5 Best Steel Tip Dartboards in 2024 (Top Picks and Reviews)

by John O. | Mis à jour le : August 5, 2024

Darts is an entertaining game and it can keep you distracted for hours. You might want a dartboard for fun with your friends, practice preparing for a tournament, or just for your kids to keep them away from the TV for a few hours.

There are different types of dartboards, including soft tip, steel tip, and electronic dartboards. Soft tip dartboards are perfect for children. Steel tip dartboards consist of pressed sisal fibers stuck to a backing board with metal banding on the edges, and they are appropriate for adults and pros. Electronic dartboards are more commonly used in bars these days. They have small holes that catch your dart and automatically calculate the score. Steel dartboards are the most popular ones, and they last the longest as they have a self-healing ability. The hole made in the board by the dart closes on its own when you remove the dart.

This article will introduce you to the best steel tip dartboards available on the market and talk about what you need to look for in a steel tip dartboard. It will help you make the best decision when you opt to purchase one.

Our Picks of the 5 Best Steel Tip Dartboards

Viper Shot King Regulation Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard Set (Best for Beginners)

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This famous steel dartboard is not just affordable, but it is also a high-quality product and comes with six darts. It comes with everything necessary, so when you get this dartboard, you will be up and enjoying a game of darts in minutes! It’s generated a ton of sales on Amazon; it’s the #1 best seller among dartboards at the time of writing.

Like all bristle dartboards, this product consists of compressed sisal bristle fibers for increased durability. The bullseye on this dartboard is staple-free, which is a step up from most entry-level dartboards. It reduces the bounce-outs near the bullseye. The board itself is not staple-free, though. The spider wires are in perfect circles over the dartboard.

You can see the space between the wires and the board upon close inspection. The spider wires are thick and unbendable, so they are unlikely to bend or break if hit by the steel tip dart. Staples secure the wiring, but that doesn’t help much with bounce-outs. The thin triangular wire near the bullseye deflects the shots and reduces bounce-outs in that area. This board has a movable number ring so that you can move the board to the spots of less wear, allowing the worn-out fiber to heal.

The size of this dartboard is a tournament size dartboard, which is 18 inches in diameter with a 1.5-inch depth. There are three positions in the back to place the knobs. When you notice wear in one area, remove the hanging bracket, rotate the board, and move the number ring.Overall, this is a decent board with good quality. I like that the round and not angled spider wires reduce bounce-outs, and hence, it should last you for a long time.

Pros

• Affordable
• Durable and reliable build
• Bullseye is staple-free to reduce bounce-outs
• The number ring is movable

Cons

• The entire board is not staple-free, so there may be bounce-outs in certain areas
• Some users have shown concern about the self-healing feature, saying it’s not reliable

WIN.MAX Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard (Best Budget Product)

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This high-quality dartboard is perfect for professionals and fun games with your friends at home and in pubs. It will be a great addition to any setting. It comes with six steel tip darts, a sharpener, finger grip wax, and mounting hardware. All you have to do is mount it in your favorite spot; everything else is taken care of.

This dartboard heals very quickly. The Kenyan sisal fiber used in this dartboard allows the dart holes to close back rapidly when you remove the dart. It adds to the durability of the dartboard, and it’s made to last. This board has small blade wiring, which is a feature of all high-quality dartboards. This type of wiring is embedded in the dartboard, and it is impeccable and small. It doesn’t require staples; hence, this board is staple-free. You have a high chance of hitting your target with reduced bounce-outs, which will make the game more fun.

If you want to practice for your upcoming championship game, this dartboard is perfect, and when you are playing at home, you’ll get the real tournament vibes. Like all durable dartboards, the number ring on this one is also movable. This option allows you to rotate the board, ensuring even wear and durability.

This dartboard is excellent for its price, and it comes with all the necessary accessories, though the included darts aren’t of the best quality. Still, you don’t have to run to the store and spend extra money to start a game. It will last for a long time, and it will also ensure you an enjoyable experience due to reduced bounce-outs courtesy of the blade wiring.

Pros

• Very high-quality dartboard
• Affordable
• Reduced bounce-outs due to thin blade wiring
• Comes with mounting hardware and easy to understand instructions
• Comes with free accessories

Cons

• The free steel tip darts are not appropriate for pros
• Customer feedback suggests that the self-healing feature is inadequate

Winmau Blade 5 Dual Core Bristle Dartboard (Best Overall)

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This product arrived in 2016, and everyone awaited it eagerly to see if it would beat its predecessor, Winmau Blade 4 Dual Core. We want to say that Winmau didn’t disappoint their fans. When you first look at the dartboard closely, you immediately see the wire numbers on the outside of the board, which is an excellent feature to have. What we love the most about this dartboard is its flawless, staple-free wiring system. The wiring is thin and neat.

Winmau claims that this board’s wiring is the strongest and thinnest, and it’s most probably true. The wiring is so light that you get 9mm2 of extra space in the doubles and 6mm2 more area in the trebles. They have reduced the wiring angle by 30 degrees, which means that there will be more hits and fewer bounce-outs. You’ll have more fun and score higher with this dartboard.

Generally, a dartboard has to find a balance between soft bristle and high compression. This dartboard has a dual-core system. Winmau overcomes the balance issue by having a soft-compression layer with an inner high-compression layer. Hence, the outer layer will provide good penetration, while the inner layer will increase the durability.

Proper mounting of the dartboard is necessary for good hits. If you don’t hang the board securely, it will bounce and move when you throw darts at it. This dartboard comes with a triple locking system that ensures easy rotation to increase the board’s lifespan.There’s a reason why this dartboard received an endorsement from the British Darts Organization. It is an excellent product with almost no significant drawbacks, besides the higher price. It has wiring of exceptional quality, and you’ll enjoy the experience.

Pros

• Very durable with a dual-core system
• Few bounce-outs due to the advanced and thin wiring system without staples
• Has a triple locking system to easily secure the dartboard
• Higher scoring potential with the increased area courtesy of the thin wiring system
• Endorsed by a major darts organization

Cons

• A bit pricier than other dartboards
• Doesn’t come with darts

Unicorn Eclipse Pro Bristle Dartboard (Best Versatile Board)

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When you want to take a break from your screen and monitors, this dartboard will be your perfect companion. It is suitable for light throwers who have a tough time sticking their darts to the board. Professionals often use dartboards by Unicorn. This dartboard is compact and soft. While it’s a bit expensive, it’s worth it.

This bristle board is a championship quality dartboard. It uses high-quality wiring technology and has a soft but durable surface. If you throw your dart lightly, it will stick. Its smart design dramatically reduces bounce-outs. The segmentation is thinner compared to many other dartboards. The bullseye is completely staple-free and will not fall off. The surface of the treble segments is smooth and also has bright colors. The high color contrast will allow you to hit targets more accurately.

Both the treble and double segments are comparatively larger than average boards, suitable for new players. The spider wires are placed neatly and are very thin, which ensures that there are fewer bounce-outs. The board also has a high-visibility number ring visible from afar and is convenient for darker settings.

What I dig about this board is the free checkout chart, which helps you take things to the next level. It helps bring out the right type of excitement when engaged in a friendly duel of darts with your loved ones. If you want to keep things professional, you can keep tabs on your game while living up to the bill continuously.

This dartboard will make you fall in love with darts!

Pros

• Very durable and reliable construction
• Suitable for light throwers
• Ideal for championships
• Staple-free
• Portable

Cons

• A bit expensive
• Doesn’t come with darts

One80 Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard (Best for Aesthetics)

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This dartboard is relatively new on the market, but quality-wise, it is among the best. The use of the finest Brazilian sisal on the board makes it highly durable. It has succeeded in grabbing dart lovers’ attention with its aesthetic design and high quality.

This dartboard serves both professional players and those who play darts for fun. It is perfect for offices, homes, and pubs. The colors on this board are bright and fade-resistant. Bounce-outs are a great annoyance when you are playing irrespective of your skill level. The triangular wiring of this dartboard will make sure that there is the least chance of bounce-outs.

You can use it for soft and steel tip darts, which allows you to play imaginatively; you also won’t get bored with this dartboard. The removable number ring increases its life while six steel tip darts with PVC flights and a scoring board.

This dartboard has good self-healing ability so that you won’t have to worry too much about damaging it. Overall, this is a durable board with excellent aesthetics. Brazilian sisal isn’t easy to come by in dartboards.It gives you great value for the price despite the accessories being of mediocre quality.

Pros

• Durable and reliable construction
• Good self-healing ability
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Professionals and home players alike can use it
• Triangular wiring reduces bounce-outs

Cons

• A bit expensive
• The accessories work fine but are cheap quality

The Only Steel Tip Dartboard Buying Guide You’ll Ever Need

Darts is perhaps the only game that everyone is OK at playing. But you and so many others like you might have that one friend who hits the bullseye without much effort. They either have laser eyes or (more realistically) have had hours of practice with the dartboard they have at home. In 1986, an English carpenter, Brian Gamlin, made the dartboard design that we use today. However, the poor guy died before he could patent it.

Most professional players and other dart enthusiasts prefer bristle steel tip dartboards. These dartboards can self-heal, which is why they are famous and last longer compared to others. Before you decide on buying a dartboard, please read this guide so that by the end of it, you’ll know enough to make the right decision for yourself. Below are some of the features you should keep in mind while shopping for the best steel tip dartboard.

Purpose

Before deciding on buying a dart-related product, think about why you want it. Do you want to practice for your upcoming championship game, or do you want to buy one to have fun with your friends and family? You may not be aware, but top dart players earn around $1 million a year.

If you want it for casual use, you don’t need to spend a lot of money and time on a dartboard. You can quickly come across a decent dartboard for a moderate price.

Viper and WIN.MAX dartboards are appropriate for fun at home. They are affordable and come with free, decent accessories. On the contrary, if you are serious about darts, you should invest in a high-quality dartboard. Some brands like Unique and Winmau make good quality dartboards for professional players.

Size And Weight

The size and weight of the dartboard are essential. If the dartboard is too heavy, it will quickly lose balance when mounted. If the size is too big and cumbersome, it won’t look very nice.

The most common size is 18 inches in diameter, which is what pros use in dart tournaments. You can also find smaller dartboards, which are appropriate for casual players.

Dartboard Material

Most steel tip dartboards are bristle boards. Because steel tip darts are sharp, they make holes in the panels and damage them quickly, so they are not very compatible with regular ones. Most people go for bristle boards because of their ability to self-heal.

The highly compressed sisal fiber is soft and flexible. It goes back to its previous position when you remove the dart. Keep this in mind that the less you pay for a bristle dartboard, the weaker will its self-healing ability be.

Removable Number Ring

Bristle dartboards are self-healing, but they aren’t entirely resistant to damage by the darts. That is why a removable number ring is essential. It increases the life of your board. You can throw darts to your heart’s content; when you notice any damage, you can move the number ring, rotate the board, and start throwing darts again.

All of the dartboards we have selected have a movable number ring.

Wiring

It is one of the most critical features of the dartboard. The wireframe also called the spider, divides the colored sections on the dartboard. Wire rings clarify the boundaries and remove any doubts about where your dart has landed. In budget dartboards, the wire rings are round in cross-sections. They are held in place by staples; otherwise, they’ll fall. But the annoying fact about staples is that when darts hit them, they bounce off.

Ideal dartboards have blade wiring. This type of wiring is very thin and embedded in the board. There is no need for staples. There are also thin triangular wires that reduce the chances of bounce-outs.

So, if you want fewer bounce-outs and a higher score, get yourself a staple-free dartboard.

Accessories

Dartboards that come with steel darts, a sharpener for the darts, a scoreboard, and other things you might require for darts are fantastic choices.

This adds to the value of the board. You will not have to shop for those objects separately. Some brands offer decent quality and free accessories with their boards like One80.

These accessories may not be the most appropriate for professionals, but they are suitable if you are a casual player.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Makes A Steel Tip Dartboard Superior To Others?

Steel tip dartboards are by design more durable than other dartboards. They have self-healing ability, which is a clear advantage over the electronic and soft tip dartboards. They usually last for several years.

Professionals use them in tournaments, alongside other serious dart players.

Are Dartboard Colors Important?

Although most dartboards use black, white, green, and red, no rule says that dartboard makers should only use these colors. The point is visibility. The colors make segments on the board, which are essential for calculating the score.

As long as the segments are visible, it shouldn’t matter if they have different colors.

Are Dartboards With Wire Numbers Better Than Painted Numbers?

First, the dartboards with wire numbers last longer. And since the treble 20 is the highest score on the dartboard, players target it the most, and naturally, it wears out quickly even if the board is self-healing. On the contrary, treble 13 is the least targeted area, so it remains intact.

So, to make the board last longer, you can rotate it and switch the ‘numbers’ positions. By comparison, dartboards with wire numbers last four times longer than those with painted numbers.

Can I Use Soft Tip Darts On A Bristle Dartboard?

Yes, you can do that. It will not affect your dartboard, but the tip of your dart might get bent or broken. Some bristle dartboards have a rather tough surface, so your dart might not correctly stick to it.

Some dartboards are ideal for light throwers, and your soft tip dart might stick better to it. They have a smooth outer layer.

What Is The Best Steel Tip Dartboard?

It would be best if you first considered why you want a dartboard. There are a variety of dartboards; every one has its strong and weak points. The final decision depends upon your budget, purpose, and preference. With that said, all the dartboards we have listed above are of good quality.

Conclusion

Steel tip dartboards are the answer if you want a full-on darts experience. You can rest assured of their safety and durability. Most steel tip dartboards are bristle boards, and players prefer them for their durable construction and self-healing abilit

The best steel tip dartboard, according to us, is the Winmau Blade 5 Dual Core Dartboard. It is not only durable, but it also has the thinnest blade wiring, which makes playing darts a delightful experience. However, our favorite choice may not necessarily be the best for you.

So, think about why you want the dartboard, consider your budget and the features you would like to have in your dartboard and make the final decision. Please go through our guide, so you have all the knowledge to make the right choice. Good luck!