Dart Board Distance: Official Rules for Height & Throw Line Setup

Few things in darts cause as much second-guessing as the distance between you and the board, but that nagging feeling — is the oche really 7 ft 9.25 in from the face of the dartboard? — stays. This guide settles it with official numbers from the Professional Darts Corporation and a walkthrough on getting it right every time.

Bullseye height (floor to center): 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) ·
Throw distance (board face to oche): 7 ft 9.25 in (2.37 m) ·
Oche minimum width: 24 in (61 cm) ·
Board angle: vertical, 0° tilt

The table below summarizes the official dimensions you need to know.

How far do you stand from a dart board?

What is the regulation distance?

• For steel-tip darts, the official throwing distance is 7 ft 9.25 in (2.37 m) measured from the face of the board to the front edge of the oche (PDC, global darts governing body).
• The same distance applies to soft-tip darts under most tournament rules (PDC Europe, European darts authority).
• The diagonal from the center of the bull to the back of the oche at floor level should measure 2.93 m (9 ft 7.375 in) (American Darts Organization).

Why the diagonal matters: it gives you a cross-check. If your tape measure can’t stretch horizontally because furniture is in the way, the diagonal lets you verify the distance from the board itself.

The implication: always use the diagonal check to catch measurement errors.

How to measure the distance correctly

• Use a steel tape measure. Cloth tapes stretch over time and introduce error.
• Measure from the face of the dartboard, not from the wall. If your board sits inside a cabinet, the distance from the wall to the oche will be shorter by the board’s projection depth (Wikipedia, general darts reference).
• Mark the oche at the point where the tape touches the floor, then verify with the diagonal measurement.

Why this matters: A difference of even 1 inch changes the angle of your throw. Tournament players regularly check their setup with a steel tape before every match.

What is the correct height to hang a dartboard?

What is the bullseye height?

The center of the bull (the bullseye) must be 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) from the floor. This measurement is universal across all major governing bodies (PDC Europe, European darts authority; American Darts Organization). The dartboard should be mounted so the 20 sector is at the top, centered vertically above the bull, and the board face itself must be vertical — no tilt allowed.

How to hang a dartboard step by step

1. Measure 1.73 m from the floor up the wall. Mark that point — it’s where the bull will be.
2. Install the mounting bracket or screw at that height, centered horizontally for the board.
3. Hang the board. Rotate it so the 20 is at the top. The board should sit flush against the wall (or cabinet back).
4. From the face of the board, measure horizontally to the oche line (2.37 m). Adjust the oche position as needed.
5. Check the diagonal: from the bull to the back of the oche at floor level should be 2.93 m.

The pattern: Height determines the vertical reference; distance sets the horizontal. Nail the height first, then the throw line.

Why is an oche 2.37 m?

What is the origin of the oche?

“Oche” (pronounced “ock-ee”) is the line you stand behind. The word likely derives from the Old English term for a notch or incision. The distance was originally set by the physical length of pub rooms — the bar counter to the dartboard was often the only available throwing lane.

The British Darts Organisation (BDO) standardized the oche distance at 7 ft 9.25 in in the 1970s (Dr. Patrick Chaplin, darts historian). When the metric system was adopted for international play, the distance became exactly 2.37 m — the precise conversion of 7 ft 9.25 in.

Why was the metric distance adopted?

The World Darts Federation (WDF) officially adopted 2.37 m at a meeting at Wembley in 1977, as confirmed by darts historian Dr. Patrick Chaplin. This made the distance official for all international tournaments under the WDF umbrella.

Why this matters: The metric adoption unified the sport globally. Today, every professional event from the PDC World Championship to local league nights uses the same 2.37 m standard.

The takeaway: the metric standard unified global darts competitions.

Why was the oche length set at 7’ 9 1/4″?

What historical factors determined the distance?

The odd fraction 1/4 inch comes from the days when darts was played in English pubs. The distance between the dartboard (often hung on a wall) and the back of the bar counter was commonly about 7 ft 9 in. Over time, players and pub owners adjusted until the National Darts Association (NDA) and later the BDO locked in 7 ft 9.25 in as the official distance.

Dr. Patrick Chaplin notes that “the distance of 7 ft 9.25 in was a compromise between various traditional measurements used in different regions” (Dr. Patrick Chaplin, darts historian).

Why is the distance not a whole number?

Because it’s a conversion from imperial inches to metric and because the original measurement was itself a precise pub dimension — not a round number. The WDF’s 2.37 m is the exact metric translation of 7 ft 9.25 in.

The lesson: the precise fraction is a product of practical history, not arbitrary precision.

How do you measure dart board distance?

What tools are needed?

• Steel tape measure (at least 3 m long)
• Level (to ensure the board is vertical)
• Pencil or masking tape to mark the oche line
• Optional: a plumb line or laser level for vertical alignment

How to measure from the wall?

Many home setups mount the board on a wall. But the official distance is measured from the face of the board, not the wall. If your board projects outward (e.g., in a cabinet), you need to subtract that projection depth from the wall-to-oche distance.

“If the board projects outward from the wall, the oche must be moved back appropriately to maintain the required distance.”

Wikipedia, general darts reference

Example: If your board’s face is 4 in from the wall, measure 7 ft 9.25 in from the face — meaning the wall-to-oche distance would be 7 ft 5.25 in.

The key: measure from the board face, not the wall.

What the rules say: confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

The upshot: the rules provide a clear standard, but leave room for historical curiosity.

Perspectives from darts experts

“The distance of 7 ft 9.25 in was a compromise between various traditional measurements used in different regions.”

Dr. Patrick Chaplin, darts historian (source)

“The distance between the front of the dartboard and the throw line shall be 7 feet 9.25 inches.”

PDC Rules, governing body of professional darts

Getting the distance right isn’t just about following rules — it’s about building muscle memory that transfers to any board. For any home player aiming to practice under tournament conditions, the choice is clear: measure from the face of the board, use a steel tape, and double-check with the diagonal. Anything less, and you’re practicing at a different game.

For a comprehensive guide to official height and throwing line setup, including steel-tip and soft-tip regulations, see our detailed breakdown of the official rules.

Frequently asked questions