Steel-Tip vs Soft-Tip Darts: What Is the Difference?
Walk into a darts shop and you’ll be asked one question before anything else: steel-tip or soft-tip? They look similar from across the room, but the board, the dart itself, how the game is scored, and even where you stand to throw are all different. Here is exactly what separates the two formats.
The Board
The most fundamental difference is what the dart actually hits. A steel-tip dartboard is made from compressed sisal fibre — natural bristle — bundled tightly enough that a metal point can wedge in and hold, while the fibres close back up around old holes over time. This is the board used on the PDC ProTour and at every major televised event.
A soft-tip dartboard is a rigid segmented plastic face, usually electronic, with small holes drilled into each scoring segment. A plastic-tipped dart slots into one of these holes, and a sensor behind the board registers exactly which segment was hit.
The Dart
Steel-tip darts end in a sharp metal point, designed to bite into bristle fibre. Soft-tip darts use a moulded plastic or nylon tip instead — soft enough not to damage the electronic board’s plastic segments, and replaceable when it wears down or snaps, which happens far more often than a steel point needs attention.
Barrel weight tends to differ too. Steel-tip players commonly settle somewhere in the 20g–26g range (see our full dart weight guidefor how that’s chosen), while soft-tip setups generally run lighter. Electronic boards and their sensors are more sensitive to heavy impacts, so soft-tip leagues and manufacturers typically set a lower weight ceiling than steel-tip play — exact limits vary by governing body and venue, so it’s worth checking local league rules before buying a set.
Scoring
On a steel-tip board, scoring is manual. A chalker marks each player’s running total on a blackboard in pub and club play, while a caller or on-screen graphics operator does the same job at professional events — the PDC’s three-dart averages and checkout stats are all logged by hand from what the player actually throws.
A soft-tip board removes that job entirely. The sensor behind each segment reports the hit straight to the board’s built-in computer, which totals the visit, suggests or auto-tracks checkouts, and displays the running score on screen. It’s a large part of why soft-tip boards are popular in bars and arcades — no chalker required, and disputes over a score are rare since the board itself is the record.
Throwing Distance and Board Height
The bullseye sits at the same height for both formats — 1.73m (5ft 8in) from the floor. The throwing distance is where they diverge: steel-tip is thrown from 2.37m (7ft 9¼in), while soft-tip uses a slightly longer 2.44m (8ft). For the full breakdown, including diagonal-check measurements and a step-by-step setup guide, see our dartboard height and distance guide.
Steel-Tip vs Soft-Tip: Side by Side
| Spec | Steel-tip | Soft-tip |
|---|---|---|
| Dart point | Metal (steel) point | Plastic or nylon point |
| Board surface | Compressed sisal (bristle) fibre | Segmented rigid plastic with holes |
| Bullseye height | 1.73m (5ft 8in) | 1.73m (5ft 8in) |
| Throwing distance | 2.37m (7ft 9¼in) | 2.44m (8ft) |
| Scoring | Manual — chalked by hand or entered by a scorer/caller | Automatic — the board detects and totals hits itself |
| Typical barrel weight | Commonly 20g–26g among adult players | Usually lighter, to suit the plastic tip and board sensors |
| Where it is played | PDC and WDF professional and league darts | Bars, arcades and dedicated soft-tip leagues |
Why the PDC Plays Steel-Tip Only
Every PDC ranking event — Players Championships, European Tour, the majors and the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace — is played steel-tip on a bristle board. It’s the traditional format the professional game grew out of, and it’s the version most closely tied to the sport’s biggest records and statistics, from nine-dart finishes to televised 100+ averages. Soft-tip darts run on a separate circuit built around bars, arcades and dedicated leagues, with its own equipment, formats and, in some regions, its own competitive scene — but it sits outside the PDC’s ranking structure entirely.
Neither format is objectively harder, but the two aren’t interchangeable at the equipment level: never throw steel-tip darts at an electronic board, since the metal point can damage the plastic segments and sensors underneath, and most manufacturers won’t honour a warranty once that happens.
Which Should You Choose?
If your goal is playing the same format you watch on TV, or joining a traditional pub or club league, steel-tip on a bristle board is the standard choice. If you want a lower-maintenance setup with automatic scoring — useful for casual play, kids, or anyone who doesn’t want to referee their own scoring disputes — a soft-tip electronic board is the easier entry point. Plenty of players who stick around end up owning both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between steel-tip and soft-tip darts?
Steel-tip darts have a metal point and are thrown at a bristle (sisal fibre) board, with scores recorded manually or by a scorer. Soft-tip darts have a plastic point and are thrown at a segmented electronic board that registers hits and calculates scores automatically.
Which type of darts does the PDC use?
The PDC plays steel-tip darts exclusively at every ranking event, from Players Championships to the World Darts Championship. Soft-tip darts run on a separate, mostly amateur and bar-league circuit with its own equipment and rules.
Is the throwing distance different for soft-tip darts?
Yes. Steel-tip darts are thrown from 2.37m (7ft 9¼in), while soft-tip play uses a slightly longer distance of 2.44m (8ft). The bullseye height, 1.73m (5ft 8in), is the same for both formats.
Can I use steel-tip darts on a soft-tip board?
No. A steel point will damage the plastic segments and sensors inside an electronic dartboard. Soft-tip boards are built specifically for plastic-tipped darts, and using steel-tip darts on one voids most manufacturer warranties.
Are soft-tip darts lighter than steel-tip darts?
Generally yes. Soft-tip leagues and board manufacturers typically set lower weight ceilings than steel-tip play, since electronic boards are more sensitive to heavy impacts. Most players who own both keep a noticeably lighter set for soft-tip.