Section 1: Introduction
The World Darts Federation (WDF) is recognised as the governing body for the sport of darts worldwide and is a full member of both GAISF (the Global Association of International Sports Federations) and AIMS (the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport). All international darts tournaments organised under the exclusive jurisdiction of the WDF, or its appointed Organisers, are played under the WDF Playing and Tournament Rules, currently in their Twentieth revised edition (28 February 2018).
The WDF Playing and Tournament Rules are formally divided into two parts: the Playing Rules (Clauses 1.00 to 6.00 inclusive), which govern the mechanics of throwing, scoring, and equipment; and the Tournament Rules (Clauses 7.00 to 21.00 inclusive), which govern event regulation, registration, conduct, attire, and anti-doping. This rulebook draws on both parts to describe how the game of darts is officially played.
Under the WDF Definitions, a Match is the total play between two players (or two pairs/teams), a Leg is the minimum element of a match with a winner and a loser, and a Set is that part of a match consisting of an odd number of legs. Matches, sets, and legs must always be contested over an odd number so that a clear majority winner is possible.
Section 2: Equipment
Darts (Rule 1.01): Players shall provide their own darts, which shall not exceed an overall length of 30.5 cm and shall not weigh more than 50 grams. Each dart must consist of a metallic needle-shaped point attached to a barrel. At the rear of the barrel there shall be attached a stem, which may itself consist of up to five separate pieces — for example a flight, a flight-securing device, a flight protector, and the stem itself.
Rule 1.02 requires that all darts be thrown deliberately, one at a time, by and from the hand, with the needlepoint aimed toward the face of the dartboard. A dart not thrown in this manner is declared a "foul throw" and does not count for that leg, set, or match. Rule 1.03 fixes a "throw" at a maximum of three darts.
Dartboard — WDF Approved Specification (Rule 4.01): Dartboards used in WDF-sanctioned play must be manufactured from sisal, of the "bristle" type, and laid out in the standard "1–20" clock pattern. The board must have an inner centre ring (the "Bull") scoring 50 points, an outer centre ring (the "25") scoring 25 points, an inner narrow band (the "Treble Ring") scoring triple the segment number, and an outer narrow band (the "Double Ring") scoring double the segment number.
Segmental wire (round, triangular, or diamond-shaped in cross-section) must measure between 1.27 mm minimum and 1.85 mm maximum (±0.2 mm). Official board dimensions, per Rule 4.01(h), are: Double/Treble ring width 8.0 mm ±0.2 mm (10.0 mm ±0.2 mm for strip-material boards, measured apex to apex); Bull inside diameter 12.7 mm ±0.2 mm; "25" ring inside diameter 31.8 mm ±0.3 mm; outside edge of Double wire to centre Bull 170.0 mm ±0.2 mm; outside edge of Treble wire to centre Bull 107.4 mm ±0.2 mm; outside edge of Double wire to outside edge of opposite Double wire 340.0 mm ±0.5 mm; and overall board diameter 451.0 mm ±3.0 mm. Rule 4.02 requires the "20" segment to be the darker of the two segment colours and positioned at the top centre of the board.
Lighting (Section 5): Each floor dartboard in tournament play must be lit by a suitably positioned fitting of at least 1600 lumens (100 watts) minimum intensity (Rule 5.01); stage-final boards require at least two such fittings (Rule 5.02). All light fittings must carry screens diverting light away from the player's eyes at the oche (Rule 5.03).
Section 3: Playing Area
Section 6 of the WDF Playing Rules, "Board Setup and Oche Dimensions," fixes the exact geometry of a legal darts setup. Rule 6.01 requires the dartboard to be fixed so that the vertical height from the floor, at the same level as the oche, to a horizontal line through the centre of the Bull measures 1.73 metres (5 ft 8 in).
Rule 6.02 defines the oche (the raised throwing line) as 38 mm high and 610 mm (61 cm) long, placed at the minimum throwing distance, measured 2.37 metres along a horizontal line from the back of the oche to a plumb line at the face of the dartboard. Rule 6.03 further specifies that the diagonal distance from the centre of the Bull to the back of the oche, at floor level, measures 2.93 metres (9 ft 7½ in) — the figure commonly quoted as the standard darts throwing distance.
Under Rule 6.04, no player may tread on any part of the raised oche during match play, nor deliver a dart with their feet in any position other than behind the raised oche. Rule 6.05 extends this: a player throwing from a position on either side of the raised oche must keep their feet behind an imaginary straight line extending on either side of it.
Rule 6.07 permits a player or team official to request that the oche dimensions be checked and adjusted, provided the opposing player or official concurs; such checks may only be made before a match or between legs, and only by a WDF-appointed official. Rule 6.08 authorises Member Darts Bodies to amend board height and oche length for the particular requirements of disabled competitors in special events.
Section 4: Players & Officials
Per the WDF Definitions, Player includes the singular and plural, teams as well as individuals, males and females. WDF Ranked events (Rule 7.01) may include Singles (men's or women's), Pairs (men's, women's, or mixed), Team (three or more players, open, limited, or mixed), and Youth categories (singles, pairs, or teams, restricted to players under a specified age).
Four match officials are formally defined: the Referee, the person appointed to take charge of match play at a matchboard or on stage (who may also act as Marker or Caller); the Caller, who announces scores as they are made during match play; the Marker, who marks the scores made and the scores remaining on the scoreboard (and, except in staged matches, may also act as Caller); and the Scorer, who records scores, results, and other relevant match details on the scorecards. Rule 3.09 designates the Board Marker as an umpire in all matters pertaining to the Playing Rules, consulting Tournament Officials before announcing decisions where necessary.
Order of Play (Section 12): A Bull throw determines the order of play in each match (Rule 12.01), with the winner of the Bull throw shooting first in the match and in all subsequent odd-numbered legs, or first in all odd-numbered sets in matches divided into sets (Rule 12.02). Rule 12.03 requires each player (or one team member per side) to throw one dart for the Bull; the dart must remain in the board to count, re-throws occur until it does, and the player landing nearer the centre throws first.
Rule 14.06 requires a player's opponent(s) to stand at least 60 cm to the rear of the throwing player at the oche, and Rule 14.03 restricts the playing area to the Referee, Caller, Marker(s), Scorer(s), electronic indicator operators, and the assigned players only.
Section 5: Rules of Play
Rule 1.04 provides that if a player, during a throw, touches any dart already in the dartboard, that throw is deemed completed. Rule 1.05 states that a dart bouncing off or falling out of the board shall not be re-thrown, and Rule 1.06 provides that a dart falling out of the board before the throw is completed and retrieved does not count. Rule 1.07 expressly forbids a player or scorekeeper from pushing a dart into the board, or holding it in place, to stop it falling out; any dart so affected is not counted.
Starting and Finishing (Section 2): Rule 2.01 requires every match or leg to be played with a "straight start" — to begin scoring, a player need only land a dart inside the outer Doubles wire of the board. Rule 2.02 requires a "double finish" — to win a leg or match, a player must land a dart in the Double Ring or the Bull of the number equal to exactly one half of the remaining score. Rule 2.03 provides that the Bull counts as 50, and if a score of exactly 50 remains, it may be used to finish the leg or match; Rule 2.04 states the Bull counts as a "double 25" for checkout purposes.
Rule 2.09 provides that the first player to obtain the required double-out is declared the winner of that leg or match; any dart thrown by a player after finishing does not count. Rule 2.10 establishes that a match, or a set divided into legs, is played "best of" an odd number of legs (three, five, seven, etc.) — the first player to win a majority of the given number of legs is the winner, and remaining legs are not played. Rule 2.11 applies the identical majority principle to a match divided into sets.
Rule 3.01 specifies that matches or legs are played to a fixed odd number such as 501, 701, or 1001, with all scores subtracted from the total or the score remaining from the previous throw.
Section 6: Scoring
Rule 3.02 provides that a dart only scores if its point remains in or touches the face of the dartboard, within the outer double wire, until after the throw has been completed and the score has been called and recorded on the scoreboard. Rule 3.03 states that the score is counted from the side of the segment wire in which the point of the dart enters or touches the face of the board.
The Bust Rule (Rule 2.05): If a player's throw scores more points than remain in the leg or match, or leaves exactly the same score without finishing on a double, or leaves a remaining score of exactly one, that throw does not count and the score reverts to what it was prior to the throw. Rule 2.06 provides that a "Game Shot" called by a Caller is valid only if the darts thrown achieve the required finish and remain in the board until retrieved after the call; Rule 2.07 allows the player to continue the throw (if not all three darts have been thrown) should an invalid Game Shot be called. Rule 2.08 requires the Referee to replace any retrieved dart(s) as near as practicable to their original position if an error under Rule 2.05 occurs before all three darts have been thrown.
Rule 3.04 requires darts to be retrieved by the thrower, except where physical disability or injury requires assistance, and even then only after the Marker has recorded the score. Rule 3.05 bars any protest of a recorded score once the darts have been retrieved — if an incorrect score results in a leg win, that result stands. Rule 3.06 provides that arithmetic errors stand as written on the scoreboard unless corrected before the next throw of the player in error. Rule 3.07 requires the score a player still needs to be shown on the scoreboard, clearly visible at eye level, in front of the players and the Board Marker. Rule 3.08 forbids the Referee, Caller, Marker, or Scorer from indicating the required "double out" — for example, the remaining total must be shown as "32," never as "double 16."
Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Dartboard abuse (Rule 1.08): A player who deliberately abuses the dartboard while retrieving darts is given a verbal warning by the match Referee. A second incident in the same match draws a further warning; a third incident causes the player to forfeit that leg, set, or match.
Oche foot faults (Rule 6.06): A player in breach of Rule 6.04 or 6.05 (treading on the raised oche, or failing to keep both feet behind the oche line) is first warned by the Referee in the presence of the player's captain or team official. Any dart subsequently delivered in breach of these clauses does not score and is declared invalid by the Referee.
Disqualification (Section 8): Rule 8.06 makes any player who fails to comply with the WDF Playing Rules during a tournament liable to disqualification. Where a player, pair, or team is disqualified mid-match under Rule 8.09, the opponent is awarded the match and advances to the next round; under Rule 8.10, a disqualification imposed after a completed and won match removes that player from the bracket, giving their next opponent a bye.
Conduct (Rule 15.01–15.02): Players must conduct themselves with respect toward opponents, refraining from annoying behaviour, offensive language or gestures, and unsportsmanlike conduct such as deliberately losing a leg or match, delaying play, or interfering with another player's throw. A breach is deemed to bring the sport into disrepute and results in disqualification from further participation, subject to appeal.
Attire and advertising: Rule 16.01 bars jeans, and trousers or skirts fashioned in "jeans style" from denim or corduroy, along with training shoes and tracksuit-style attire absent written medical justification; Rule 16.06 makes a player who refuses to meet attire requirements liable to forfeit that match. Rule 17.05–17.06 allow Organisers to require removal of unauthorised advertising before a televised match, with forfeiture of the match for non-compliance or for introducing prohibited advertising material on stage.
Smoking and drinking (Rule 18.01–18.02): The entire playing room at WDF Ranked events is smoke-free and the designated playing area is alcohol-free; a breach is liable to forfeiture of the match in progress and referral to the appropriate darts body for disciplinary proceedings.
Section 8: Safety Considerations
Every dart used in WDF play carries a metallic needle-shaped point (Rule 1.01), and Rule 1.02 requires that darts be thrown deliberately, one at a time, with the needlepoint aimed at the face of the board — a throw made in any other manner is a foul throw and does not count, a rule that exists as much for safety and fairness as for game integrity.
Standing-position rules exist in part to keep the throwing lane clear of other participants: Rule 14.06 requires a player's opponent(s) to remain at least 60 cm to the rear of the throwing player at the oche, and Rule 14.03 restricts who may be present in the playing area at all (Referee, Caller, Marker(s), Scorer(s), electronic indicator operators, and the assigned players only) while a throw is underway.
Rule 1.07 prohibits pushing a dart into the board, or holding it in place, to keep it from falling out — a practice that would place a hand near other players' incoming throws. Lighting rules in Section 5 require light fittings to be screened so that illumination is diverted away from a player's eyes at the oche (Rule 5.03), reducing the chance of a misjudged, wayward throw caused by glare.
Rule 6.08 permits Member Darts Bodies to adjust board height and oche distance for competitors in special events for disabled persons, allowing the standard throwing geometry to be adapted where a fixed 2.37 m/1.73 m setup would otherwise present a barrier to safe, fair participation.
