Steel, Electronic, or Online? Boards Compared
Steel thudding into sisal, two feet from a plastic board that beeps every score. It's the same game, but the board you hang changes how you play, what darts you throw, and what it all costs.
There are three main types of dartboard: steel-tip bristle, electronic, and online. Here's how they differ, and how to pick the one that fits you.
1. Steel-Tip Bristle Dartboards
Professionals almost always throw steel-tip darts, and those need a bristle board. The best boards are packed with dense sisal fiber, which lets the point embed instead of bouncing off.
Dense sisal also means durability. You're stabbing steel into the surface thousands of times, so a board that self-heals and hides damage will outlast anything electronic.
That longevity comes at a price. The denser the sisal, the more the board costs, and quality steel-tip dartboards usually run higher than their electronic cousins.
Bristle boards also carry a "spider" — the metal wire web that divides the scoring segments. Electronic and online boards don't always use metal wires, which changes how bounce-outs behave.
One warning: soft-tip plastic darts don't embed well in bristle. If you own soft tips, save them for an electronic board.
Revealing the Difference Between a Retro Dart Board and a Modern One (Video)
2. Electronic Dartboards
An electronic dartboard has become the go-to for casual players because it takes the math out of the game. Sensors under the surface register every hit the moment a dart lands.
That solves the bounce-out argument, too. Even if a soft-tip dart falls off, the board already knows where it struck — something a bristle board can never tell you.
Most electronic boards keep score automatically. Pricier models track teams, tally who's leading, and announce whose turn it is, so nobody's stuck holding the chalk.
The trade-off is durability. Delicate sensors sit right under the surface, so a hard hit can damage them — and steel-tip darts are off-limits for exactly that reason.
They also need power. Between the outlet or batteries, you can't just hang one anywhere and start throwing.
Electronic boards suit beginners, kids, and casual players well. Soft-tip setups also tend to cost less overall than a bristle board with quality steel-tip darts.
3. Online Dartboards
An online dartboard is essentially an electronic board with a connection. Through Bluetooth, an app, or built-in software, it links you with players anywhere in the world.
When you hit the board, your opponent sees where you landed and what you scored. When they throw, their score shows up on your end the same way.
Beyond the connectivity, it behaves like any electronic board: soft-tip darts only, sensors that wear over time, and a power source required. You'll also need Wi-Fi or Bluetooth coverage wherever you hang it.
Online boards do bring some flash. Many online dartboards ship with LED lighting that glows well beyond the traditional red, green, and white.
Which Dartboard Should You Choose?
If you're chasing serious or professional play, go bristle with steel tips. It's the tournament standard, and it'll take years of punishment.
- Regulation compressed sisal surface heals around steel tips for a long playing life
- Rotating number ring spreads out wear to extend the board's lifespan
- Includes six steel tip darts so you can start playing right out of the box
If you're a casual player or have kids at home, an electronic board keeps things easy and safe. If your regular opponents live far away, an online board turns distance into a non-issue.
Weigh durability, bounce-outs, and whether you play in person or across the internet — then buy once, correctly.
How to Select Your Dart Board (Video)
Hang whichever board you choose at 5 feet 8 inches to the bullseye, and throw your first leg tonight.