It is very easy to get into darts.
But for some inexplicable reason, there is one big problem with darts. A problem that anybody who has ever bought a dartboard has experienced.
Namely – the dartboard needs to be hung somewhere. It needs to be put in such a way so that hopefully nobody throws you out of your home. And I am sure you know exactly what I mean.
Where do you put a dartboard? A dartboard is put on a wall or in a dartboard cabinet. The best places to put your dartboard are areas of your home that provide the needed clearance to play darts. Do not put your dartboard in high-traffic areas of your home or where very little space is available.
With all that being said, below I get into further detail and discussion about the potential places you can put your dartboard, some considerations to keep in mind and some tips to properly hang the board.
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How to Hang a Dartboard
Before starting, you need to find a place where you will have the necessary space to play darts. There are a few measurements that have to be followed when hanging a dartboard, so these may limit your options depending on the size and design of the place where you live.
So let’s take a look.
For a steel tip dartboard, you will have to follow the following measures:
- From the front of the dartboard horizontally to the oche 7′ 9 1/4″ (or 2.37m);
- From the center of the bullseye to the floor 68″ (or 1.73m);
For a soft tip dartboard you will need a little more space:
- From the front of the dartboard horizontally to the oche 8′ (or 2.44m);
- From the center of the bullseye to the floor 68″ (or 1.73m);
So this means that the biggest challenge is going to be the distance from the dartboard. You will need to find a place where you have the minimum required space for the oche plus a little extra clearance for yourself. I would say add at least 3 feet (or about a meter) on top of that. So look for places where there are at least 11 feet of free space.
Height wise, you should not have any problems.
When it comes to the width, things can get tricky only if you are not allowed to hang the board on the wall or the door. You need some clearance on either side of the dartboard. Also you should be careful not to put the dartboard near windows, cabinets, electrical boxes, outlets, and other objects that can get damaged by stray darts.
What Are the Best Places to Put a Dartboard?
There are plenty of rooms and areas of a house (or apartment) where you can put your dartboard and not have to worry about it.
The Garage
I would start with the garage. Garages usually have enough open space where you can place your dartboard and play freely. Also very rarely there is something that you may damage with your darts – no expensive carpets, walls, sidings, panels, etc.
The garage is an uncrowned classic man-cave location, so a dartboard may not look out of place.
The Bedroom
The bedroom may be a good place to place a dartboard and play without really interfering or bothering your family or roommates.
The bedroom offers good levels of privacy. But you need to keep in mind that depending on who else you share your bedroom with, things may get tricky.
Maybe the other person likes to go to bed early or takes an afternoon nap? If that is the case, this may pose some problems and limit your ability to play and practice darts.
And last but not least, many bedrooms may be too small for a proper dartboard setup.
The Living Room
The living room is the place where most people will spend their time and is also the first room you enter from the front door. The living room is the place where people will spend time relaxing and unwinding after work.
What this means is that a living room may or may not be the ideal place to play darts as your friends, relatives, roommates, or family may find it annoying.
With that being said, living rooms usually offer plenty of space to set up and play darts. You can even invite a few of your buddies over if your living room is big enough.
The Basement
The basement is another area of the house that can be used for darts. It can easily be even turned into a man-cave or a game room where you can play other games too.
Basements are usually a good place to play darts as you most likely will not have to worry about damaging the walls, floor, etc.
However, basements may be poorly lit, which could pose some problems.
The Attic
Depending on the type and design of your attic, this area could potentially make for a nice game room where you can practice and play darts.
The only concerns with using the attic for darts are going to be the limited space and the humidity, heat, or cold, which means it is best to use finished attics. If the attic is not finished, you should skip it for now.
Other Areas of the House/Apartment
This would really depend on the type of place you live at. However, different areas might be used to hang a dartboard like the home office, the porch, the dining area, the kitchen, the lounge area, and more.
What Are the Best Ways to Hang a Dartboard?
Now comes the difficult part – actually hanging the dartboard. This is where most dart players stumble upon some difficulties.
Generally speaking, you have two options; to hang the dartboard on the wall (the way it is meant to be hanged) or figure something different if you cannot or should not damage the walls and the interior of your home.
Hanging the Dartboard on a Wall
The standard way to hang a dartboard is by putting it on a wall or a door.
The back of the dartboard has a center screw and several metal plates that are placed around the edge of the board. The purpose of these little brackets is to add friction to the wall and keep it tightly pushed against the wall, so it does not spin when you pull out the darts or stay slanted at an angle.
The other piece that should have come with your dartboard is the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is placed on the wall with the use of two screws.
- On wooden walls you can screw in the mounting bracket directly to the wall;
- On concrete and stone walls, you will have to pre-drill two holes (make sure to mark them correctly before drilling the holes) and use wall plugs.
- On drywall, it is best to find where the wall stud is and mount the dartboard to it as it will provide the necessary stability and strength.
As you can see, this means that you will be damaging your wall. The damage is not significant (two small holes at most), but that may pose some problems for people that are renting the property.
For more hand-on information, check out this quick video:
In this case, you will also need something to protect your wall with. In this case, a dartboard backing or a dartboard cabinet can be some of the best ways to protect your walls.
However, yet again, we stumble upon another problem. A dartboard surround (backing) is easy to fit around the dartboard, but if you choose to use a dartboard cabinet, you may need to drill more holes in your wall.
Hanging the Dartboard Without Damaging the Wall
Hanging your dartboard without drilling any holes in your walls or doors is hard but not impossible.
One of the best and easiest ways to hang a dartboard is to use a dartboard stand. For example, this dartboard stand on Amazon is a cheap and inexpensive way to hang your dartboard and play darts. The neat thing is that you can take the stand with you if you are traveling or you want to play darts in a different room.
Additionally, you can build yourself a nice wooden stand using some 1×4’s and 2×4’s and some plywood. These do not cost that much and can usually be built for no more than $50.
Another way you can go about it is to use a mobile whiteboard. I have looked into these, and it seems that most of them are not the right height, which can lead to the dartboard staying at a slightly slanted angle. Mobile whiteboards are also more expensive and take more space.
Another option is to get a free-standing dartboard cabinet. These cabinets are more expensive but provide the best experience possible. Keep in mind though that these are big and are not exactly mobile, so they are best used for long-term solutions.
You can also put your dartboard on a door by using a portable dartboard hanger. These are usually not very expensive and can be used on different types of doors.
I very neat makeshift way to hang a dartboard without damaging your walls is to put it on a door using a belt. For a detailed explanation of how to do this check this awesome video below:
Do not forget to get yourself a high-quality dartboard surround in order to protect your door from the stray darts.
I have heard of people using command strips (the heavy-duty ones). However, you would need to use multiple strips, and you will need to use them often (granted you rotate your dartboard, as often as you should), and you will always be risking having the dartboard fall and hit the floor.
Where You Should Not Hang a Dartboard
The Nursery
Safety should always be put in the first place; this is why the nursery and any kid’s rooms should be out of the question.
Accidents can happen, and it is better to err on the side of caution.
The Hallway
The hallway is one of these areas of the home that it is hard to say, but I feel like although doable, especially if you live alone, in general, this is a bad spot to place your dartboard.
The area will be limited, and there is not a lot of natural sunlight in most hallways.
And if you live with other people, the hallways are one of these areas of a home that have a high-traffic. There will be an increased chance of accidents, so this area is generally not recommended. Avoid such areas of your home where people may not realize somebody is playing darts and just walk between you and the dartboard.
Dartboard Stands
I am talking about stands that do not provide any kind of protection and backing around the dartboard.
On the market, you will find a variety of different dartboard stands that can be used, and it is true for the most part they work as intended.
But they are not exactly what you call secure dartboard setup.
They may vibrate a little after each dart hit, or if you miss the board, your dart will inevitably land in something that may get damaged.
Fences
Fences can be really bad when it comes to hanging a dartboard. Not only can the fence, depending on its type, warp, and bend under the dartboard’s weight, but it can even start moving ever so slightly after each dart.
This can be very frustrating as you want your dartboard to be secured in one place.
There is one more thing that I am usually worried about with a setup like this.
If you miss with your dart, there is a chance that the dart will fall to the ground. It will depend on where you are playing but this could mean that the dart may dig into the dirt or hit the hard ground tip straight.
This can damage, break, or introduce moisture and dirt that could lead to corrosion of the dart.
Can You Put a Dart Board Outside?
One of the questions I get frequently asked is whether or not a dartboard can be placed outside.
You can put a dartboard outside. In fact, many people play darts outside, as this is a great way to enjoy the game while spending time with your friends and family outdoors. However, make sure not to put the dartboard outside if it is raining or there is a lot of humidity.
If there is a lot of humidity, placing your dartboard outside may be a bad idea.
Usually, dartboards should be kept away from moisture, water, or areas with high humidity.
You do not want your dartboard to stay outside in the rain or the sun. Leaving it outside for prolonged periods of time will wear down the board faster, wash out the colors, and even dry it out.
So although doable depending on where you live, placing your dartboard outside may be a bad idea, especially if you leave your dartboard outside long term.
With that being said, hanging your dartboard outside for a few rounds of darts will not damage it in any way—as long as it is being kept away from moisture and water.
When playing outside, you should be careful not to damage your darts if they fall on the ground, they can easily get broken, damaged, or worn out. Make sure to have a good surround and protection around the dartboard. Ideally, have the ground protected as well to prevent darts damage.
If you are interested in learning more about dartboards that can be used outside, make sure to check out my article on the best outdoor dartboards, which goes over the best dartboards, including some extra tips.