A dart board is the centerpiece of a game room corner. Steel tip boards use a bristle sisal surface and metal-tipped darts. Soft tip electronic boards use plastic-tipped darts and an automatic scoreboard. Many sets add a cabinet that closes over the board when it is not in use.
The six boards below include two steel tip bristle boards, two steel tip cabinet sets and two electronic soft tip sets. Sizes, materials and contents come from each listing page. We have not used these boards ourselves. Tournament and quality claims are the makers’ own, and some listings contain numbers that disagree.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Board type | Steel tip bristle or electronic soft tip use different darts |
| Size | Regulation faces are about 18 inches across |
| Cabinet | Doors protect the wall and hold darts and scoring |
| Included items | Darts, mounting hardware and a throw line vary |
| Power | Electronic boards need batteries or an adapter |
Specs at a Glance
| Dart board | Size and weight | Type and surface | Included and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WINMAU Blade 6 | 19 x 2 in; 10.5 lb | Steel tip; self-healing sisal | Rota-Lock leveling system; laser-cut number ring; board only |
| Viper Shot King | 17.75 in face; 9.1 lb | Steel tip; compressed sisal | 2 sets of 3 darts; throw line; measuring tape; mounting hardware |
| EastPoint Belmont | 39 x 21.65 in; 23 lb | Steel tip; 18 in sisal board | Cabinet; 6 darts; 2 chalk scoreboards; 90 day warranty |
| Amazon Basics cabinet | 21.75 x 19.75 in; 9.44 kg | Steel tip; 18 in sisal board | Cabinet; 6 darts; chalk and eraser; mounting hardware |
| Franklin Sports electronic | 15.2 x 16.6 in; 2 lb | Soft tip; electronic scoring | Cabinet; 6 soft tip darts and spare tips; 3 AAA batteries (not included) |
| Arachnid Cricket Maxx 4.0 | 23 x 27 in; 10.9 lb | Soft tip; 13.5 in target | Cabinet; 37 games; up to 8 players; solo play; 30 day warranty |
The 6 Best Dart Boards
1. WINMAU Blade 6 Single Core Dartboard
A bristle sisal board, listed at 19 by 2 inches and 10.5 pounds, with ultra-thin wiring, a laser-cut number ring that can be turned to spread wear and a Rota-Lock leveling system. The maker describes it as built to tournament specification. This listing covers several versions of the board, so confirm that Blade 6 Single Core is selected.
Suits: a board-only purchase. Strengths: thin wiring and a leveling system. Weaknesses: no darts or cabinet. Skip it if you want a ready-to-play set.
View WINMAU Blade 6 Single Core Bristle Dartboard Tournament Specification on Amazon
2. Viper Shot King Sisal Dart Board Set
A steel tip sisal board with a 17.75 inch face, a galvanized steel spider, a staple-free bullseye and a rotating number ring. The box includes two sets of three darts, mounting hardware, a throw line and a measuring tape. The warranty is 30 days.
Suits: a complete set in one box. Strengths: darts and a throw line included. Weaknesses: no cabinet. Skip it if you want doors for the wall.
View Viper by GLD Products Shot King Sisal Bristle Dart Board Set 6 Darts on Amazon
3. EastPoint Belmont Dart Board Cabinet
A black cabinet about 39 by 21.65 inches that holds an 18 inch bristle sisal board with a steel spider and a staple-free bullseye. It includes six steel tip darts, two chalk scoreboards and built-in dart holders, and it weighs 23 pounds. The warranty is 90 days.
Suits: a wall-protecting cabinet. Strengths: scoreboards and dart holders. Weaknesses: the heaviest steel tip set here. Skip it if you want a lighter board.
View EastPoint Belmont Dart Board Cabinet 6 Steel Tip Darts Game Room Decor on Amazon
4. Amazon Basics Dartboard Cabinet Set
An 18 inch regulation-size sisal board with a steel spider frame inside a black cabinet of about 21.75 by 19.75 inches. The set includes six steel tip darts, chalk, an eraser, built-in dart holders, a chalk scoreboard and wall-mounting hardware.
Suits: a compact cabinet with a scoreboard. Strengths: a smaller cabinet and mounting hardware. Weaknesses: mixed MDF and board materials. Skip it if you want a wider cabinet.
View Amazon Basics Dartboard Cabinet Set 18 Inch Regulation Size with 6 Steel Tip Darts on Amazon
5. Franklin Sports Electronic Dart Board Set With Cabinet
A soft tip electronic board, listed at 15.2 by 16.6 inches and 2 pounds, with a digital scoreboard, voice and sound effects, a storage cabinet, six soft tip darts and six spare tips. It runs on three AAA batteries that are not included. The game count disagrees: the title says 28 games and 100 variations, and a bullet says 65 variations.
Suits: automatic scoring in a small footprint. Strengths: a cabinet and spare tips. Weaknesses: the game counts disagree. Skip it if you want steel tip darts.
View Franklin Sports Electronic Dart Board Set with Cabinet Soft Tip 6 Darts on Amazon
6. Arachnid Cricket Maxx 4.0 Electronic Dartboard Set
A soft tip electronic cabinet set, 23 by 27 inches and 10.9 pounds, with a 13.5 inch target, 37 games, four LED score displays for up to eight players and solo play against the computer at five levels. The variation count shows as 217 in the title and 315 in a bullet. The warranty is 30 days.
Suits: multi-player scoring displays. Strengths: up to eight players and solo play. Weaknesses: a smaller target and conflicting variation counts. Skip it if you want a regulation-size face.
View Arachnid Cricket Maxx 4.0 Electronic Dartboard Set on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Mount into a stud or use proper wall anchors, as the maker directs.
- Keep clear space around the board and a marked throw line.
- Turn the number ring now and then to spread wear on bristle boards.
- Use the right dart type: steel tips for sisal, soft tips for electronic.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Using steel tip darts on an electronic board.
- Hanging a board with no wall protection nearby.
- Assuming a board-only listing includes darts.
- Ignoring listing details that disagree.
Dart Board FAQ
What is the difference between steel tip and soft tip?
Steel tip darts go with bristle sisal boards. Soft tip darts go with electronic boards that have holes for the plastic tips.
Do I need a cabinet?
No. A cabinet protects the wall and stores darts, but a board alone also works.
The Short Version
For a board only, the WINMAU Blade 6. For a complete set without a cabinet, the Viper Shot King. For a cabinet with scoreboards, the EastPoint Belmont. For a compact cabinet, the Amazon Basics. For small electronic scoring, the Franklin Sports. For many players and games, the Arachnid Cricket Maxx 4.0.
