Darts is one of the most popular bar games out there. You can literally find a dartboard in essentially every bar in the USA! Many darts enthusiasts purchase their own boards so that they can practice and better their game in the comfort of their own homes! If you are considering a new dartboard, you have come to the right place!
In this article, I will break down 8 of the best dartboards on the market, from high-end professional options to casual budget boards. Let’s get straight to it so that you can start practicing!
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1. Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core (Best Overall Dartboard)
- The Triple Core Carbon features an all-new patented system with a seamless...
- Finished with all-new graphics, and the world’s first laser cut anti-glare...
- Blade’s pioneering web design features the latest ‘Density Control’ wire...
Without a doubt, the best dartboard out there is the Winmau Blade 6. This product has an exclusive endorsement by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). So, if you are looking for a professional-level dartboard with the best possible quality, this is the one! This dartboard is constructed from heavy-duty and dense natural sisal and a steel frame. If you are a serious darts player and are in the market for the perfect dartboard, this is the one for you. A major standout feature of the Winmau Blade 6 is the highly visible sisal. The coloring is clear, bright, and glare-free, which helps to improve your game!
PROS
- Extremely high quality, used by professional dart players
- Made from natural sisal fibers
- Will improve your playing due to high density and easy visibility
CONS
- High price tag. Quality costs.
2. Hey! Play! Tournament Size Dartboard (Best Budget Dartboard)
- QUALITY BUILD – This dartboard is able to fit into most dart cabinets and is...
- MULTIPLE GAMES – All varieties of your favorite bar games are playable on this...
- SCORING ADVANTAGE – This board has a staple-free frame and bull’s eye and...
If you are in the market for a good quality dartboard but simply don’t have the funds to spend over $100 on one, the Hey! Play! Cork Dartboard is the way to go! Cork is a good material, but it is much more affordable than premium natural sisal. This dartboard is no frills, with a very simple design. Hey! Play! focuses on the quality and useability of the board rather than “fancying it up” with premium features. While top-level darts players may want a professional-grade dartboard, this is the best option for beginners on a budget. If you are looking for an affordable addition to your game room or man cave, the Hey! Play! Cork Dartboard is a good choice.
PROS
- Affordable and great value for the price
- Good choice for beginners who are just starting out
CONS
- Cork does not “heal” like sisal, so this may wear out faster than premium options
- Not staple-free, so bounce-outs are more common
3. Barrington Chatham Dartboard (Best Premium Dartboard)
- PRE-ASSEMBLED CABINET DART SET: This wood cabinet is pre-assembled, just mount...
- BRISTLE DARTBOARD: Made of self-healing Sisal, the Bristle dartboard is 18” in...
- CABINET CRAFTSMANSHIP: The cabinet is black velvet cloth lined and made of MDF...
Are you building a premium bar or game room in your home? Then you’ll need a high-caliber, premium dartboard! The Barrington Chatham Dartboard comes with a dense, natural sisal dartboard, a full-fledged wooden cabinet, and premium steel-tipped darts. This is THE option for you if you want an attractive darts setup that will impress your friends and family. The cabinet also comes with dry-erase boards for keeping score. While the Winmau Blade 6 is the top choice for professionals, the Barrington Chatham is best for those constructing a game room or who have a very specific aesthetic in mind.
PROS
- Premium-build all the way around, from the darts to the board to the cabinet
- Relatively affordable when you consider everything that comes with this dartboard
CONS
- The metal wiring may cause bouncebacks
- Very heavy, making it difficult to mount
4. Viper 800 Electronic Dartboard (Best Electronic Dartboard)
- Top Quality Segments - Regulation-Sized 15.5” Electronic Dart Board Target...
- Enhanced Scoring Experience - Ultra-Thin Spider And Extended Catch Ring Make...
- 57 Games For Up To 16 Players - Includes Popular Games Like 01, Cricket, And...
The Viper 800 dartboard is a slightly different option than the others on the list. This electronic dartboard uses plastic, locking darts instead of classic, sharp, steel-tipped options. Don’t let the fact that this isn’t your classic tournament-style dartboard fool you. In fact, this dartboard is regulation size! This is a high-quality product that you will get a ton of use out of. The Viper 800 comes preloaded with 57 different darts games that will automatically track once you start tossing darts at the board. This is the best dartboard for those concerned with safety or if you don’t want to knock holes in your wall accidentally!
PROS
- Over 57 different games that automatically start tracking once you throw a dart into the board
- Regulation-sized dartboard that is perfect for casual practice
- Lightweight and easy to mount
CONS
- As it is made of nylon and doesn’t use steel darts, it doesn’t emulate a standard sisal dartboard
- A premium option that comes at a premium price
5. Cuku Magnetic Dartboard (Best Dartboard For Kids)
- Fun Dartboard Game for Any Age - Containing 13 inch magnetic dartboard, set of...
- Double-sided Target Dartboard - There are two game rules in one board,...
- Safe for Children to Play - The darts are unlike real darts (the tips are...
If you are in the market for a dartboard set for kids, you should look no further than the Cuku Magnetic Dartboard. This product is safe, durable, fun to play with, and extremely affordable. While most magnetic boards have tragically weak magnets, the Cuku surprised me. This is definitely a kid’s toy, but parents will enjoy playing as well! Want to set your little tyke up to be a darts legend? Purchase the Cuku magnet dartboard, and your kid will be able to learn darts without poking their eye out!
PROS
- Very affordable
- Stong magnets that won’t slide
- Perfect for kids under 12 years old
CONS
- Darts may need to be replaced after some use as the magnet will separate from the plastic housing
6. EastPoint Sports Belmont Dartboard Set (Best Value Dartboard)
- OFFICIAL SIZE TOURNAMENT DART BOARD - Whether you're looking to play...
- EASY-ASSEMBLY, STYLISH MOUNT CABINET - Complete with (2) chalk dart scoreboards,...
- SELF-HEALING SISAL FIBER - The Belmont dartboard is made of high-density, sisal...
Sisal boards are the cream of the crop, which usually means they are the most expensive. But there are some excellent sisal dartboards that you won’t have to sell your kidneys for! The EastPoint Belmont comes fully stocked with a high-density natural sisal face, six high-end steel-tipped darts, a wooden cabinet, and even hand chalk! If you are looking for a tournament-sized dartboard for an attractive price, there really isn’t a better option. Unless you are a serious darts player who needs the best possible quality, you may not even notice the difference between the Belmont and high-end options like the Winmau Blade 6.
PROS
- Very good value for the money
- High density, self-healing sisal that is built to last
- Comes with an attractive wooden cabinet
CONS
- The darts that come with the dartboard are not of great quality
- Sisal is not as dense as top, premium options
7. Viper Shot King Dartboard (Best For Casual Players)
- Self-Healing Sisal Fibers - Compressed sisal fibers heal over time, ensuring...
- Circular Spider Wire - Galvanized steel spider wire and staple-free bullseye...
- Regulation Size - 17.75” diameter face so you’ll play on the same size dart...
The Viper Shot King is the best dartboard for beginners or casual players. One of the coolest things about darts is the game’s accessibility and simplicity. While you definitely won’t be hitting 180s right off the bat, it is a relatively easy game to learn, making it a perfect casual bar game. If you are able to find a natural sisal dartboard for cheaper than this, please let us know! While you shouldn’t expect the dartboard to be as dense or heal itself as well as premium options, it is a great start for a beginner player. One downside of the Viper Shot King is that it is a bit difficult to mount due to the weight of the board.
PROS
- Very affordable
- Made of relatively dense natural sisal fibers
- No frills, simple build for casual darts players
CONS
- Not a premium option and will not last as long as high-quality sisal boards
- Thick wires can cause more bounce outs
8. EastPoint Sports Blacklight Dartboard (Best Light-Up Dartboard)
- EPIC GLOW SHOT ACTION - Get ready to amp your game up. The vibrant neon scoring...
- OFFICIAL SIZE TOURNAMENT DART BOARD - Whether you're looking to play...
- EASY-ASSEMBLY, DART SET COMPLETE WITH - (1) Blacklight steel tip dart board, (6)...
The award for the most aesthetically pleasing dartboard easily goes to the EastPoint Sports Blacklight. This board lights up with a black light, causing the numbers, rings, and even the darts to glow! While I find that many light-up dartboards are gimmicky, not actually providing a quality build, this is an exception. The Eastpoint Sports Blacklight definitely comes at a high price, but you get a tournament-ready natural sisal board with one of the coolest looks I’ve seen. This dartboard will transform your home game room into something unique and exciting.
PROS
- Awesome, aesthetically pleasing blacklight dartboard
- Made from quality, self-healing, high density sisal
- Tournament sized
CONS
- Setting up the board can take hours
- The darts that come with the set are not good quality
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A DARTBOARD
So, there you have it, 8 of the absolute best dartboards on the market! But what should you look for when shopping for dartboards? And how do you tell that the dartboard you have purchased is good quality?
MATERIAL
Dartboards can be made from several different materials, from horse hair to plastic. The board’s material is extremely important because it determines the quality and durability and can significantly affect your gameplay. Here are some of the most common materials that dartboards are made of.
SISAL
A natural fiber that comes from a specific agave plant native to Mexico, sisal is the most popular and official dartboard material. Sisal fibers are durable, self-healing, and firm, making this material perfect for dartboards. A sisal dartboard will last longer, as the rubbery fibers can resist the constant bombardment of sharp steel objects penetrating them. Sisal dartboards range in price and quality. While this material is the “cream of the crop,” a medium density sisal dartboard can be inexpensive.
CORK
Cork is sometimes used as a cheaper alternative to sisal in dartboards. The material is less dense and certainly does not “self-heal,” so cork dartboards will unfortunately not last as long. Unless you are on a tight budget, I would highly recommend spending the extra money on a sisal dartboard that will last you longer and ultimately give you more bang for your buck.
PLASTIC
Plastic is only really used in alternative dartboards without steel-tipped darts. You will commonly find plastic used in electronic dartboards with interlocking darts or magnetic boards. If you aren’t worried about having a tournament-ready, regulation dartboard, these are a good and safe option. With that said, any serious player should invest in a traditional sisal dartboard.
DENSITY
As I mentioned above, not all sisal dartboards are created equal, and your dartboard’s density can affect the product’s quality. All professional darts players swear by high-density sisal boards as they heal better and have a firmer grip on the darts, minimizing bounce-outs. Cork boards have a much lower density, meaning the darts will not stick into the fibers as firmly and are more likely to fall out.
ACCESSORIES
It always helps when a dartboard comes with everything you need to play. Buying darts, chalk, and a mounting device separately can be annoying, so having an all-in-one package is a huge help. Many of the dartboards on this list come with most of the accessories you’ll need to get started. That said, the quality of these accessories is also important. A company may build a top-of-the-line dartboard but then skimp on the darts, which can hinder your playing experience.
PRICE
Finally, we need to talk about the price. Of course, the cost of your dartboard is a huge factor to consider. The best dartboard on this list, the Winmau Blade 6, comes at a very high price tag ($140). Obviously, if you are willing to spend the money, you’ll get a dartboard of the absolute highest quality in exchange. But when we balance price and quality, there are also some very good options out there for a much more reasonable price point. For example, I gave The EastPoint Sports Belmont the title of “Best Value” because it only costs $51, is made of dense sisal fibers, and comes with a cabinet, 6 darts, and even chalk!
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