How to Play Garden Darts

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Garden Darts is an outdoor throwing game for two to four players in which oversized darts, fitted with weighted tips and plastic flights, are lobbed underarm toward a flat target ring placed on the ground. It is simple to learn, satisfying to master, and scales neatly from a quiet game between two adults to a lively four-player competition.

Its appeal lies in the combination of skill, tactics, and the open air. The equipment is robust, the rules take under two minutes to explain, and a single round can be as short or as long as the group decides. It is a staple of garden parties, camping trips, and family barbecues across the UK.

A little history

Garden Darts is a modern adaptation of traditional lawn-based target throwing games that have existed in various forms for generations. The specific format with weighted plastic darts and a ground-level hoop ring became widely popular in the latter decades of the twentieth century as garden leisure grew into a mainstream leisure category. Its origins as a distinct named game are unclear; it draws on the same underarm-throw-to-target principles seen in horseshoes, quoits, and similar folk games. Traditionally, the game has no single governing body and regional rule variations are common.

Setting up

1. Choose a flat, open playing surface free of obstacles. Grass is ideal.
2. Place the target ring flat on the ground.
3. Mark or agree a throwing line a set distance from the ring. A common distance is 6 to 8 metres; adjust for younger or less experienced players.
4. Divide players into two sides: solo (1 vs 1 or 1 vs 1 vs 1 vs 1) or paired teams of two.
5. Each side takes the two darts of their designated colour.
6. Decide by mutual agreement or a practice throw who throws first.

How to play

1. Players or teams stand behind the throwing line and take turns throwing their darts one at a time toward the target ring.
2. All throws must be made underarm. Overarm throws are not permitted.
3. A player throws both of their darts before the opposing player or team throws.
4. In a two-team game, one player from each team throws from the same end; after each round, the scoring player or team throws first in the next round (see 'advantage throw' below). Alternatively, teams simply alternate who goes first each round.
5. After all darts have been thrown in a round, players walk to the ring and assess the positions.
6. A dart whose tip lands inside the ring scores 3 points.
7. A dart that lands outside the ring but closer to the ring's centre than any opponent dart scores 1 point.
8. Only one player or team scores per round. If the nearest dart is inside the ring and an opponent's dart is also inside the ring, both are scored separately (see Winning section).
9. Remove darts, note the scores, return to the throwing line, and begin the next round.
10. In a four-player paired game, partners stand at opposite ends of the pitch and throw toward each other's end, alternating which pair throws first each round.
11. Play continues until a player or team reaches or exceeds the agreed winning score.

Winning and scoring

The standard winning score is 21 points, and a player or team must reach exactly 21 to win. If a score would take a player beyond 21, those points are not counted that round and play continues. Some groups play without the bust rule, in which case the first to reach or pass 21 wins outright. Scoring uses a cancellation method: only the side whose darts are closest to the ring's centre scores in any given round. A dart inside the ring scores 3 points. A dart outside the ring but nearer to the centre than any opponent dart scores 1 point. Multiple scoring darts from the same side can be counted in the same round, so a maximum of 6 points is possible in one round if both darts of one side land inside the ring and neither opponent dart does.

The fine points

The most common dispute is whether a dart is inside or outside the ring. The accepted ruling is that the dart tip must be fully within the inner edge of the ring; if the tip touches the ring itself, it is considered outside. Measure from the tip, not the shaft or flight. Where the call is genuinely too close to judge by eye, a ruler or the edge of another dart can be used to check clearance.

A second frequent argument concerns disturbed darts: if a thrown dart strikes another dart or the ring and moves it, the dart is scored in its final resting position after all movement has stopped. Darts that fall over and lie flat are scored from where the tip came to rest. If a dart bounces fully out of the playing area, it scores nothing and is not re-thrown.

How to win more often

• Aim for consistency over power. A smooth, pendulum-like underarm swing gives the most repeatable arc and is far more reliable than a forceful lob.
• Learn the weight of your dart before the game starts. Take a practice swing at your side to feel the balance point; a dart that is nose-heavy needs a slightly higher release angle.
• When you are already inside the ring with one dart, use your second dart defensively: throw it to land just outside the ring on the far side, making it hard for your opponent to beat both your darts at once.
• In team play, communicate before each round about who is going for the ring and who is playing a blocking position. Two players both attempting ring shots often cancel each other's benefit if one misses.
• Watch your opponent's misses carefully. If they are consistently landing short, adjust your own reference point and aim slightly longer; a dart just inside the far edge of the ring is still worth 3 points.

Variations

Teams of Two

Pairs of players stand at opposite ends of the pitch. Each partner throws their two darts toward the far ring, where the opposing partner is standing. Scoring is calculated at each end independently, and the totals are combined for the round. This format suits larger groups and adds a social dimension as partners at each end can see results from their own throws immediately.

Round the Clock

Players must score inside the ring a set number of consecutive times before their point total counts. A common version requires three ring hits before any round scoring begins for that player. This slows the game and rewards accuracy over volume, making it a useful format for more experienced players looking for a greater challenge.

Closest Dart Only

Only the single dart nearest the centre of the ring scores each round, regardless of whether it is inside or outside. It scores 1 point if outside, 3 points if inside. This simplified scoring removes the multi-dart cancellation calculation and is particularly useful when playing with younger children who are still learning to count combinations quickly.

Extended Distance

Experienced players move the throwing line back to 10 metres or further to increase the difficulty. At greater distances the underarm arc must be steeper and the timing of release becomes more critical. This is a straightforward way to extend the challenge without changing any of the core scoring rules.

Garden Darts: frequently asked questions