Are your darts ruining your flooring?
Well, it is too late for me to worry about that. But you may still want to save your flooring. And even the best dart players are bound to have the occasional bounce out or the occasional dart that falls from the dartboard. This can be dangerous both to the dart and to your flooring.
However, if you want your flooring to remain nice and beautiful, and most importantly, hole-free, you may want to invest in a dart mat that will protect your flooring.
Here are the best dart mats for floor and dart protection:
Contents
The Best Dart Mats
These are the best dart mats you can currently get for the money:
Winmau Outshot Dart Mat
This is one heavy-duty darts mat that is made to last.
It weighs the impressive 19.84 pounds (or 9 kg).
What this means is that it is not only very thick, but it will also stay in place. A problem that a lot of the other lighter darts mats may have is that they will keep sliding when you walk over them.
It has the two official darts throw lines clearly marked so you will not have to worry about where you should be standing while playing.
It is 9′ 9″ long and 2′ wide.
It can be placed on all floor types, and when you don’t need it, all you have to do is roll it up and get it back in the box.
Overall this is one very tough darts mat that also rocks a pretty nice design. No complaints here.
Click Here to Check the Current Price on Amazon
Shot! Darts Professional Dart Mat
This is one heavy duty darts mat that is made to last.
It weighs the impressive 19.84 pounds or 9 kg.
What this means is that it is not only very thick but it will also stay in place. A problem that a lot of the other lighter darts mats may have is that they will keep sliding when you walk over them.
It has the two official darts throw lines clearly marked so you will not have to worry about where you should be standing while playing.
It is 9′ 9″ long and 2′ wide.
It can be placed on all floor types and when you don’t need it all you have to do is roll it up and get it back in the box.
Overall this is one very tough darts mat that also rocks a pretty nice design. No complaints here.
Click Here to Check the Current Price on Amazon
ZAAP Heavy Duty Throw Line Rubber Dart Mat
The Zaap dart mat has four different oche lines printed on it:
- 7’6″
- 7′ 9 1/4″
- 8’0″
- 8’6″
This is a high-quality rubber mat that has a neat stylish and minimalistic look—nothing too flashy, no big images, or bright colors. It will fit nicely any room or man cave.
The thickness is not the best measuring at about 0.1″ but is able to provide good floor protection.
However, the problem is that as many different rubber mats, there is a big chance it will smell rubber. It is best to leave it to air out for a few days before placing it in the room where you play darts.
The mat will not move or slide (unless placed on a carpet) and is very comfortable to stand on while playing darts.
Overall this is one dart mat that comes at a very fair price.
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Dart World Let’s Play Darts Dart Mat
This dart mat from Dart World can be a neat little addition to your darts set up.
It is made from 3mm thick rubber, which has a durable non-slip grip that will keep it in place.
It has three oche markings:
- 7′ 6″
- 7′ 9 1/4″
- 8′
The dimensions of this rubber mat when open are 9′ 10″ x 24 1/2″. The width is average (it would have been better if it was a tad wider), but it may be a little too long for some people, so keep that in mind.
The mat is thick enough to provide decent floor protection. However, keep in mind that heavier darts may still be able to penetrate it. There are no hard and fast facts here, it will depend on the way they fall and all, but you may need an extra cushioning for heavier than 24 grams steel tip darts.
Since it is made from rubber, you can expect it to have that distinct rubber smell. At first, it can be very overwhelming, but with time it will go away.
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Viper Padded Throw/Toe Line Dart Mat
This dart mat from Viper is one of the best on the market as of today.
It is made from thick (1/4″) vinyl that is both durable and easy to use. It is long enough, and it has a decent width.
The best thing about this dart mat is that it is made from heavy-duty foam that will last you a really long time.
It is relatively thick, which means better floor protection.
It has two oche markings at:
- 8′
- 7′ 9 1/4″
Click Here to Check the Current Price on Amazon
Winmau Xtreme Heavy Duty Dart Mat
So how does the Winmau dart mat compare to the rest of the products in this category?
First, let me point out the elephant in the room—the price.
It is not exactly a cheap darts mat. Quite the opposite, really. However, the reason for this is that it is designed to be a heavy-duty darts mat solution. And it can be used for both home and pub or bar use.
The quality is good. The markings and the printing are not flashy in any way but kept to a minimum and look stylish and appropriate.
The markings are two, one at 7′ 9 1/4″ and another at 8′.
The dart mat is made from 0.20-inch thick rubber that can be rolled up when not in use. The thickness is not the best, but it will provide fairly good protection against the occasional bounce-outs and falling dart.
Since it is rubber, you can expect it to have that distinct rubber smell. However, it should go away after a few days.
Click Here to Check the Current Price on Amazon
Target Darts World Champion Darts Mat
There are three oche markings on the mat, which are clearly printed and marked. The lines are at the standard distances:
- 7′ 6″
- 7′ 9 1/4″
- 8′
This darts mat is not from rubber but from a quality carpet-like fabric. It is easy to roll up and unroll when needed. The design of the mat makes it so that even if left unrolled, it does not take away from your room’s aesthetics.
It is also very lightweight, and the best thing is that you will not have to worry about any odors with this little buddy.
It is a neat darts accessory that can make a game of darts easy and enjoyable.
Click Here to Check the Current Price on Amazon
How to Protect Your Floor From Darts
The best way to protect your floor from darts is to use a good rubber or vinyl mat or a thick carpet. Vinyl is a great and durable material that will provide a good level of protection to your darts and floor. The rubber, on the other hand, is not as thick and has a very distinct smell. A very thick carpet can also protect your floor against darts.
There are also a few nifty DIY alternatives that I will talk a good bit about below.
Usually, you just need something thick enough that it won’t let the darts hit your flooring and heavy enough so that it won’t slide when you walk over it.
You also need to consider the potential damage to the darts, so as much as you need something to protect your floor from darts, you also want to have something that will protect your darts from the floor.
Does the Type of Flooring You Have Matter?
Most often, I see people placing their dartboard in rooms where they have either hardwood floors, tiles, or concrete.
The problem with wooden floors is that they can get easily damaged by steel tip darts.
On the other hand, tiles and concrete may not get easily damaged, but in return, they could break or damage your darts instead.
Good floor protection should keep both your darts and floor safe and sound.
Certain types of darts floor mats will slide and move a lot more when you walk over them, so keep that in mind as well.
What Is the Best Size for a Dart Mat?
The best size for a dart mat will vary greatly. Even smaller dart mats may be more than enough to provide adequate floor protection. However, sometimes darts can bounce out pretty far away.
Below I give you some averages that I have found to be good numbers to aim for.
How Long Is a Dart Mat?
Dart mats come in varying sizes. Usually, a dart mat should be at least 46 inches long for optimal floor protection. A dart mat can also be 93.25 inches or longer if it has to double as an oche or throwing line.
How Wide Is a Dart Mat?
Dart mats do not have to be very wide in order to provide good floor protection. A good dart mat needs to be about 34 inches wide.
How Thick Is a Dart Mat?
The optimal thickness of a dart mat will vary depending on what material it is made of. Harder, wooden dart mats can be less than 0.5 inches while softer, rubber, or vinyl dart mats may need to be between 1 to 1.5 inches in order to offer proper protection.
Can You Make a DIY Dart Mat?
Of course, there are some options for the more DIY inclined dart players. Below I will give you some tips and ideas on how to protect your floor with a DIY dart mat. However, keep in mind that not all of these may be considered pretty looking.
A Hall Runner
A good old hall runner rug may be able to protect your floor just fine. However, you want one that has an anti-slip protection layer underneath as it will prevent the darts from hitting the floor underneath.
An Anti-Fatigue Mat
Placing an anti-fatigue mat underneath the dartboard where the darts are more likely to fall can be a life-savor.
This anti-fatigue mat on Amazon is an excellent example of a quality mat that can be used for dart protection.
One or two of these big and thick fellows can provide all the protection you need. They may not be the cheapest solution, but what I liked about them is the fact that they are large and 1 inch thick.
Bamboo Mat
Another alternative for increased floor protection is using an old chair mat. I have seen people use these, and the results are outstanding.
This chair mat on Amazon is made from bamboo. It will provide perfect floor protection. It is not exactly cheap, but the price is well worth it, especially if you have hardwood flooring.
A cheaper option but not necessarily worse is this bamboo rug carpet on Amazon. It is noticeably cheaper but nonetheless a stunner.
Both of these bamboo mats are pleasant to the eye and will not in any way be an eyesore or remind you of their presence too much.
Another great alternative is the Ikea Kolon floor protection, which is very sturdy and durable.
Puzzle Mat
In a similar fashion and with added versatility in size, you can also use a few puzzle mats.
These puzzle mats on Amazon can do an excellent job of protecting your floor.