Dart Boards

For some, putting a dart board in their rec room is as simple as running over to the local Walmart and buying the cheapest dart board they can find.

But if you’re one of those people who want to have a quality dart board in your rec room, it’s not that easy. There are several different kinds of dart boards available which makes the choice a little bit difficult. However, educating yourself on the variety of dart boards available will make things considerably easier for you.

Types of Dart Boards

Bristle Dart Board. The most basic kind of dart board is that of the bristle dart board. A typical bristle dart board is 18-inches in diameter and 1.5-inches thick. Bristle dart boards are able to accommodate both steel and soft-tip dart sets. The nice thing about a traditional bristle dart board is that it can be easily moved from wall to wall. The downside is that, being the least expensive, it’s very basic and not a great choice if you’re looking to have a fancier look to your rec room.

Magnetic Dart Board. Also relatively inexpensive and 18-inches in diameter is the magnetic dart board. It’s a dart board that relies on magnets and does not require steel-tip darts, making it a good choice if you have little kids who will be enjoying your rec room. Because it does not use steel-tip darts and doesn’t have the same feel as a traditional dart board, it probably won’t fare well in a rec room that will be mainly used by adults.

Electronic Dart Board. It’s more expensive, but for those who don’t want to keep track of scores, the electronic dart board is a good option. Typical electronic dart boards have a 15 or 16 inch target area, an LCD display and have 20 or more different dart games programmed in.

You can use either steel or soft-tip dart sets with these boards and don’t have to worry about damage to the wall, as the darts usually can’t go through this type of board. For old-fashioned darts players, however, the electronic dart board may be a little too modern, so if you want a traditional dart board, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Dart Board w/Case. Another style of dart board is the dart board inside a case. This type of dart board—which can be found in either traditional or electronic style—comes with an enclosure so that you can close the doors on it when it’s not in use.

Typical dart board cases come with a space to store darts and other accessories. The size of the entire thing is usually 28-30 inches in height, 25 inches wide and 3 inches in depth, while the board itself can be anywhere between 13-18 inches in diameter. This is a great choice if you’d like to tuck the board away when you’re not enjoying a game with friends and family.

Stand-up Dart Board. If you’re skeptical about hanging a dart board on your wall, the stand-up style of dart board might be a great choice. Most stand-up style dart boards come in a cabinet enclosure. Stand-up dart board cabinets are usually 80-90 inches tall, 24-28 inches wide and 12 inches in diameter—the dart boards within are usually the regulation size of 13.5 inches in diameter.

Some stand-up dart board cabinets even come with a pinball parlor within, making the stand-up dart board a great choice for those who like variety and a classy look to their rec room.