The Best Electronic Dart Boards
Electronic dartboards are popular with families and professionals because they enable them to enjoy an interactive game. If you’re looking to improve your skills or want a fun activity to enjoy with your friends, then electronic dartboards are a great option.
In this guide, we’ll learn more about electronic dartboards, reveal the features you should look for and uncover the best electronic dartboards on the market.
IN A HURRY? HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS…
Our Top 5 Electronic Dartboards
We’ve done a lot of research and tested some of the most popular electronic dartboards on the market. Here are the top 5.
The Arachnid Cricket Pro 800
- Tournament-quality electronic dartboard - regulation 15.5" target area
Arachnid is huge in the darts world, and they have a range of electronic dartboards to choose from. Our favorite by far is their Pro 800 model, which boasts a range of features. Suitable for professionals and novices, it’s a great choice for the whole family and has micro-thin segment dividers to prevent bounce backs.
There’s a place on top of the board to store the six darts it comes with and offers point tracking so players can monitor their progress.
While the board comes with a rather loud heckling feature, you can turn it down. Kids love the sound effects, so it’s great for a family evening.
The best thing about the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 is the added games you can play. There are 40 games with tons of variations. Some favorites include:
- Round the clock
- Wild card cricket
- Shove a penny
- Double down
- Ace
- GOTCHA!
- 301
- 601
- Cut throat cricket
Overall, the board is packed with features and offers a lot of functionality for its price tag. It also comes with an AC adaptor, LED light display and can accommodate up to 8 players.
What We Like:
- Loads of games
- Good for the whole family
- LED Light Display
- Storage for darts
What We Don’t Like:
- Volume controlled heckler feature
- Questionable durability
- Can get stuck on the greeting
Viper Neptune Electronic Dartboard
- Top Quality Segments - Regulation-Sized 15.5” Electronic Dart Board Target Area Is Incredibly Durable And Designed To Handle Whatever You Throw At It
If you’re searching for an electronic dartboard that looks great, then Vipers Neptune won’t disappoint. The stylish board comes with a wooden display cabinet, which holds your darts. Arriving with a 15.5 inches target area, the board meets regulations and has a vibrant design.
There are also six started darts, an AV adapter, and the board comes with a range of games. If you want an electronic dartboard for home use, the Viper accommodates up to 16 players who can enjoy 57 games.
While the board looks great, it lacks in some areas. The sound quality isn’t ideal, and there have been issues with the board breaking after a year. The dartboard has excellent reviews, but it’s more for home use than professional.
What We Like:
- Accommodates 16 players
- Comes with a wooden cabinet
- Has a range of games
What We Don’t Like:
- LCD light display
- Difficult to mount on the wall
- Poor sound quality
Fat Cat Mercury Electronic Dartboard
- Top Quality Segments - Compact 13.5” electronic dart board target area is durable with precision engineered concave segment holes that lock in your shots
Suitable for people on a budget, Fat Cat’s dartboard offers a lot of bang for your buck. The stylish board comes with a black display cabinet and has a 13.5-inch target area. While this might be too small for some, it’s ideal for practicing.
Up to 8 players can enjoy the 34 games on offer, with cyber mode available. An attractive LCD panel keeps track of your score and enables you to change the settings with ease. The biggest issue with this dartboard is the darts that come with it.
While the board boasts micro-holes to prevent bounce-outs, the darts are of poor quality and can impact your game. Luckily, with a price of just over $100, you can invest in some quality darts and enjoy the features Fat Cat offer their players.
What We Like:
- Excellent if you’re on a budget
- Cyber game mode
- Simple scoring system
What We Don’t Like:
- Bad quality darts
- Only 34 games available
- Small target area
Viper Ion Dartboard
- Top Quality Segments - Regulation-sized 15.5” electronic dart board target area is incredibly durable with precision engineered concave segment holes that lock in your shots
We like to think of this as the ultimate party dartboard – and for a good reason! Vipers Ion Dartboard illuminates target areas to provide a fun-filled experience for everyone.
You can play a range of light-based games, which includes moving targets and point-based games. In total, 48 games accommodate up to eight players, so it’s fun for the whole family.
The dartboard boasts that it has tough segments, which increase its durability and can withstand throws from professionals. Equipped with an LED lighting system, you can keep track of your scores and improve your throwing with one of the strategy-based games.
Are there any disadvantages? As with most dartboards, the darts it comes with aren’t great, and we’d recommend buying your own soft-tips.
What We Like:
- Illuminating LED system
- Strategy based games
- Superior durability
What We Don’t Like:
- Poor quality darts
- No display cabinet included
Omelia Electronic Dartboard
Living on a budget is difficult, especially when you have to compromise on product quality. Luckily, Omelia offers this low-price electronic dartboard, which still packs an impressive amount of features.
With over 27 games available, up to 16 people can play at once, making the board ideal for parties. Despite its cheap price, Omelia’s dartboard has an LED light display that monitors your score.
Bounce-backs are preventable with the ultra-thin micro holes, and the dartboard offers a lot of flexibility. It has both battery and AC capabilities, so you can hang it wherever you want.
Overall, this dartboard is perfect if you have children or want a cost-effective electronic board for home use.
What We Like:
- Cost-effective
- LED Light display
- Accommodates up to players
What We Don’t Like:
- The scoring system isn’t always accurate
- Board doesn’t handle hard throws well
- No display cabinet
How Do Electronic Dartboards Work?
There are many dartboards available, including bristle, cork, and paper boards, but electronic dartboards offer a better experience. One of the most significant advantages of the electronic dartboards is they automatically calculate each player’s score.
Advancing technology means electronic dartboards have loads of exciting features for players. Most are battery-powered, meaning they’re cost-effective to run and require little to no manual labor when installing them.
There are apps available for Android and iOS devices, which introduce players to a range of games and training modes.
How Are They Different From Traditional Dartboards?
We can’t deny that electronic dartboards differ from traditional bristle boards. Electric versions are smaller than bristle dartboards, but they still have the same numbers and scoring system.
Bristle dartboards are a favorite with professional players, and you’ll usually see them in most pubs and competitions. One of the major differences between electronic and bristle dartboards is the type of darts each uses.
You might hear people referring to electronic dartboards as soft tip boards. The reason for this is the darts you’ll use are different to bristle dartboards. Professionals prefer to use steel darts, but soft-tip darts work well with electric boards and are much safer for home use.
Electronic dart boards used to be compatible with soft tip darts, but in recent years we’ve seen new boards on the market with a range of dart options. Bristle boards use steel tips, but soft-tip darts have many benefits.
What Are The Benefits of Electronic Dartboards?
Electronic dartboards and soft-tips have many benefits, including:
- They’re better for amateurs
- They have more safety features, meaning children can use them without a potential accident.
- Soft-tip darts won’t damage your walls of furniture.
- Electronic dartboards have loads of extra features.
Things to Consider When Buying an Electronic Dartboard
There are lots of factors you should take into consideration when choosing an electronic dartboard, including the measurements, added extras, and ease of use. Let’s examine each.
Measurements
We already mentioned that electronic dartboards are smaller than their bristle predecessors, but does size really matter? If you’re a novice, you might want a bigger board, but professionals could benefit from a small board to enhance their game.
Here are the standard dartboard measurements.
| Bristle Dartboards | 18 inches |
| Soft Tip Dartboards | 13.5 – 15.5 inches |
| Soft Tip International Regulations | 15.5 inches in diameter |
| Soft Tip Target Area | 15 inches in diameter |
It’s also important to remember that you should mount your electronic dartboard the same way as a bristle board. The general rule is the board should measure at 5’8 inches at the bullseye, and your toe line needs to be around 8 feet from the board.
Battery or AC Powered?
One disadvantage of electronic dartboards is they need power to work correctly. When you’re choosing a dartboard, make sure you think about whether battery or AC power is best.
Battery-powered boards mean you can place them wherever you want and don’t have to worry about being near a mains source. But, if you plan to use the dartboard a lot, it could get expensive.
There are plenty of electronic dartboards with both battery and AC capabilities, so do your research before you make a purchase.
Avoid The Bounce Out
One of the most common complaints about electronic dartboards is the bounce out effect. Soft tip darts connect to the holes in the board and sometimes fall out. While this often happens with cheaper models, there are high-quality boards that counter this effect.
You should look for boards with micro-thin separators for scoring and a high-quality thermoplastic. Most boards will still register your score even if the dart bounces out, so it’s not a huge problem.
What’s Your Budget?
Electronic dartboards are more expensive than traditional bristle boards, but they don’t need to break the bank. Think about what you’re using the board for and how often you plan to play.
If you’re buying a board for your family, then you can find high-quality models for around $150. Professionals might want a better quality surface and more features, so they can expect to spend up to $500.
There are budget options available, but investing in a quality board means you can enjoy it for longer.
LED or LCD?
Each electronic dartboard has an LED or LCD lighting system. While LCD lights work well, LED is of higher quality and offer a more vibrant display. If you struggle to see from a distance, LED displays are the best option.
The Games
Most electronic dartboards offer a range of games, but less expensive options have fewer choices. Think about how often you plan on using the games feature and which ones you like to play.
Premium models such as the Arachnid 800 offer loads of games, but do you need to spend that much money if you don’t use them? Consider your needs before making a purchase.
The Brands
Does a name really matter? Well, we all have our favorite brands, and it’s the same with electronic dartboards. We’ve featured some of the best brands in this guide, including models from Arachnid and Viper.
Budget options might not have a name you’re familiar with, but that doesn’t mean they lack quality. Think about your budget and decide if you’re willing to try a product from a lesser-known brand.
The Final Score
Darts is an excellent skill-building game, and it provides hours of fun for families and friends. In our review, we’ve seen the best of the bunch, and now you can make a decision.
Remember, your budget and the features you need should be at the top of your priority list. While it might be tempting to go for the cheapest electronic dartboards, spending a little extra means you can enjoy your board for years to come.
