The Top Outdoor Dartboards
#1. IgnatGames Professional Dartboard Kit
#2. SPRAWL Dartboard Game Set
#3. ATDAWN Indoor Outdoor Dart Board Set
#4. TrueBorn Magnetic Dart Board and Hookey Games Set
#5. Accudart 2-in-1 Starlite Paper Dartboard
How to Choose an Outdoor Dartboard: A Buying Guide
Darts as a sport is gaining popularity, and it is an excellent way to relieve stress. The best part is, it can be played indoors as well as outdoors. It is not a complicated sport and requires only a set of darts and a dartboard.
This is why darts is found in so many cafes and pubs, as well as home game rooms. Some offices even have a dartboard set up, to ensure that the employees can sometimes relax by playing a competitive a friendly game of darts.
According to your choice, you can go for either and outdoor or indoor dartboard. The available options include bristle dartboards, magnetic dartboards, electronic dartboards, among others.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying A Dartboard
Here are a few aspects of buying and owning a dartboard that you want to keep in mind before you commit to buying one:
- Size – As per the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA), a regular dartboard should measure 451 mm in diameter. However, often times an electronic dartboard is 393 diameters, and a standard bristle dartboard is typically 444mm in diameter.
- Durability – Bristle dartboards are the most durable ones, but with proper care and maintenance, any quality dartboard could last for a long time.
- Material – This depends on the dart tip, whether it is a magnetic tip, soft tip, or steel tip. The most common material used is sisal fibre, which is found in bristle dartboards. Other materials include cork, plastic wood, etc. Electronic dartboards are made of metal, plastic, or rubber.
- Depth – For a bristle board, a depth of 1.5inches is enough. In the case of magnetic and electronic dartboards, the darts stick on the surface, so you don’t have to worry about depth.
Why Get an Outdoor Dartboard?
This game may involve around eight players, and when played outdoors it would keep the walls inside your house safe from puncture wounds. Moreover, playing it indoors increases the chances of accidents, which can be avoided outdoors.
Often the exact distance between the dartboard and all of the players cannot be maintained in the confined spaces indoors. Thus, playing it outside enables mounting it at the right height and keeping it at a safe distance from all participants.
We hope this article will help you make the right decision to choose the best outdoor dartboard that you can use to play with family and friends.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Setting up the Dartboard Outdoor
Keeping the Dartboard Dry
Water or any other liquid should be kept away from the surface of the dartboard. The sisal fibers that are tightly packed on the surface should never ever get wet. Similarly, the dartboard should neither be mounted outdoors in a damp spot nor exposed to moist areas.
Hence, after playing darts outdoors, the dartboard must not be left outside, exposed to the moisture or rain; instead, it should be stored in a dry place like a shed or basement.
Ideally, while using a bristle dartboard, a location is selected to protect the board from the elements even when it’s being used for play.
If it is to be placed outdoors, it should be maintained well. So ideally, try to place the dartboard under a shade. A bracket can be installed to hang the dartboard for playing and then remove it after the match. In this way, the board can be kept safe and brought outdoors only in dry conditions.
Avoiding Direct Exposure to Sunlight
Sunlight affects the bristle boards by fading them and even damages the sisal fibers. Hence, the dartboard should not be mounted in such a place where it is exposed to direct sunlight, even for a short period of time.
Too much exposure to bright light, whether it be artificial light or sunlight, can negatively impact the integrity of the fibers.
Safe and Child Friendly
The dartboard should be mounted up against an outdoor wall so that the thrown darts do not jeopardize anyone’s safety. Moreover, nobody should stand or sit near the dart-throwing area, for their safety. Keeping in mind the safety of the children, sharp-pointed darts should be avoided.
Instead, magnetic dartboards or electronic dartboards can be used, which would do more to ensure safety. In this way, unwanted accidents can be avoided. If children play with sharp-pointed darts, it should be done under the care of a parent or guardian.
Accessories
The dartboards come with some accessories, including the darts, the rubber caps for the darts’ safe storage, the tripods for mounting it, brackets for mounting it outdoors, cabinets, a guide book for beginners, and even some other game books as well.
Different Dartboard Materials in Outdoor Use
Bristle Dartboards
Bristle dartboards are the most common ones and are excellent for professional matches. These dartboards are best known for their durability. Good quality boards can survive for 2 or 3 years. These are made of sisal fibers attached to a board, and around the edges they have a thin metal band, and they’re not expensive for the amount of use you can get from them.
Look for thin wiring in these boards, as that prevents the darts from bouncing out. The self-healing nature of the board is due to the sisal fibers, which close over a hole as the dart is pulled out.
Electronic Dartboards
The use of these started in the United States of America in 1977. Currently, these are gaining popularity and are even being used for professional matches. They are easy to handle, and the set comes with soft-tipped darts. They have many holes on the surface that the darts get lodged in.
When the dart lands on the surface of the electronic device, it records the score for you. It also has many different game options to choose from, and teaches you how to play each one. Yet, these are more expensive, and their repair costs are high as well.
Magnetic Dartboards
These dartboards are safe for children, and so are generally used for casual matches at home or parties. The darts are flat-tipped and get stuck on the magnetic board surface. These are safe to handle as they do not have any sharp tips, and are easy to carry. But the boards are not very durable, and after a year or two the board’s magnetic properties wear off.
Wooden Dartboards
These boards are typically made from elm, and they were the most popular boards used before bristle dartboards and electronic ones were created. It is difficult to maintain these – the wood starts cracking and it must be kept moisturized in order to not completely fall apart.
Wooden dartboards have an odor that develops after using them for a while, and they don’t close their holes so darts leave a hole mark on the board, and so it is not all that long lasting.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Mounting the Outdoor Dartboard
- It could be mounted on a wall of the barn or a shed.
- A dart cabinet of hardwood should be used, to catch stray shots.
- It can be mounted onto a post, or a bracket can be installed in order to mount it up on a tree.
How to Mount a Dartboard Outdoors?
Take these steps to ensure it is mounted properly:
- Evaluate the spot
- Mark the distance to the throw line and on either side of the dartboard
- Install the detachable bracket
- Place a protective board or cabinet behind it
The Final Piece of Advice
I hope you find this article informative about the different outdoor dartboard options, which will help you choose the right one for you. You’ve heard about various options in terms of the material and type of dartboard.
From this, you can choose which dartboard would work best within your own personal situation. Some dartboards also offer you the added facility of playing another game apart from darts. The easy to carry and easy-to-mount facility makes these the ideal choice for outdoor activities.
Before selecting the dartboard, keep in mind the material, the type of darts, and durability of the dartboard. Bristle boards are the most durable ones and last the longest. While the lighter ones are easy to handle, they usually wear and tear fast.
If you plan to gift a dartboard to a child, consider the safety issue and opt for either a magnetic board or an electronic one, instead of a bristle board that has sharp steel tip darts; this will help you evade any unwanted accidents. You can check the various options of each product online on Amazon and decide which is best for you. Happy shopping!
The Top 5 Outdoor Dartboards Reviewed
#1. IgnatGames Professional Dartboard Kit
The Ignat Games Professional Dartboard Kit is our top choice for best outdoor dartboard. It is the only dartboard on this list that is a proper bristle dartboard, so if you want to want to play a game of darts with professional standards, this is the choice to go with. This board is tournament sized and is made of super dense, high quality Kenyan sisal fibers. The fibers have the ability to self heal, so whenever you take the dart out the board closes up on itself. This keeps the dartboard like new and helps it last a long time.
This bristle dartboard also comes with a removable numbers ring, so you can easily and frequently rotate the board, and this helps it stay fresh as well, because you aren’t always throwing at the same sections. A staple free and blade wire spider increases the scoring area up to 16%, so you have more of the dartboard to aim at and your bounce outs will be greatly reduced.
What makes this board perfect for playing outside is that it comes with everything you need to set up and play a game of darts. It includes steel tip darts that have their own carrying case, so you can bring them with you whenever you travel and they won’t get damaged. The set also comes with a darts measuring tape, so you can always measure out the perfect throwing distance whether you’re inside or outside.
#2. SPRAWL Dartboard Game Set
The SPRAWL Dartboard Game Set comes ready made to immediately start playing outside. What sets this dartboard apart from others is the stand it comes with. This stand is a heavy duty tripod stand made from lightweight steel, so it can travel to wherever you want to play, and is sturdy enough to withstand any playing environment.
This stand is helpful when you want to play outside, because you don’t need to go through the painstaking setup process every time, and you can play regardless of whether or not you have a place to mount a dartboard. The tripod base gives the stand a solid foundation wherever it is set up, and the adjustable height means anyone can play, even small children.
The dartboard that is included in the game set has a staple free frame and bullseye, as well as spider wire dividers. This means your throws bounce out less and have more landing area on the board, so you won’t have to look through the grass to find any darts that bounce off. Additionally, the triple wheel lock and leveling system always keeps the dartboard in perfect position and allows you to rotate it to keep it fresh and long lasting.
#3. ATDAWN Indoor Outdoor Dart Board Set
Another great dartboard for use outside is the ATDAWN Indoor Outdoor Dart Board Set. This dartboard set is great for children and very safe, because it comes with 6 darts that have soft silicone needle tips. These tips are less dangerous for children at play, and they also don’t rust if they are exposed to moisture or dirt. The darts are also harder to bend or dent because they are not made from metal, so if they hit pavement or asphalt they won’t be seriously damaged. For outdoor dart games, these darts are very impressive.
The dartboard itself is made like an electronic dartboard, but does not have any of the electronic wiring systems in the back, so you can use it anywhere without worrying if it will break or shut down. The face of the dartboard is made from plastic and has many little holes for the darts to stick into. Additionally, this board can be hung anywhere, because it has a little hole at the top to hang it by, and it also has the ability to stand upright on a table, which means you can play anywhere outdoors with only a stand or table around.
#4. TrueBorn Magnetic Dart Board and Hookey Games Set
- 2 Games In One: Your new Magnetic Dart and Toss the Ring Game allows you to play 2 of the hottest party games on the market - Magnetic Darts or the family favourite Ring Game – both on the same...
- Magnetic Dart Game: Quality 16in Magnetic Dartboard with 6 durable, safety Magnetic Darts - for 2 teams to play. Would make an ideal party game or birthday gift and is safe to use indoors or outdoors....
- Ring Games: includes 11 magnetic hooks plus 12 Rubber Toss Rings for 2 teams to compete. You can position the magnetic hooks anywhere on the target board to play a variety of toss the ring games shown...
The TrueBorn Magnetic Dart Board and Hookey Games Set is a true 2-in-1 gaming set, so you can play twice the games for double the amount of fun. If you ever grow bored of playing darts, just add the magnetic hooks wherever you like and it turns into a whole new ring toss game. This would be a perfect dartboard set for family gatherings and outdoor parties, where a group of players can choose what they all want to play.
The dartboard comes with 6 strong neodymium magnetic darts included, which won’t lose their magnetic properties over time. It is very safe and great for children, because the magnetic darts have flat tips that are not heavy enough to hurt and not pointy enough to puncture anything. The board is easy to set up anywhere, so the fun and games are not limited to the indoors. The set includes a linen drawstring storage bag, which is ideal for proper dart storage and easy to travel with, and an instruction booklet to help you teach anyone how to play.
#5. Accudart 2-in-1 Starlite Paper Dartboard
- Family Quality - Ideal Use for All Ages
- Two Games in One - Standard Dartboard on Front and Baseball Dart Game on Back
- Constructed from Paper Material Tightly Bound for Family Play
If you’re looking for a budget option to play darts outside with, the Accudart 2-in-1 Starlite Paper Dartboard is a great choice. The dartboard is made of tightly coiled, quality bound paper material, so it is a lot less expensive than other similar dartboards and sets. Included are 6 brass darts, that are shipped with protective plastic coverings over the tips, which you can always keep and store the darts with them on. Not only would this help to secure the darts and keep them lasting longer, it would also provide a more safe and fun playing environment for children.
The 2-in-1 dartboard has a standard dartboard game on the front and a complete second game on the back called Baseball Darts. Both of these games provide hours of fun, and if people are getting tired of one you can easily switch between them. Simply lift the dartboard off of its hanging hook and turn it around. The easy set up also means you can play these games anywhere, which is perfect for a backyard family get together or party. The only downside is the paper face of the board does not last long, especially if used outdoors, but for its price you can always just find a second or a third one.
FAQs
Q. Can you use a bristle dartboard outside?
Yes, you can use a bristle dartboard outside. However, the sisal fibers in the board can easily imbue and retain moisture, so we would not recommend using them when it is raining or very humid outside. If the fibers get wet they can become unusable and a new board might have to be purchased. If you do use the dartboard outside, only keep it out for the time you are playing and bring it in afterwards. Additionally, keep it stored in a dry indoor location.
Q. Where is the Best Place to Mount a Dartboard Outdoors?
There are many places you can mount a dartboard outside. If you have a shed or barn, or really any structure in your backyard with wooden walls, then you can simply hang up the board with a nail on the outside of the wall. A tree would also work for this scenario, or a fence post. However, if you do mount the board on a tree or fence, be aware that any darts that miss might end up in the grass or dirt. These could be hard to find and therefore dangerous to potentially step on, and additionally the moisture in the ground can cause darts with steel tips to rust and become unusable.
Conclusion: Which is the Best Dartboard for the Outdoors?
If you are still wondering just exactly which dartboard would be best suited for your next backyard barbeque or outdoor family gathering, we would recommend the IgnatGames Professional Dartboard Kit. It is the best performing dartboard on the list by far, so as long as you take care of it, it will be a great board to play on and will help your dart game improve.
It also comes with everything you need to start playing right away, as well as a measuring tape so you always know to stand at the correct throwing distance. Lastly, If you have any questions about outdoor dartboards or anything darts related, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
