2.93 m (9 ft 7.5 in). (Net World Sports)
5. Check with a tape measure that the oche line is straight and at least 610 mm (24 in) long. For a raised oche, use a small wooden strip 38 mm high (WDF) or 25 mm (WA).

The trade-off: the diagonal method is useful when floor space is uneven, but the horizontal measurement is the official standard.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear about dart distance

“The throwing line shall be 7 ft 9.25 in from the face of the dartboard.”

— World Darts Federation official rules, as cited by Red Dragon Darts

“The minimum throwing distance is 2.37 m from the rear of the raised oche to the face of the dartboard.”

— Government of Western Australia, Sports Dimensions Guide

For home players and tournament organizers alike, the distance is non-negotiable. The WDF and other governing bodies have locked in the numbers, and the only way to play fair is to measure from the board face — not the wall. For the casual pub player, the 2.37 m standard is what makes the game consistent from one venue to the next. The choice is clear: measure correctly, or risk a foot fault.

Related reading: Stephen Bunting (darts player profile)

Frequently asked questions

How far do you stand from a dartboard?

You stand behind the oche line, which is 2.37 m (7 ft 9.25 in) from the board face for steel tip, or 2.44 m (8 ft) for soft tip.

What is the correct dartboard height?

The bullseye must be 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) from the floor.

Is the dart distance the same for electronic boards?

No — electronic (soft tip) boards use 2.44 m (8 ft) instead of 2.37 m.

Do women have a different distance in darts?

No — the distance is the same for all players regardless of gender.

How do you measure dart distance from the wall?

Measure from the front face of the dartboard, not the wall. The board hangs on the wall, so the distance from the wall is shorter by the board’s depth.

Can I adjust the distance if I am a beginner?

While you can practice from any distance, the official distance is 2.37 m. Use it to build muscle memory for competition.