There’s not much point in playing darts if you haven’t got quality ones to throw with! Even the best players will be all over the place if they’re using wonky shafts or imbalanced flights. For beginners, shoddy darts can be so frustrating that they’ll put you off playing for the rest of your life. The best darts are hard to find, though, given how many brands and models there are on the market these days.

That’s why we’ve put this guide together. As your gameroom experts, we’ve spent lots of time reviewing the best darts on the market. We’ve looked at absolutely everything, from knock-offs to the premium brands.

After extensive reviewing, we’ve narrowed down the field to a few high-quality options for both steel and soft-tip darts. You’ll find our top three picks in each category below. We’ve also included links to our dedicated guides to the best soft-tip darts and the best steel-tip darts, so you can see even more options!

Best Steel-Tip Dart Reviews

Widdy Classic American-Style Steel-Tip Darts

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These Widdy Darts are the least expensive steel-tips we currently recommend. They’re something of an oddity, in that there aren’t many other darts on the market with wood shafts and grips. The steel tip actually extends into the barrel to help with the weight distribution, but the look and feel is all wood. It’s matched with turkey-feather flights. While they might not be as sleek or sophisticated as the Elkadart’s below, the Widdy darts are very well-made (in the USA) and they throw well. We think they’re a great choice for folks who want to go traditional, as well as for those looking for inexpensive darts that won’t fall apart or throw wonky.

Elkadart Rhino 80% Tungsten Steel-Tip Darts

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These Elkadart Rhino darts are our premium steel-tip recommendation to anyone who prefers a heavier dart. Heavier darts are usually the best choice for new throwers, but many experienced players also like to have something that hits a bit harder. These are available from 25g-30g, which is a solid 5g heavier than the weight options on the Elkadart Razor’s below. We like the Rhino set because it’s of much higher quality than cheaper options (and many at the same price). These darts are made entirely in England with excellent quality control. The materials (steel, nylon) are all top-notch, and they throw perfectly.

Elkadart Razor 80% Tungsten Steel-Tip Darts

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Elkadart’s Razors are our high-end picks for players who want a lighter steel-tip dart. They’re made in England like the Rhino’s, to a stellar level of quality control and construction. We think they’re the best on the market for experienced players (unless you simply prefer the heavier approach). You can get these in variants from 21g-25g.

The Razor’s are noticeably lighter than the Rhino’s, thanks to their aluminum shafts. They’re just as nice to hold, though, with gnurled grips. They’re consistent, accurate, and a lot more resilient than other lightweights we’ve reviewed.

Best Soft-Tip Dart Reviews

Elkadart Neon Soft-Tip Darts

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These Neon’s are made by Elkadart, the same company that makes our high-end steel-tip recommendations. We think they make by far the best soft-tip options on the market, which is why we’ve recommended 3 different Elkadart models in this category.

The Neon is a very inexpensive dart for the level of quality it offers. There are certainly cheaper options on the market, but we think that this is the cheapest that’s any good. It’s made just as well as the steel-tip picks above, with a gnurled grip, brass barrel, and aluminum shaft. The best thing about it is the tip. It’s much more resilient than others at this price.

This model is only available at 18 grams, which is the main reason why we recommend it to beginners. The price should also appeal to new/casual players. If you want more options, spend a bit more for one of the nicer models below.

Elkadart Turbo Soft-Tip Darts

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The Elkadart Turbo is a slightly nicer soft-tip dart, available in a wide range of weights (10g-18g). The aluminum shaft and high-quality tip are the same components on the Neon, but the electroplated brass barrel gets an upgrade. This one has a cool racing detail on the flights. It’s made in England just like the other Elkadart models we recommend.

We suggest the Turbo to the average player who doesn’t need something crazy high-end, but who still wants something above average. The only better soft-tip dart out there is the Black Mamba below, and the Turbo comes in lighter options. So, if you want to stick to something lighter or simply spend less money, choose the Turbo.

Elkadart Black Mamba 80% Tungsten Soft-Tip Darts

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The Elkadart Black Mamba is our top-quality recommendation in the soft-tip category. The tungsten/nickel barrel is stronger than the brass component on the Turbo, and that’s the main difference between the two models. The Black Mamba also has a higher weight range, from 14g to 18g. While there’s not a world of difference, this is a more resilient dart to use for daily play.

Buying Guide

Suit Your Board

Aside from the basics (finding a dart that’s balanced, ergonomic, and durable), the most important thing is to find a dart that suits your board. There are two different types of board, electronic and traditional (bristle). If you’re going to be playing on a traditional board with a bristle surface, you’ll need to buy steel-tip darts. If you’re trying to get set up with an electronic board, you need soft-tip darts. It’s also important to find the right ones, since not every electronic dartboard will accept every dart.

Suit Yourself

Darts are personal equipment. Even though you’ll probably have some people over and let them use yours at some point, it’s important to choose darts which suit your style and strength. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere you can get your hands on a variety of options. Figure out which grips feel the best. Check the weights and see which is the most natural for your arm. Knowing your preferences up front will help you to choose between our recommendations.

Decide On Your Budget

Darts can cost anywhere from $1-$15 each. They’re usually sold in sets, but you should think about the unit price before you make any decisions. How much can you afford to spend per dart? Do you play every day, or only occasionally?

Avoid The Generic Imports

There are hundreds of crappy, generic imported darts on the market right now. They’re from brands you’ve never heard of, and in many cases are just the same Chinese darts with different logos slapped on them. They’re flimsy, breakable, and incredibly annoying to play with. Do yourself a favor and stay away from them! We recommend sticking to UK/USA-made darts, which have much better build quality and design. If you’re on a super tight budget, though, the Chinese packs can be a good value. Just don’t plan on them lasting very long or being particularly enjoyable to use.

What’s Next

If you’ve seen some darts in this guide which seem up your alley, great! Click on the links in our reviews to find out more about any of our recommendations.

To find links to all our other buying guides, including the best dartboards and the rest of your gameroom gear needs, check out our homepage!