How Darts Scoring Works
A dartboard looks chaotic but scores on a simple rule: the number of the segment you hit, multiplied by the ring you land in.
What each ring is worth
| Area | Value |
|---|---|
| Large single | Face value (20 = 20) |
| Outer ring (double) | Value × 2 (D20 = 40) |
| Inner ring (treble) | Value × 3 (T20 = 60) |
| Outer bull | 25 |
| Inner bull | 50 (counts as a double) |
The maximum turn
Three darts in the treble 20 gives 180 — the highest possible turn, and the number the crowd calls out. The treble 20 bed is only about 10 mm wide, which is why 180 stays rare even at professional level.
How a 501 leg counts down
- Both players start on 501.
- Each turn is three darts; the total is subtracted from the remaining score.
- You must land exactly on zero, and the final dart must be a double.
- Overshooting, or leaving exactly 1, busts the turn.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The inner bull is 50 and is treated as double 25, so you can legally finish a leg on it.
The segments either side of 20 are 1 and 5 — a bad miss costs you dearly. Beside 19 sit 3 and 7, so a stray dart still scores reasonably. Players who are scoring inconsistently often switch to the 19s for that reason.