How to Hang a Dartboard on Different Surfaces
Getting started with darts? You have to consider a few things before hanging it up. The position of your dartboard will affect your aim and throwing motion. You also have to consider the surface of the wall that you’re going to use. In this article, you’ll learn about the dimensions needed for the proper distance of the throw line to the dart board and how to properly mount on specific wall surfaces.Things to Consider
Before you get started, here are a few things you have to consider and measure.Materials Needed
- Tape measure
- Stud finder
- Dartboard and cabinet kit
- Level
- 2 1/2 inch wood screws
- Power drill with long screw tip
- Plumbline or string
- Screwdriver
Height and Distance Regulations
It’s best to consider the measurements stated in the Official Dartboard Regulations when you hang a dartboard.
The official height of a dartboard from the floor to the center of the bullseye is 5 feet 8 inches / 1.73 meters. This is the eye level for people 6 feet tall.
When you hang your dartboard, the distance of the bulls eye from the throwline on the floor will depend on the type of dart you’re going to use.
If you’re playing with soft-tipped darts, your throw line or toe line should be 7 feet 9 1/4 inches / 7.23 meters measured from the face of the board. If you have steel tip darts, increase the distance to 8 feet.
Take note that these measurements do not include the thickness of your dart board. Make sure that you measure directly from the front face of the dartboard.
Dartboard Regulation Measurements:
- Dartboard Diameter – 17 3/4 inches / 451 mm with 20 radial sections
- Center Bull Dartboard Height – 5 feet 8 inches
- Minimum Throwing Distance – 7 feet 9.25 inches (soft tip), 8 feet (steel tip)
- Diagonal Distance from Bullseye to Back of Throw Line – 9 feet 7.5 inches
- Height of Raised Throw Line – 1.5 inches
- Length of Raised Throw Line – 2 feet
- Conversion Factor – 0.3837 inches
Best Location
Pick a location where you have a clear area of 5 feet wide and 11 feet long to hang your dartboard. Make sure that this area is not beside a door, glass, pathway, bathrooms, or other fragile items. Darts can bounce over 8 feet from the bulls eye. It’s best to place your dart board in an open area like a basement, a game room, or your backyard. Pick a place where there’s not a lot of foot traffic happening. The wall area must be a few feet away from windows, electrical boxes, cabinets, or any other furniture potential to damage. Make sure that there is at least 2 feet clearance behind the toe line. The most important thing is to look for enough space so that the dart won’t hit people passing-by or anything fragile.
Floor Protection and Level
You also have to consider the flooring of your chosen area. Your dart can break, and the points can be dulled if you have concrete, stone, or tile floors. You’d also want to avoid having darts on vinyl, linoleum, or wood floors. Darts can bounce from the face of the board and puncture holes on these types of floor surfaces. You can use a carpet strip or dart mat that goes for around 3 feet wide and extending 2 feet 6 inches beyond your throwline to keep your floor or carpeting safe. The floor of the space you’ve chosen should be level. This will improve your stance and prevent any accidents when throwing darts. You can use cardboard pieces or carpet rugs under the dart mat. This will help level your floor space.Wall Protection
Your darts might also end up colliding with your wall. This can damage both soft tip and steel tip darts. Best to cover the wall area surrounding your dart boards with the same dart mat.
How to Hang a Dartboard on a Drywall
If you’re going to hang your dartboard on drywall, the best option is to mount it on a wall stud. The wall stud provides enough support for the weight of your dartboard. Dartboards usually weigh around 10 pounds or more. This can potentially rip mounting screws out of the walls if your board is hung without wall anchors.- Find a stud around the wall you’ve chosen using a stud finder.
- Measure 68 inches up from the floor to the wall where the stud is located. Mark this spot. This where you will put the bottom cup of the mounting bracket.
- Hold the bracket in the marked spot, open side-up. This is so that the dartboard can slide into place.
- Mark pilot holes through the bracket holes with a pencil.
- Remove the bracket and slightly drill pilot holes on the marks. The holes should be slightly narrower than the screws of the bracket set.
- Position the wall bracket for the bracket holes to line up with the holes you made onto the walls.
- Grab the screws included with the mounting hardware. Insert and tighten them on the pilot holes.
Wall Anchors and Toggle Bolts
Can’t use wall brackets? You can opt to use heavy-duty wall anchors or toggle bolts instead. Especially for plaster walls, toggle bolts are needed for enough holding power. The anchors and bolts that you’re going to use should be made to hold stuff heavier than your dartboard. Count the number of holes needed to mount the dartboard bracket. To hang your dartboard, use one anchor or toggle bolt for each screw hole. If you’re hanging a dartboard cabinet, use one anchor near each corner. Dartboard cabinets should already have mounting holes. Drill holes in the wall. Make sure it’s wide enough for the wall anchor or the toggle bolts to fit snugly.Wall Anchors
- If you’re using a wall anchor, push and hammer it into the hole until the screw opening shows. Insert the screws on the holes of the dartboard mounting bracket.
- Tighten the screws into an anchor with a screwdriver.
Toggle Bolts
- If you’re using a toggle bolt, remove the wings first. Push the bolt through the holes on the dartboard mounting bracket and then re-attach the wings.
- Push the wings of the bolt into the wall and tighten it with a screwdriver. Apply pressure for the wings to stick against the backside of the wall.
Mounting a Dartboard on Brick or Concrete
It’s not advisable to directly mount a dartboard on brick or concrete walls, especially for steel-tipped darts. The tip of your darts will be damaged if it strays away from the board and hits a hard, concrete surface. If your only location choice is a brick or block wall, it’s recommended that you mount a sheet of plywood first. The plywood must be several feet taller and wider than the dartboard. Your dartboard should be hung from the center of the plywood. The center hole should be at the proper darting height.- Pick a location to mount your plywood, then use masking tape to plot out the board’s perimeter.
- Drill pilot holes for every foot on all sides of the board. The holes should be drilled into the face of the board and not the edges.
- Hold the board up against the wall, then grab a pencil. Mark the wall through the pilot holes.
- Remove the board and proceed to drill the marked spots. The hole sizes should match with the concrete screws.
- Have the board up against the wall again and insert one concrete screw into each hole. Tighten them with a screwdriver.
How to Hang a Dartboard Without Screws or Nails
If you’re renting an apartment or a condo unit, you might not want to damage your wall to hang your board permanently.
Here are some tools you can resort to:
- 3m Command Hooks
- 3m Double Sided Tape (depending on the weight and size of your dart board)
- Hang your dartboard on a large and thick piece of plywood positioned against the wall.
You can also try asking your landlord first if they can allow you to poke a few holes on the wall for your dartboard.
