Best Dartboard Stand (Portable & Standing)
Best Overall
Winmau Xtreme Dartboard Stand
Runner-up
Darts Master Dartboard Stand
Best Inexpensive
GRAN Portable Tripod Dart Board stand
Last Updated: 5h Mar, 2022
A dartboard stand saves you the hassle of permanently fixing the board on the wall, and allows you to take your dartboard anywhere you want - be it outdoor BBQ parties or camping. The stand is also lightweight, portable, and enables you to play with tournament regulations.
But choosing a quality dartboard stand can be a daunting task, especially for first-time buyers. You need to make sure the stand does not wobble, no matter how heavy the dart is or at what speed you throw the darts at. Then there are so many different stands from different manufacturers, making the selection process even trickier.
But don't worry, we've got you covered.
Whether you're looking for a stand for bristle or electronic board, we've rounded up 4 of the very best dartboard stands for the money. And for all those DIYers, we've also included a DIY guide to make your very own stand at half the cost.
Here are our top picks:
Our Picks for the top Dartboard Stands
- Winmau Xtreme Freestanding Dartboard Unit- Best Overall (Portable)
- Darts Master Dartboard Stand - Runner Up
- GRAN Portable Tripod Dart Board stand - Budget Pick
- DIY Approach - Simple and easy way to make your own dart stand
1. Winmau Xtreme Freestanding - Best Portable Dartboard stand
This rock-solid dart stand and also our top pick comes from the stable of the Winmau. If you don't know, Winmau is well-known for making some of the best bristle dartboards. So, you can certainly count on the quality and reliability of the unit.
Unlike cheaper tripod stands, this unit features four legs, giving it extra stability. The stand is made out of high gauge steel, making it even more sturdy and durable. Due to the increased weight, the stand remains footed at all times with little to no vibrations, no matter what force you throw the darts with. The only time I found the stand slightly move was while trying to pull out the darts, but it was marginal. Additionally, the stand comes with a wall stabilizer to reduce the vibrations even further.
The other feature which I really liked is that it's compatible with most dart boards and not limited to just Winmau boards. Mounting the dart board is also as easy as it gets. Place the board on the mounting bracket, tighten the screw, and you're done.
The stand is collapsible and reduces to one third the size when folded, making it portable and travel-friendly. The compact size makes it easy to carry the stands wherever you go. When collapsed the unit measures 100cm x 13cm x 13cm. It's also height-adjustable and comes with a height setting lock that allows you to set the board on uneven surfaces as well. If you would like to play with kids, you can reduce the height and let the them play more comfortably.
Optionally, you can also install a dartboard backing to protect the wall from errant throws. A handy tray at the center is provided to keep darts and chalks.
Conclusion: The Winmau Xtreme Freestanding Dartboard ticks all the boxes of what you expect in a dart stand. This is a no-brainer choice for anyone looking for a quality stand and does not mind paying a bit of premium.
2. Darts Master Dartboard Stand
For those looking for a budget dart stand that's robust yet lightweight enough for portability, the Darts Master Dartboard Stand won't disappoint. This heavy-duty stand is made out of steel, although of lower gauge than our top pick but still good enough for most players.
Due to its lightweight, it's easy to carry around, and you can set up the game anywhere in the house. Even more, you can take it to a party or to your friend's place for a game night. The lighter profile makes it easy to carry around, and you can set up the game with ease, be it indoors or outdoors.
The stand is compatible with all types of boards - bristle or electronic, using the universal wall mount bracket. Installing the dartboard is pretty easy and does not take more than 5 minutes. You just need a standard screwdriver to tighten the screw, and that's it. In the default configuration, the stand stands at regulation height (5' 8''), and you also have the option to adjust the height to your liking.
As it's a tripod (with three legs), so obviously, the stability isn't as good as you get in the four legs but still good enough. The stand wobbles a bit when you are throwing or taking out the darts, but it does not impact the gameplay in any way.
Conclusion: With this unit, you're slightly compromising on the build quality, but I feel it isn't substantial enough to deter you from the purchase. Overall, the Darts Master Stand is ideal for players on a budget.
3. GRAN Portable Tripod Dart Board stand
Next, we have the GRAN Portable Tripod Dart Board stand. Measuring just under 3 1/2 pounds, this also happens to be the lightest stand on the list, making it extremely portable and easy to carry. The build quality is excellent and so is the durability. The tripod is made out of stainless steel, and it comes with O-type bracket, which is compatible with most bristle and electronic dartboards. When folded, the stand measures 85 cm x 9 cm and slides into the provided carry bag.
The carry bag comes with both hand and shoulder straps ensuring a comfortable hold. In the kit, you also get a measuring chain to mark the oche distance.
Conclusion: Dollar for dollar, this is the best value dartboard stand in the market - highly recommended for anyone looking for an affordable and lightweight stand.
4. The DIY way
A dart stand isn't complex and is something that can be fairly easy to make. All you need is some DIY spirit, a lot of patience, and of course the right materials.
Last fall, I made this simple and functional dart stand for my buddy. He has been using it with a Winmau Bristle dartboard for quite some time now and has good things to say about the setup. In total, the stand costed me about $40 to make and a couple of hours to finish the job. It would have taken me even lesser time had I known the size of the bolts beforehand.
Here is the plan:
Materials required:
- A Universal speaker stand with safety pins. I used this: AKUSTIK Universal Speaker Stand, but any stand with safety pin feature would do.
- 2x 1/4'' bolt and wing nut (2 1/2'' length). I used these: RuiLing 10 Sets Screw Bolts with Wing Nuts
- MDF wood 12 to 16mm thick ~ 17x10 inches in dimension (you can pick it from your local hardware store)
- Any wood drill
- Screwdriver
- Measuring tape
Step 1: Cut a piece of MDF wood roughly 17 inches in length and 10 inches wide. It should be big enough to cover the top part of the tripod and top two holes. Refer to the image below.
Step 2: Drill two holes on the wood piece matching the top two holes on the tripod.
Step 3: Attach the wood to the tripod using the bolts and tighten it. Make sure you use a washer for a firm fit.
Step 4: Next, fully expand the tripod legs and put the safety pin on the bottom-most hole. Measure the regulation dart height (5' 8'') from the flooring to mark the bulls-eye.
Step 5: Screw the dartboard mounting bracket on the wood at the regulation height you just measured.
Step 6: Mount the dartboard
And there you go, you have a fully functional dartboard stand ready to use.
Few points to keep in mind. Measure the regulation height only when the legs are fully expanded. The tripod is fully extended with the safety pin at the last slot. This will save you from the hassle of measuring the height each time you set out to play. Make sure you bolt the wood tightly to the tripod to prevent wobbling or vibration.
Conclusion: I hope you liked this DIY approach. If you decided to make one yourself or have any questions, please drop your queries in the comment section below.
Buyer's Guide to Dartboard Stands
Not all of us have a spare wall to hang a dartboard while some are looking for more of a portable setup. A dartboard stand does all of it and more, provided you pick the right one. There are a couple of points which you must keep in mind while selecting a stand, as discussed below.
<Type>
Broadly there are two types of stand. First is the self-standing or free-standing, and the other one is the lean against the wall type of stand. Let's talk about self-standing stand first.
Basically, a freestanding dartboard stand consists of an adjustable height tripod or quad pod with a mounting bracket to install the dartboard. There is nothing complicated about this system. It's easy to set up, lightweight, and very portable. However, it isn't perfectly stable, and you may find it to wobble whenever the darts hit the board or whenever you take out the darts. But the wobbling is minimal and does not impact the game.
That said, quad pods are much more stable than the tripods. Moreover, if you would like to further add stability to the structure you can put some weights so that it remains footed at all times.
Also, tripods come with easy to adjust height adjustment feature to set your desired height. By default, it's set to regulation height, but you can also lower it down to a more convenient position as per your liking. Some stands come with an option to attach dart board backing to safeguard your wall from errant darts while some even come with a dart mat to mark the oche distance.
Now, let's talk about lean against wall dartboard stand. You find such stands mainly in larger tournament halls or for outdoor usage. They're much sturdier and heavier, making them less portable at the same time.
These stands are designed to lean against the wall giving it much more stability. As a result, you don't find the wobbling issue in such stands. Additionally, they also come with scorer and backboard. Clearly, such stands are more geared towards professional use, and they tend to be much costlier.
<Mounting>
The next thing you need to check is whether the mounting bracket that the stand comes with is compatible with your board or not. If you own a board from brands like Winmau, Gladiator, or Viper, mostly they will fit the stand right out of the box.
The stands usually come with a U-shaped slotted metal bracket for the dartboard to slide into. This also allows to easily rotate the board for even wearing. Higher quality stands come with spring to dampen the effect when the dart hits the board and reduces the noise.
<Price>
You can get a dartboard stand for as low as $50 and as high as $200. So, what's the difference between cheaper and costlier stands, and does it make sense to buy an expensive stand?
The costlier stands are better built, more durable, and offer a better overall playing experience. However, on the cheaper stands, you'll find the stand to shake every time you hit and take out the dart. That said, I feel buying a stand, in the range of $90 to $120, offers the best value and a healthy compromise between build quality and pricing. But if you intend to use the stand for tournaments, you're better off choosing the top-end stands.
Let's Wrap Things Up:
A dartboard stand gives you the freedom to play darts wherever and however you want. It allows you to focus more on your game without worrying about fixing the board on the wall or measuring the height every time you set on to play. Just, make sure you also use a quality dartboard with a decent set of darts to really enjoy and improve your game.
While choosing the stands, we interviewed several avid dart players, researched online, and personally tested quite of them. We're confident that you'll surely find a stand that meets your needs and hopefully falls in your budget.
If you would like to recommend a dartboard stand, or if you have doubts or queries, please leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
