Where and How To Hang Your Dartboard – Don’t Do This!

Darts is a very popular game. Although it’s not yet included in the Olympics, the popularity has reached to a point that a world championship is held yearly. You don’t even need to be a professional to play darts, and with just a dartboard and darts, you’re good to play even indoors.

However, a dart is a sharp object which is meant to be skillfully thrown. So this begs the question: where and how do you hang your dartboard? Generally, dartboards must be hung on a place that’s safe to play and won’t cause unnecessary harm or damage. To hang a dartboard, all you need is a secured hook to keep it pinned on a wall.

How Dangerous Can Darts Be? Picking your hanging position

One of the reasons why playing darts can be hazardous is because of the sharp point at the end of the dart. The sturdier the darts are, the more dangerous they can be on anyone or anything standing in their way.

Darts are usually made from metals with the cheapest darts typically being made form brass. Another type of dart which is made from nickel and silver is considered more durable and more catered to the experienced. For the professional level, tungsten darts are mostly used due to their extreme density compared to the other types of darts.

Depending on what dart you use, the hazard of the playing field can increase.

Gameplay

Another thing that makes darts dangerous is how it is being played. Yes, it can be considered a glorified bar-room game, but if played recklessly, one wrong throw and you can hurt someone or even destroy walls and furniture. If you’re a beginner, the dartboard has to be situated in a place where there is an allowance for these (often common!) misplaced throws.

If you are experienced enough, or have suitable protection in place you may have the dartboard installed indoors. This can also give you an advantage for additional practice time.

Where Can a Dartboard Be Hung?

Allowed Locations

Dartboards have to be hung in a location where you consider it safe to play darts. If you have a backyard, you can pin the dartboard onto the walls. The sturdier the boundary wall is, the lesser chances the dart can penetrate if it missed the target. Remember to check that you won’t be accidentally throwing the dart over the fence into a neighbors garden!

Dartboards get hit all the time, so having a solid object, such as a wall, behind is highly recommended. If you hang it on drywall, which is hollow, chances are your dartboard will break up the drywall over time. I would therefore recommend trying to find a stud in the wall for maximum strength. If you decide to go outside a tree if often a good spot for a dartboard, just make sure you pick a mature tree which can take the board weight.

Not Allowed Locations

Having a dartboard installed indoors can be tempting, but safety must be exercised. Do not hang dartboards on locations where people will be passing by regularly such as doors and hallways. Do not also attach them near windows or any pathway towards another room. Otherwise someone living in your house might be in for a nasty surprise when they walk around the corner!

Another big no-no, is installing dartboards near appliances and fragile items. You don’t want any property damage due to the occasional stray throw.

Another logical thing to assume is that it’s generally bad hanging your board where there is something behind. For example, if you wish to put a dartboard on a tree outside and behind it is a pool, you’re asking for a disaster at some point.

How to Hang the Dartboard?

Dimensions

If you buy a standard dartboard, you usually get the circular board only. When you are about to hang it, you need to position it according to the standard regulations. The dimensions are the following:

  • A dartboard usually has a diameter of 18 inches. For safety, make sure no one can be harmed or nothing can be damaged measuring 2 to 3 feet from both sides, starting from the tip of the dartboard.
  • The suggested space for playing is 11 feet (the firing range) and 5 feet wide (or 2 and a half feet from both sides of the centerline of sight). Within that area, it is considered a hazard zone since the darts can bounce off up to 8 feet in the air, depending on how dense the material is.
  • The height of the dartboard has to be 5 feet and 8 inches tall. For the vertical clearance, exercise also the 2 to 3 feet distance. This means that if you are playing indoors, make sure the height from floor to ceiling is about 9 feet, due to 5’8’’ (height of the dartboard) + 3 feet (safe distance).

Materials Used

You can use adhesives for your dartboard, but usually, it has a slightly protruding hole so that a hook, nail, or wire can be inserted. Whatever the requirements needed for it to be hung, make sure that the surface is durable enough to take the weight of the dartboard and the projected force of the thrown darts.

Other things that add protection to the playing area are:

  • Dartboard Surround to protect the walls from stray darts
  • T-Shaped Dart Mat to protect the floor from falling darts that missed the marks

Wrap up

Darts can be dangerous if you play irresponsibly. It’s important to position the board somewhere no harm or damage can be inflicted on your family, or furniture. Darts is a great, fun game to play any time, just make sure your board is somewhere safe and well lit and you’ll be hitting triple 20’s in no time!