How Heavy Should Darts Be? (and What the Pros Use

In this article, I’ll talk about the average weights of steel-tip and soft-tip darts, and the impact weight has on how you throw and where the dart hits the board.

Most darts weigh between 18 g and 25 g.

Professional steel-tip dart players usually use darts which weight around 22-25 g and professional soft-tip darts players generally use darts which weigh roughly 18-21 g.

Does Dart Weight Matter?

Generally, when referring to steel tip darts, anything between 20-25 g is considered pretty average, whilst anything over 25g or under 20g is considered particularly heavy or light.

With soft-tip darts, the average is around 18-20 g, with anything over 22 g being considered fairly heavy and anything under 16 g being deemed as very light.

Dart weight is a personal preference, and some players, regardless of their skill level will prefer the feel of certain weights.

Most beginners find heavier darts easier to throw than lighter darts because the extra weight means you don’t have to throw the dart as hard to hit the board.

However, heavier darts are usually more difficult to aim, so many professionals use lighter darts to increase their accuracy.

Heavy vs Light Darts

Lighter darts travel faster but require more force when throwing compared to heavier darts.

Heavy darts have a less stable flight path and will drop more quickly in the air.

The weight of the dart affects the feel, flight path and speed the dart travels through the air.

This is why heavier darts usually suit larger flights as this will give it more stability.

Lighter darts travel more quickly through the air, whereas heavier darts are slower so will drop more in the air.

Heavy DartsLight DartsSlowerFasterRequires less force when throwingRequires more force when throwingCan be easier for beginners to hit the boardCan be harder for beginners to hit the boardLess stable flight pathMore stable flight pathTendency to tilt downwards when hitting the boardTendency to tilt upwards when hitting the boardHeavy vs light darts

Another common complaint with heavy darts is that they can cause arm fatigue if you are playing for very long periods, this means they may be less suitable for certain competitions.

The problem with comparing the flight mechanics of heavy and light darts is that it depends on who’s throwing them.

For example, heavy darts travel more slowly than light darts, but often players can use a harder throwing motion with heavy darts which can actually cause it to travel more quickly.

You don’t have to go out and purchase loads, but consider borrowing some of your friend’s darts if they are a different weight and see if they suit your throwing style more or less.

Why are some darts heavier than others?

Tungsten darts are heavier than brass or steel darts, so to get the same weight, the tungsten dart will be smaller.

Check out my comparison between tungsten, brass and steel darts to learn more.

The weight of the dart is controlled mainly by the length and width of the barrel.

So when considering the difference between heavy and light darts, you can’t only consider the weight itself, but also the overall size as this will have a big impact on the dart’s overall flight path and how the dart feels in your hand.

It’s important to not just consider the overall weight of the darts, but also the balance of how the weight is distributed.

Some darts are heavier towards the tip and will lean forwards more, whilst others are heavier towards the flight and will tip backwards more.

There are three types of darts to consider here:

The way the weight is distributed will affect how you hold and throw the darts.

Beginners usually find front-weighted darts the easiest to to throw out of the three types.

Front-weighted darts usually suit “lob-style” throws, since the dart will angle downwards (with the flight tilting upwards) on the latter stages of its flight path, meaning the dart is more likely to be straight or tip upwards slightly when it hits the board.

Centre-weighted darts suit a straight and hard throwing-style.

Typically, many players find lighter darts more suitable for this kind of throwing-style.

Rear-weighted darts suit players who grip the dart closer towards the flight.

They typically suit players who use flights which offer more “lift” as this prevents the dart angling downwards at the flight when they hit the board.

Check out my article on front vs rear weighted darts to learn everything else you need to know.

Steel Tip Dart Weight

Most steel tip darts usually weigh between 20-30 g (0.71-1.1 oz.).

The average weight of the darts used by modern professionals is between 22-25 g.

Some players prefer heavy darts, however the maximum limit is 50 g for most competitions.

There is usually no minimum dart weight regulation.

Check out this table below to see the weight of the darts used by well-known modern day professionals and retired players.

It’s rare for a player to use a dart which weighs less than 20 g, however you can purchase some darts which weigh as little as 12 g.

It’s also uncommon to see any darts weighing more than 30 g, but there are some exceptions such as Ryan Searle who uses heavier darts.

Professional Darts PlayerDart Weight (Metric)Dart Weight (Imperial)Gerwyn Price24 g0.85 ozPeter Wright22 g0.78 ozMichael van Gerwen23 g0.81 ozJames Wade20 g0.71 ozDimitri van den Bergh22 g0.78 ozGary Anderson23 g0.81 ozJonny Clayton21 g0.74 ozNathan Aspinall27 g0.95 ozMichael Smith22 g0.78 ozRob Cross21 g0.74 ozDave Chisnall22 g0.78 ozKrzystof Ratajski20 g0.71 ozJoe Cullen21 g0.74 ozDanny Noppert23 g0.81 ozIan White22 g0.78 ozSimon Whitlock22 g0.78 ozMervyn King22 g0.78 ozDaryl Gurney24 g0.85 ozLuke Humphries22 g0.78 ozRyan Searle31 g1.09 ozBrendan Dolan25 g0.88 ozDevon Petersen26 g0.92 ozChris Dobey23 g0.81 ozVincent van der Voort23 g0.81 ozPhil Taylor26 g0.92 ozAverage23 g0.81 ozData is from pdc.tv/players

Soft Tip Dart Weight

Most soft tip darts weigh between 16-22 g (0.56-0.78 oz).

Professional soft-tip darts players usually use darts which weigh between 18g to 21g, with the average being 19 g.

Soft-tip darts are much lighter than steel tip darts.

Here is a table showing the weight of the darts that some professional soft-tip darts players use.

Professional PlayerDarts Weight (Metric)Darts Weight (Imperial)Boris Krcmar17 g0.60 ozPaul Lim21 g0.74 ozFB Leung21 g0.74 ozJose Justicia18 g0.63 ozLeonard Gates20.5 g0.72 ozKeita Ono17.5 g0.62 ozSho Katsumi18 g0.63 ozYoshihisa Baba20 g0.71 ozWoong Hee Han19 g0.67 ozChris Lim19 g0.67 ozChris White18 g0.63 ozAverage19 g0.67 oz

With that said, most people playing darts will use a weight of 21g – 24g for steel tip darts or 16g – 20g for soft tip darts.

We might be talking about the difference between a few grams in terms of weight (which doesn’t seem like much), but as darts is such an intricate and precise sport, the small change in weight can see you go from a comfortable and relaxed grip to being something you need to think about.

Choosing a weight for your darts is a very personal experience as it all comes down to individual comfort.

In this article, we’ll help to answer the question “are heavy or light darts better” so that you can quickly find a set that’s best suited to your individual throw.

How Heavy are DartsAre Heavy or Light Darts Better?Heavy Darts vs Light Darts (a Comparison)What are Heavy Darts Heavy Dart ProsHeavy Dart ConsWhat are Light Darts Light Dart ProsLight Dart ConsWhat Is the Best Weight for Darts?Common MisconceptionsAre Lighter Darts More Accurate?Are Heavier Darts Always Bigger?Final Thoughts

Steel tip darts weigh between 16g – 40g when fully assembled, however, the average weight used by most players is 21g – 24g.

For soft tip darts, the average weight used is between 16g – 20g with 16g, 18, and 20g being the most commonly used soft tip weights.

The weight of a dart is custom designed and most dart ranges will have a base design for the barrel but will be available in a variety of different weights.

While darts are available in a variety of weights, you also need to consider the fact that the weight distribution will also be different.

Depending on the product design, a particular set of darts can have a balance, front-loaded, or rear-loaded weight distribution which will impact how you hold and release the dart.

Heavier darts weighing between 21g – 24g are better for beginners because they require less force when being thrown.

Once a player is comfortable with their grip they can test out different weights to see which suits their individual throw.

With the above being said, 21g – 24g isn’t necessarily heavy and is actually the average dart weight used by most dart players.

This is because you don’t want to go to one extreme or another as a beginner and start playing with an incredibly heavy/light set of darts.

It should be a gradual process of testing a few different weights and barrel sizes to determine what best suits your grip, angle of release, and speed of your throw.

Heavy Darts vs Light Darts (a Comparison)

If you’re not completely new to darts, there are some key factors for each weight of dart that will make them better suited to your individual throw.

Something you should consider though is the size of the dart.

We’ll explain this more later on but essentially – the material of the dart will dictate the weight and size of the barrel.

If you like a slim barrel but heavier weight, this can be achieved by using tungsten so don’t think that just because you prefer (or want to test) a specific dart weight that will mean you need to use a certain type of dart.

It can be easy to assume that heavy darts are bigger as an example, however, that isn’t necessarily the case.

Heavy darts can be classified as weighing more than 26g.

A heavy dart will therefore weigh between 26g – 40g and will typically be made if 80% or higher tungsten.

This is to keep the barrel of the dart relatively slim in relation to the weight, though many heavier darts will come with a larger barrel profile – especially brass or nickel darts.

Heavy Dart Pros

Heavy Dart Cons

What are Light Darts

Light darts are typically those that weigh less than 20g.

Most soft tip darts are typically 16g – 18g in weight and are lighter darts in general but for steel tip darts, anything under 20g will be considered light.

Light darts tend to have a more balanced weight throughout the dart and are favored by players that tend to throw with more force.

For beginners though, it can be difficult to get a “feel” for these darts as the weight is not enough to comfortably master a grip and release (for most people).

Light Dart Pros

Often have a very slim barrel which is great for grouping dartsBetter for players that throw with a lot of forceIf your dart drops low, lighter darts can help to minimize this

Light Dart Cons

A light or lobbed throw makes lighter darts more difficult to keep in the board and is one key reason why your darts could keep falling out of the boardCan be difficult to control or throw for beginners – especially those that haven’t grasped the basics of holding or releasing a dart yet

The best weight for darts is between 21g – 24g.

This is the average range that most dart players use and is also the average weight used by professional dart players.

When looking at dart weights, the extremes for steel tip darts would be anything weighing more than 30g or anything weighing less than 18g.

At these weights, players would need to use them for noticeable preferences and these weights would not be comfortable for the average player to throw accurately.

Are Lighter Darts More Accurate?

Because lighter darts are often smaller and slimmer, this is something that most people associate with accuracy.

Larger, bulky items are not considered to be something that is used for accuracy but rather power or force so it’s easy to make the same assumption with darts.

Want a more forceful throw… use heavier darts.

Want a more accurate throw… use lighter darts.

This however isn’t true as a light dart made from a less dense material like brass will still be quite large in size.

It’s worth saying that the throwing technique is what creates accuracy and the dart itself has minimal impact on how accurately the dart can be thrown.

Are Heavier Darts Always Bigger?

Another misconception is that heavier darts are always bigger but with dart manufacturing, the best material for the dart barrel is tungsten.

The reason for this is that tungsten is a much more dense material than brass or nickel silver and therefore allows manufacturers to create a slimmer dart that is also heavier.

This essentially means that brass darts are lighter but also bigger than the tungsten alternative.

If you use a tungsten dart, the weight won’t matter to an extent as higher-grade tungsten will mean that you can make a heavy dart whilst still keeping a slim profile for the barrel which is essential for grouping of darts and heavy scoring!

You’d never know by glancing at them that the slim tungsten dart is actually the heaviest (the one with the dark grey barrel).

Dart weights are very specific to an individual, however, on average a weight of 21g – 24g is considered to be an ideal weight for most players.

Very few players will use steel tip darts below a weight of 16g or above a weight of 30g so starting with a weight of 22g/23g will allow players some flexibility to move up or down weight in order to find the most ideal weight.

These were 90% tungsten and have a noticeably slimmer barrel so, despite the increased weight, the balanced weight and slimmer dart meant that my game immediately improved.

This is why testing is important for beginners and as you can see, I fall firmly within the average weight range just as a result of testing what works for me.

There are pros and cons to each dart weight and there is no “best” weight for a dart – it’s best to start at an average weight and make adjustments if needed.

As one final point, a good option is to opt for a slightly lighter weight than you think you’d need because you can always add weight to a dart through heavier accessories or tungsten putty but it’s much more difficult to reduce the weight of a dart.

When you first start to get serious about darts, you soon discover that what at first looked like a simple, straightforward game, actually has layers upon layers of complexity.

Darts can be broken down into a few essential components such as the tip, the barrel, the shaft, and the flight.

One of the most influential of these variables is weight, and one of the most common questions I get around here is, what are the heaviest darts you can buy?

The heaviest darts you can buy and use on the professional level are 50 grams.

These are incredibly heavy darts.

Most players use a dart somewhere around the 21-25 gram range.

These 48 gram Red Dragon Darts were the heaviest we could find on Amazon.

Why Is Dart Weight So Important?What Makes A Dart Heavier?

What Is The Most Common Dart Weight?How Heavy Should Your Darts Be?

Why Is Dart Weight So Important?

The weight of your dart will be one of the most variable factors for you to consider.

For example, heavier darts tend to have a straighter, less parabolic flight through the air, which must be accounted for and compensated.

Heavier darts demand higher precision with each shot.

On the other hand, lighter darts have a more forgiving trajectory through the air, which makes them perfect for beginner to intermediate level players.

What Makes A Dart Heavier?

Dart weight is mostly determined by the size and material of the barrel.

While there are a few different types of alloys used to make steel tip darts, none is more popular than the ones containing tungsten.

Because tungsten is so dense, darts containing high amounts of tungsten are heaviest for their size compared to their lighter brass or nickel counterparts.

What Is The Most Common Dart Weight?

The most common dart weight is in the range of 21 to 25 grams.

While some players can comfortably use 30-gram darts, these are too heavy for most people.

Using darts around the 50-gram mark is something very few professionals do and is certainly not recommended for the average player.

How Heavy Should Your Darts Be?

The best place to start is in the average 21-25 gram range.

The weight of your darts is highly personal and depends on a variety of factors.

Hopefully, they have a variety of darts you can test.

If you perform well with a specific weight, even if it is on the heavier side of the spectrum, do not change just because someone might tell you that they are too heavy.

You can find darts in an array of weights and sizes.

This can lead to many questions, one of which is, how heavy should darts be?

Darts should be between 18-26 grams.

The weight of a dart heavily relies on player preference.

Even the top professionals in the PDC all have different tastes when it comes to heavy or light darts.

Are Heavy or Light Darts Better?

When it comes to the weight of the dart, your throwing style decides whether light or heavy darts are better.

Heavier darts are better for people who make straight throws towards the target.

The weight helps keep the dart are on the correct path.

Lighter darts are better for people who have an arc to their throw.

Your physical capabilities of throwing the dart are also a factor.

If you are struggling to have the heavy darts reach the target then try lighter ones.

If you feel your dart is going too high, get a heavier one.

What Weight of Darts Do The Pros Use?

The average weight of darts used by professionals is around 22 grams.

For example, Michael van Gerwen who is currently ranked as the number one dart player in the world uses a dart that weighs 23 grams.

While the number two ranked dart player in the world, Peter Wright, uses a dart that weighs 22 grams.

This set of 22g darts by Red Dragon were created in tandem with Peter Wright.

There are of course outliers like Phil Taylor who uses a 26-gram dart.

What Is The Best Weight of Dart For A Beginner?

In general, anywhere between 16-20 grams is a good starting weight for beginners.

Since lighter darts tend to be thrown in an arc, they rely less on accuracy than heavy darts do.

Therefore, lighter darts make it easier for the beginner to hit the target than a heavy dart does.

Can You Start With Heavier Darts?

Some people recommend that instead of starting with lighter darts, you start with ones weighing between 24 to 26 grams.

This is because heavier darts force you to become more accurate with your throws.

Once you have your accuracy down, you can move to a lighter dart.

Your best bet is to start light and then move to heavy if you feel the desire to.

Women and children may find that the lighter darts are easier for them to throw.

26 gram darts are not too heavy.

Darts can weigh as much as 50 grams.

You can even find pros like Phil Taylor and Robert Thornton who both use darts that weigh 26 grams.

However, these two pros are known as using the heaviest darts in the professional world.

As mentioned before, the weight of the dart is dependent upon your throwing style and preferences.

Whether a dart is too heavy or not is completely dependent upon your throwing style.

The average weight of a dart used by professionals is about 22g.

This does not mean you should be throwing a 22g dart.

Darts should be as heavy or as light as you need them to be.

Going to the dart store and experimenting with different weights is the best way to decide what works best for you.