Traditionally the great game of darts was played at the pub, club or even at work with a dartboard attached to the wall with plenty of space around the board. If you didn’t have a room with enough space to attach a board to a wall then you were out of luck trying to play darts in the comforts of your own home.
In recent years this has changed and dartboard stands have become a popular accessory for people looking to find a place to play darts. Below we go into detail everything you need to know about dartboard stands in our ultimate dartboard stand guide.
What is a dartboard stand?
As the name suggests a dartboard stand is a stand which you attach your dartboard to, allowing you to play a game of darts where using a traditional wall attached dartboard may not be possible.
A dartboard stand can be made of many materials however most dartboard stands are made of metal, though some people do use dartboard stands made of wood however these aren’t as mobile as a metal dartboard stand.
A good dartboard stand is easy to set up, sturdy and even, light to carry and easy to store. A good dartboard stand should also be compatible with all major dartboard manufacturers.
How to set up your dartboard stand
This will depend on the type of dartboard stand you have and the materials that it is made from. If you’ve purchased one of the popular metal (or tubular steel) style dartboard stands that are on the market then it is as simple as following the instructions provided. All modern metal/steel adjustable dartboard stands have an easily lockable option to set the dartboard at your desired correct height.
While most reputable dartboard stands have a lock-in option for the official dartboard height, we do suggest you have a measuring tape handy to check that it is the official height (5 feet 8 inches or 1.73m). We also suggest you’ve got rubber stoppers to make sure your dartboard stand is stable and even.
If your dartboard is made of another material such as wood this may take longer to set up particularly if this stand is DIY.
What is a dartboard stand made of?
Most dartboard stands currently for sale are made of metal or tubular steel which makes for a lightweight stand that is easy to extend or collapse, easy to carry and easy to store.
As mentioned above for the more DIY there are other materials that dartboard stands can be made of, however the more popular material after the tubular steel option is wood. This stand tends to be heavier, less flexible and harder to transport.
If you are looking for a dartboard stand we suggest one that is made of tubular steel.
How heavy are dartboard stands?
Again this depends on the material your dartboard stand is made of; however , most tubular steel dartboard stands are relatively lightweight, weighing about 7kg or 15 pounds and are easy to pack away or transport.
If you have a wooden dartboard stand this is likely to be heavier and harder to pack away or transport and way more likely to weigh more than 7kg/15 pounds.
Are dartboard stands mobile?
Yes. Most dartboard stands sold today are easy to transport and to set up and pack away. Look for a dartboard stand that weighs around 7kg or 15 pounds to enable easier mobility or transportation. Tubular steel dartboard stands are likely to be more mobile than a dartboard stand made of other materials such as wood.
Can you DIY or make your own dart board stand?
If you are handy enough and your budget doesn’t have room to purchase a metal/tubular steel stand by all means create your own dartboard stand. If you need to continually pack this stand away we suggest you make this stand flexible and light enough to carry.
What dartboards can you use on a dartboard stand?
Nearly all modern dartboard stands made of metal/tubular steel are suitable for dartboards of all major manufacturers. Obviously a dartboard manufacturer will recommend their own dartboard stand however you don’t need to match the dartboard manufacturer with the dartboard stand manufacturer.
Can you use a dart board stand for an electronic dartboard?
Soft tip plastic dartboards (electronic dartboards) can have different dimensions and sizes than a traditional steel tip bristle dartboard so they may not fit on a dartboard stand that is made for official size bristle dartboards. Check with the dartboard stand merchant whether the dartboard stand you are looking to purchase is suitable for an electronic dartboard.
Alternatively if you do have an electronic dartboard and can’t find a stand it might be time to invest in a quality bristle board and some steel tip darts.
What are the dimensions for a dart board stand?
There are no official dimensions or measurements for a dartboard stand, the only thing you need it has to do is to be extended to allow your dartboard bullseye set at 5 feet 8 inches (or 1.73m) high
A dartboard stand that is sturdy with at least 3 or 4 legs is what you should in the market for as well as being easy to set up and light to carry.
Can I attach a light to my dartboard stand?
You can invest in a lighting bracket that can be attached to your dartboard stand or alternatively you could invest in a separate light stand that can be set up just to the side of your dartboard. You can get a decent light and stand for around $70 or £55.
Alternatively you can purchase dartboard lights which most of the big darts manufacturers produce such as the Winmau Plasma LED Dartboard Light, Mission Torus LED Dartboard Light Range and the Shot Stadium LED Dartboard Lights.
Using dartboard lights can create an amazing atmosphere and can make any intense home darts contest feel like you are playing in a PDC event and we thoroughly recommend using lights.
Tips to keep a dartboard stand stable
- The first tip we recommend is to purchase a high quality dartboard stand. As with all darts equipment if your budget allows it also invest in high quality products. This extends to dartboard stands. You can have the best darts, dartboard and accessories however if you have a poor dartboard stand this will ruin the game. If you are always thinking about trying to keep the dartboard stand stable this will take away from your darts and ruin the game.
- Always set up your dartboard stand on a solid flat ground or flooring. Concrete, wood (though make sure you have protective mats between the dartboard and oche to catch any rogue darts that ricochet off the board) and flat carpet are the best surfaces to set up your dartboard stand on.
- If you are setting up your dartboard stand outdoors try and find the flattest ground and ground that is sheltered from the elements (ideally the wind and rain).
- Always make sure you use the same brand of rubber stoppers on your dartboard stand. Rubber stoppers are made of different materials and different sizes so stick to the same type and size.
- Be gentle when you are storing and transporting your stand. Whilst the stand is sturdy enough, storing your stand underneath heavy items could bend or warp the stand which will affect the set up of your dartboard and the quality of your darts game. Buy quality equipment and treat this equipment well and it will last a long time.
Tips to look after your dartboard stand
- Firstly, buy a high quality stand if your budget allows it. As mentioned above, well looked after quality equipment will last you a long time, this is no different with your dartboard stand.
- Store and transport your dartboard stand carefully. While most tubular steel stands are sturdy enough they are not made to withstand the rigors or being constantly thrown around or stored under heavy items and will likely buckle or bend.
- Have plenty of the same brand and size rubber stoppers. Whilst the rubber stoppers should last a very long time (and likely won’t need to be replaced) you don’t want to be empty handed in the unlikely event that a stopper needs to be replaced.
- Use an official size high quality dartboard with your stand
- Don’t attach lots of lights or filming equipment to your dartboard stand that may affect the structure of your dartboard stand.
- Clean and maintain your dartboard stand regularly.
Popular dartboard stands for sale
Whilst there are many dartboard stand manufacturers some of the more popular brands of dartboard stands include:
Winmau Xtreme 2 Dartboard Stand
One of the most popular dartboard stands on the market, the Winmau Xtreme is a quality stand that is a solid stand that is light enough to carry and pack away and quick to set up.
This stand is suitable to use with any major regulation size dart board however we recommend the Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core (the PDC official board) to use with this stand.
Mission Darts Rotapro Dartboard Stand
A tripod stand that is made of solid tubular steel, a stand that can be set up in minutes and is easy to carry and store. A worthy dartboard stand to own and is suitable for use with any major official regulation dartboard however as with all these on this list we recommend the Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core to use with this stand.
Formula Sports Dartboard Stand
Coming in at a weight of 5kg, this stand is a solid entry into the dartboard stand market. Formula Sports tend to offer darts products aimed at the lower levels however this stand is reasonably priced quality and suits any official sized regulation dartboard.
Gorilla Arrow Pro Dartboard Stand
A newer entry into the dartboard stand market, the Gorilla Arrow Pro Portable Dartboard stand is a solid enough stand that sets up quickly, collapses and can be packed quickly and does the job.
This stand is light, comes with a carry bag and suits any dartboard of official regulation size. One of the lighter stands on this list at 4kg this stand is worth looking at.
Lean2Pro Portable Dartboard Stand
Lastly, the Lean2Pro Dartboard Stand is a portable stand that only uses one leg on each side (rather than a tripod approach) this is a newer entry to the dartboard market coming in at a lower end price. This stand isn’t the most stable on this list, will take a bit of time to put together and due to the stand set up does need a wall to balance against.
This stand can be used for all official regulation size dart boards and does come with a nice carry case that also stores and carries your dartboard, however we think you should avoid this stand as there are better, more solid options on this list.
What is the best brand of dartboard stand?
While ‘best’ is a subjective term, we will recommend 2 stands (and boards), one that is at the higher end of the market and one that is at a lower price point. If your budget allows we recommend the higher quality (and usually more expensive) equipment, however that’s not to say that you can’t have a great night of darts with your friends if you aren’t using a Winmau or Unicorn board, there is a lot of reasonably price quality darts products on the market and if your budget only stretches to this level, you will have many a great night of darts using these products.
- Winmau Xtreme 2 Dartboard Stand and Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core Dartboard
- Formula Sports Dartboard Stand and Formula Sports Micro Band III Dartboard
With dartboard stands most stands on the market are of a similar quality and are priced at similar prices so the focus (in regards to price/quality) should be on your dartboard.
Best accessories to go with your dartboard stand
To make the dartboard stand set up complete you need to have some accessories to do with your board and stand. Assuming that you have your dartboard (if not as we mentioned above we recommend the Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core) and sets of darts, below are some accessories that should form part of your dartboard and dartboard stand kit.
- Dart Mat
Whilst we would all like to think we throw our darts like Van Gerwin or Snakebite Wright, it’s safe to say that quite a few of our darts do end up on the floor! Now you might save a suitable covering or carpet that can absorb any rogue darts, however if you want to protect your carpet or if you have a wooden or concrete floor you’ll want to invest in a quality protector or darts mat.
The other benefit of using a dart mat is that it also has the official darts measurements printed on it so as long as you line it up correctly with the position of your board, you are ready to go.
We recommend the Shot Darts Professional T Dart Mat Heavy Duty Rubber Mat
If you need more protection then look for additional rubber or protective flooring to use next to your board.
- Darts Scoreboard
You’ve got your dartboard and stand set up and are ready to play, you just need to have your scoreboard set up to track who is winning!
This can be as simple as a blackboard with chalk, a whiteboard or for a more extravagant electronic scoreboard.
An added benefit of using an electronic scoreboard is that they are usually programmed for different types of darts such as cricket, killer or shanghai.
For a chalkboard we recommend the Viper Chalk Scoreboard and for an electronic scoreboard we recommend the Viper Proscore Touchpad Electronic Scorer.
- Dartboard Lights
We touched on dartboard lights earlier in this article however these are an awesome addition to any dartboard and add a lot of excitement and atmosphere to your games of darts.
Whilst you can get external lights and stands for these, the basic dartboard light set we recommend is the Mission Darts Torus 100, while the more advanced dartboard we recommend is the Winmau Plasma LED Dartboard Light System.
- Darts Oche or Throw Line
There are several ways to approach this, the super cheap option, the cheap option or the hi tech option.
For the super cheap option, you can use gaffer tape or painters tape along with a basic measuring tape for the distance however keep in mind that this option can wear quite easily and need to be reapplied and measured again.
The next option is a specially measured darts oche tape such as the Unicorn Oche Mate, which has the exact measurements to set your board up (it uses a unique measure for the diagonal from the Oche to the Bullseye).
Should you purchase a laser oche don’t forget some spare batteries!
- Darts games book
Now that you’ve got everything else set up, you might want to have some options for the types of games you can play. There are plenty of darts books on the market, one option we recommend is 40 Easy Darts Games by Kerry Butters. Alternatively there are plenty of online destinations (including this website) to give you ideas for darts games to play.
Where to buy your dartboard stand?
Whilst we have included links above, there are plenty of providers to purchase your dartboard stand from. In the UK/Europe places such as Darts Warehouse and Darts Corner offer a wide range at competitive prices, in the US you can visit Amazon, A-Z Darts and Dart World while in Australia Avid Darts offers some great darts products as does The Dart Depot in New Zealand.
If you don’t have a wall to attach your dartboard to or you like to have a portable dartboard to play at the houses of friends or family who don’t have a board, a quality dartboard stand (combined with a high quality dartboard) is a great investment.
Hopefully these above tips can help you in your dartboard stand purchase and will provide you, your friends and family countless hours of quality darts fun and competition!