Comparison
Steel tip vs soft tip darts
Different weights, different distances, different boards. Buying the wrong ones is the most common darts mistake.
By Ryder M. · Last updated September 27, 2026 · How we pick
Short answer: steel tips go with bristle boards, soft tips go with electronic boards, and they are not interchangeable. Steel-tip darts are heavier and thrown from 7ft 9¼in; soft-tip darts are lighter and usually thrown from about 8ft. Buying the wrong type for your board is the most common mistake in this category.
Side by side
The differences that matter
| Steel tip | Soft tip | |
|---|---|---|
| Point | Sharpened steel | Molded plastic |
| Typical weight | 20-26g | Usually under 20g |
| Board | Bristle (compressed sisal) | Electronic (plastic segments) |
| Throw distance | 7ft 9¼in | Commonly about 8ft |
| Bullseye height | 5ft 8in | 5ft 8in |
| Used in | Pubs, leagues, professional tournaments | Bars with electronic machines, home electronic boards |
| Flight path | Heavier, more arced | Lighter, flatter, faster |
| Damage on a miss | Goes into plaster | Much less damage |
| Consumables | Flights, occasionally stems | Tips break regularly; flights |
Weight is the difference people underestimate. The plastic tip on a soft-tip dart cannot carry the mass a steel point can, which caps how heavy a soft-tip dart can be. That changes the whole throw — lighter darts need more speed and fly flatter, so the aiming point and the release are genuinely different.
Quick picks
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best steel tip darts Red Dragon Amberjack Steel Tip Darts A well-balanced mid-weight set that suits most players. | Anyone on a bristle board | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 |  Best soft tip darts Viper Sinister Soft Tip Darts Proper soft-tip darts to replace the ones bundled with an electronic board. | Anyone on an electronic board | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 | Best premium steel tip Winmau Simon Whitlock Steel Tip Darts A signature set with a distinctive grip, for a player with preferences. | A gift for someone who already plays | Check price on Amazon |
#ad · Buy links are affiliate links and we earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Photographs are licensed images of the category, not of the individual unit — see each retailer listing for the product’s own photography.
1. Best steel tip darts
Red Dragon Amberjack Steel Tip Darts
Red Dragon
Around the middle of the weight range with a usable grip — the safe recommendation for a bristle board.
What we like
- Well balanced
- Mid weight suits most
- Replaceable stems and flights
- Inexpensive
Worth knowing
- Preference is personal
- Steel tip only
- Flights are consumables
Who it’s wrong for
Anyone with an electronic board — they need soft tips.
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2. Best soft tip darts
Viper Sinister Soft Tip Darts
Viper (GLD Products)
Bundled soft tips are usually the weakest part of an electronic board package. These are a real upgrade.
What we like
- Better balance than bundled darts
- Spare tips included
- Correct weight for electronic boards
- Cheap
Worth knowing
- Tips are consumables
- Lighter feel than steel tip
- Not for bristle boards
Who it’s wrong for
A bristle board — plastic tips will not stick in sisal reliably.
#ad · We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. How this is funded
3. Best premium steel tip
Winmau Simon Whitlock Steel Tip Darts
Winmau
Professional signature sets are real specifications rather than badges — grip and balance are designed around a specific throw.
What we like
- Distinctive, well-engineered grip
- Good balance
- Presents well as a gift
- Quality flights and stems
Worth knowing
- Grip style is a strong preference
- More expensive
- Steel tip only
Who it’s wrong for
A beginner, who has no preferences yet and is better served by a neutral mid-weight set.
#ad · We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. How this is funded
Setup
Why the distances differ
Steel-tip play uses a throw distance of 7ft 9¼in (2.37m) from the face of the board, as set by the World Darts Federation and used by the PDC. Soft-tip play commonly uses about 8ft (2.44m), because electronic boards sit proud of the wall and the measurement is taken from a different reference point.
The practical consequence is that you cannot set up one board using the other's figures. Check the manual for your specific board, and mount the throw line accordingly — full details in our height and distance guide.
Compatibility
Can you use one on the other?
Steel tips on an electronic board: never. The steel point will punch through the plastic segments and can destroy the sensors behind them. It voids every warranty in the category and there is no repair.
Soft tips on a bristle board: technically possible, practically pointless. Plastic tips do not penetrate sisal reliably, so darts fall out constantly and the game does not work. Conversion points exist that turn a soft-tip barrel into a steel-tip one, which is the proper way to use the same barrels on both — but the weight will still be light for steel-tip play.
Choosing darts
What weight to buy
- Steel tip, beginner: 22-24g is the standard starting point and a sensible default when buying for someone else.
- Steel tip, experienced: entirely personal. Professionals throw anywhere across the range, and the right weight is the one that produces a repeatable throw.
- Soft tip: usually 16-20g, dictated largely by what the plastic tip can support. There is less room to choose.
- Grip: knurled, ringed or smooth. A strong preference rather than a performance ranking — smooth grips release more easily, aggressive grips give more purchase.
- Flights and stems: cheap consumables that change the flight characteristics noticeably. Worth experimenting with once someone has a set they like.
Questions
Common questions
What is the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?
Can you use steel tip darts on an electronic dartboard?
Are soft tip darts easier to throw?
What weight darts should I buy?
Is the throw distance the same for soft tip and steel tip?
Sources
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