Best Electronic Dart Board – Top Rated For 2022

One of my favorite games to play with family and friends is darts. Recently, I was invited to a party where they had an electronic dartboard – it turned out really fun playing on their board. So, I decided it would make sense for me to try and find the best electronic dartboard for our home.

The best electronic dartboards are Arachnid Cricket Pro 800, Arachnid Cricket Pro 900, Viper by GLD Products Ion Electronic Dartboard, Viper by GLD Products 777 Electronic Dartboard Sport Size, Gran Board 2 Bluetooth Electronic Dartboard. There are many electronic dartboards on the market, but you can’t go wrong with any of these models.

The world of electronic dartboards is a rapidly expanding one, with new models coming out almost daily. There are all sorts of different types and styles; some feel like they’re cheating, while others bring your game into the 21st century. In this article, I’ll review the top boards and explain essential features to look for when buying.

Best Electronic Dart Boards

The dartboard is a board that will provide loads of fun for your family and friends. The competitive game of darts requires plenty of focus and ensures a great time. Buying the right dartboard to keep your family or friends entertained can be difficult. You might be trying to decide between purchasing a manual dartboard or choosing an electronic dartboard.

Furthermore, whether you choose an electronic dartboard or a standard one, you still have to choose among the many boards on the market. The entire process can honestly feel a tad overwhelming.

That is why we have compiled this list of the best electronic dartboards available on the market. We had to play quite of few games and research the products to settle on these five.

Additionally, we have provided a buying guide to assist you in understanding the reasons behind our choices. Read on to find out more.

1. Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 Electronic Dartboard – Best Value

Arachnid is one of the most famous makers of dartboards in the world. Their products come with rugged beauty and class that raises them above the competition.

For more than four decades, the company has been dedicated to providing fun lovers with affordable yet impressive dartboards. The Cricket Pro 800 is the company’s foray into the electronic dartboard market.

The board is made of high-quality materials, is quite durable, and comes with features that make it an excellent choice. If you are a beginner, you will enjoy playing on this board due to features like low bounce-out rates and more.

The Arachnid weighs around 10 pounds which is a decent weight. The target area is correctly sized to provide a challenge to players. There are over 35 games that come pre-installed in this dartboard.

Each of these games has seven difficulty levels, which is a good option because beginners can start with the easiest level and work their way to the most challenging. As a result, beginners learn and get better at playing the game of darts.

The board has a micro-thin segment that reduces bounce-outs to a large extent. We love this feature because you spend more time playing and less time picking darts off the floor. Although inevitably, darts still bounce out of the board when you make a lousy throw, the rate is significantly reduced.

As an electronic dartboard, it comes with an automatic score recorder. The benefit this gives is quite immense. Say goodbye to walking up to the board after every throw to check out your score. The score display is clear and easy to understand. During our testing, we observed that we could see the score even from seven feet away.

One feature we love is the heckler sound effect. Whenever you make a good score, this sound effect praises you by playing out applause. On the other hand, if you make a terrible score, be prepared to be heckled by the “crowd.”

The board is impressive and is one of the best electronic dartboards you can buy. It comes with several accessories, including two sets of darts, although we changed the darts for those more durable. Click here to see the best price.

2. Arachnid Cricket Pro 900 Electronic Dartboard – Top Choice

With over 40 years of experience in making dartboards, Arachnid comes with another product that makes this list of the best electronic dartboards.

The Arachnid 900 is a dart enthusiast’s dream come true. It has the perfect balance of performance and innovation, but it also packs in extra features that make this board even more impressive.

Like the 800, the Arachnid 900 comes with a digital readout. Scores are automatically collated and displayed. We observed that we could read the scores on the LED screen from around eight feet away during our testing.

With this feature, you can play for as long as you desire without pausing the game to update the scores.

The Arachnid is made of high-quality materials, and this is evident right out of the box. It feels premium and more expensive than it actually is. It is compact as well and will not take up plenty of space in your rec room.

The target area has a diameter of 15.5″, much like the Arachnid 800. Also, the board has a whopping 48 games to ensure you don’t get bored.

Compared to the mere 39 games offered by the Arachnid 800, this is impressive indeed. When you consider the levels and the variations within the games, it amounts to over 350 modes.

The Heckler feature is a sound effect that will improve your experience. Whenever you make a bad throw, the machine “heckles” you. While we found this amusing, you might find it somewhat distracting or even irritating.

Although these devices are known for their bounce-outs (they come with plastic tips), we were pleasantly surprised to discover that the Arachnid 900 handles this well. By implementing square hole technology, the dart can penetrate the board’s surface and is held better. Furthermore, the micro-segments ensure that bounce-outs are reduced. Click here to see the best price.

3. Viper Ion Electronic Dartboard – Best Illuminated Dart Board

If you are looking for a dartboard made of high-quality materials that will last for an extended period, then this electronic dartboard from GLD products will suit you right to the ground.

It comes with several features that lend it a deserved spot on this list. It is an illuminated dartboard that evokes arcade-style boards and makes your playing experience feel retro.

Whether you are a professional player or only playing for fun, you will have a great time using this dartboard. It comes in a relatively lightweight design and durable construction.

During our test, we were able to set up the game in about 15 minutes. The sturdy nylon and thin spider on the surface ensure that the board will last for a long time and that you enjoy reduced bounce-outs.

The main attraction of this board, as the name implies, is the LED lights installed beneath the surface. These give off an excellent result and make playing more enjoyable.

The LCD screen on the board is easy to read, even from a distance. The bright display enhances visibility and keeps a count of the score. Gameplay on the board is quite impressive.

The board comes with 48 in-built games that ensure that you will always have something interesting to do. Furthermore, the 48 games have over 300 modes. With all these features in place, you can enjoy a competitive game with up to 8 friends.

One mode we particularly enjoyed is the integrated light games which add another dimension to gameplay. Click here to see the best price.

4. Viper 777 Electronic Dartboard – Best Cheap Electronic Dart Board

The Viper 777 is an electronic dartboard that comes at a very low price but still manages to squeeze in excellent features that make it stand out from other cheap products.

However, it should be noted that as it is a very cheap product, it doesn’t have as many rich features as the more expensive electronic dartboards.

It features a bright LCD screen that displays your score and delivers a beautiful view. You do not have to walk up to the board before you can calculate your score: the board does it for you.

It is a tournament-quality dartboard that up to 8 players can play at a time. This board also has 43 different games you can play and 320 modes to choose from.

Considering the relatively low price, the board surprisingly has a bilingual voice effect feature. With this feature, you can listen to the board either in English or in Spanish.

It comes in a portable, compact size. To further enhance the portability, the board has the option of running on AA batteries.

Just as with quality electronic dartboards, it comes in a design that reduces bounce out. What features are these? We observed that the resin segments and the spider hold the darts in place and reduce the chances of the dart falling out. Click here to see the best price.

5. Gran Board 2 Bluetooth Electronic Dartboard – Best App-Driven Board

The Gran Board is the best app-controlled electronic dartboard available. It is excellent for folks that want such an experience. If you feel like playing with people from all around the world, this board grants you that opportunity.

During testing, we observed that the board delivers quiet and efficient performance. It comes in a beautiful design and is compact as well. Hence, it doesn’t take up space in the home.

The quiet performance we enjoyed is due to the excellent design. The segments of the board feature foam parts. Hence, it absorbs vibrations and noise, allowing you to enjoy a quiet game in your home.

You can install the app on your IOS and Android devices. You can plug it in, too; however, you likely won’t need to very often because the Bluetooth mode reduces the amount of power consumed and grants you the opportunity to play for extended periods.

Installation is a breeze; we installed the whole board in less than 20 minutes. Click here to see the best price.

How To Get The Right Electronic Dartboard

Before analyzing the features to consider when choosing the best electronic dartboard, let’s take some time to consider the differences between electronic dartboards and traditional dartboards.

Types of Dart Boards

There are different types of dartboards on the market, and having a basic understanding of them will help you choose the right one. Here are the kinds of available dartboards:

Bristle Dartboards

This type of board is the most popular type of board on the market. It is found in almost all gaming establishments and rec rooms. A fun fact about these boards is that they are used not just for recreational purposes but also for competitions and professional tournaments.

They are called “Bristle boards” because they are made of hundreds or even thousands of bristles. The sisal wood makes up the body of the board. They are the traditional dartboards and are easy to maintain and set up.

They last for a long time and do not develop holes due to the darts. The bristle design ensures that any gap that is created is closed instantly. These boards have almost no disadvantages except for the lack of an automatic scoring system.

Disposable Coiled Paper Dartboards

These boards are disposable boards that are designed solely for recreational purposes. They are made of a paper wound in a steel frame. When darts puncture these boards, the hole doesn’t close up. Therefore, after some time, they have to be disposed of. They are super cheap due to their disposable nature and low quality.

Electronic Dartboards

These are the subject of this article and are relatively new in the world of darts. They have steadily grown in popularity over the years. Although they are not made for professional use, they deliver a fun experience that many folks enjoy.

The working principle behind these boards is the same regardless of the type. The surface of the board features tiny holes that are connected to the score reader. Once the dart strikes a hole, it is activated, and the corresponding score is displayed. These boards offer numerous advantages, which I go over later in this article.

Reasons to Choose Electronic Dartboards

Here are some of the best reasons why many folks prefer electronic dartboards over traditional dartboards.

1. With electronic dartboards, you do not require inputting the scores yourself. Imagine the last time you used a traditional dartboard and the fuss that was made over score calculation. With this board, there is no cheating or manipulation; what you hit is what you get. Aside from the accuracy of scores, it also saves you time.
2. They come with features that make playing darts more interesting. Traditional dartboard does not come with features like lighting or sound effects. However, electronic darts come with sound effects. Some of these effects are even customizable to provide you with a more enjoyable game.
3. They are safe to play. To make the darts stick to the board, traditional dartboards often used sharp, metal tips. While this might provide a satisfying thump, it is dangerous. The electronic darts feature plastic tips. Thus, the risk of injury while playing is largely reduced.
4. They are more durable. Electronic dartboards are quite durable. Unlike traditional dart that can gradually destroy furniture and the surface of the board, these darts are safe and friendly on your furniture and board.
5. All members of the family or group can play on electronic dartboards.

Disadvantages of Electronic Dartboards

Despite all the excellent advantages, these boards also come with cons. Some of these are:

1. You require special darts to play a game on them. Without these, playing a dart game will be impossible.
2. They usually cost more than traditional darts due to their additional features
3. For folks used to regular darts and dartboards, the electronic experience might not be as fulfilling.
4. They cannot be used in professional tournaments

Features To Consider

Now, let’s see the features and factors to consider when choosing an electronic dartboard.

Size

As we pointed out earlier, electronic dartboards are not designed for playing professional tournaments. This allows them to be different sizes, and most are smaller than the stipulated 18″ diameter of tournament-style boards.

Many electronic boards on the market are roughly 15.5″. While it isn’t as big as traditional boards, it is usually enough for casual playing and can help you work your way up to a bigger traditional board.

Number of Players

The number of players will affect the type of board you choose. Most dartboards come with a maximum number of players. It can be up to eight players or 16. The 16-player board comes with more features than the 8-player board, and it might be more expensive.

Brand

Popular brand names usually produce the highest quality of products. The brand is one of the features that can assist you in selecting the proper dartboard. While less popular manufacturers might make good boards, finding one is challenging. Therefore, to be on the safe side, it would be wiser to choose a brand known for high-quality products.

Number of Games

Electronic dartboards come with several games. Some of these boards have up to 50 games you can choose from! The higher the number of games the board has, the more chances you’ll find a fun game everyone will enjoy.

You can also customize each game mode based on the number of players and the style you desire to play.

Light and Sound Effects

Although these are not essential, they are an excellent addition to every electronic dartboard. Traditional dartboards do not come with sound or light effects, but the sound of the dart thumping into the wood is entirely satisfactory and excellent.

Similarly, the light and sound effects from electronic dartboards make the game more exciting to play. Some boards come with sounds that heckle you and are designed to come on at random times. This type of feature can improve your reaction time and create more fun and excitement.

Installation

The time and effort it takes to set up an electronic dartboard can affect your choice. Nobody wants a board that will take hours to set up before you can play. Therefore, ensure that you check out what others are saying about the ease and duration of installation before you buy the dartboard.

Source of Power

Traditional boards do not run on any power; however, as the name implies, electronic dartboards require to be powered up. The means of powering the board will affect the choice you make. Many of these boards have power adapters you can plug into a wall socket to power up the board and darts.

Others are battery-powered. Battery-powered dartboards are great since you can use them almost anywhere; just pop in the batteries, and you are good to go. However, batteries cost money and can end up being an expensive option. 

Warranty

A warranty is essential whenever you buy a product, whether an electronic dartboard or any other product. A warranty is a mark of confidence in the product. Suppose the board doesn’t come with a warranty. Then you should steer clear away from it: how can you trust a product if the manufacturer doesn’t trust it?

Best Selling Electronic Dartboards

FAQs

Conclusion

Your choice of electronic dartboard is ultimately up to you. However, you can take the stress out of buying one by using this guide and review.