Guide · Average
What is a good darts average?
A good darts average depends on your level: regular home players typically sit around 40–60, league and club players around 50–70, and professionals at 85–100 and above. These are rough guidelines, not official statistics; below you’ll see how the 3-dart average is worked out and how to push yours up.
How the 3-dart average is worked out
Divide the points you have scored by the number of darts you have thrown, then multiply by three. If you score 501 in 24 darts, that is 501 ÷ 24 × 3 = 62.6. Every dart counts, including darts that miss the double and visits that bust, which score nothing.
Because the darts at the double are included, your average says as much about your finishing as about your scoring. Two players who hit the same visits can end up several points apart if one of them needs extra darts to check out.
A rough guide by level
| Level | Typical 3-dart average |
|---|---|
| Just starting out | under 30 |
| Casual and pub players | 30–45 |
| Regular home players | 40–60 |
| League and club players | 50–70 |
| Strong county-level amateurs | 70–85 |
| Professionals | 85–100+ |
These ranges are rough guidelines based on common experience, not official statistics. Leagues and regions differ a lot, and the ranges overlap.
So is 50 a good average? For someone who plays at home a few times a week, yes. It is a solid base, and it is where many league players sit. Getting into the 60s puts you among the stronger players in most local leagues.
Average and darts per leg
In 501 your average is tied directly to how many darts you need per leg. This table shows the average for a leg finished in a given number of darts:
| Darts per leg | 3-dart average |
|---|---|
| 9 | 167.0 |
| 12 | 125.3 |
| 15 | 100.2 |
| 18 | 83.5 |
| 21 | 71.6 |
| 24 | 62.6 |
| 27 | 55.7 |
| 30 | 50.1 |
| 36 | 41.8 |
| 45 | 33.4 |
A nine-darter is the perfect leg: 501 in nine darts, an average of 167.0.
That makes progress easy to picture. Cutting a typical leg from 30 darts to 24 takes you from about 50 to about 63.
Look at more than one number
- First 9 average: your average over the first nine darts of a leg. It shows your pure scoring, before the finish comes into play. It is usually higher than your overall average.
- Checkout rate: how many of your darts at a double win the leg. If your first 9 is much higher than your overall average, your finishing is costing you.
- Scoring distribution: how often you hit 60+, 100+, 140+ and 180. More 100+ visits are usually the clearest sign that your scoring is improving.
How to raise your average
1. Fix the finish first
Missed doubles are the fastest way to lose average. If you need eight darts at the double instead of three, that alone can cost you several points. Short, regular doubles practice often brings the quickest gains. Our guide on how to practise doubles has drills and a 20-minute routine.
2. Build consistent scoring
For most players the step up comes from fewer low visits, not more 180s. Aim to keep your bad visits above 40. Drills such as Power Switch, five minutes on T20, T19 and T18, train you to keep scoring when your first dart is off or the 20 is blocked.
3. Learn your checkouts
Knowing your routes saves darts. If you are on 81 and go T19, D12 without thinking, you avoid wasted darts and awkward leaves. Our darts checkout chart lists every finish from 170 down to 2.
4. Measure regularly, but over enough legs
One evening can easily be ten points better or worse than the next. Look at at least 20 legs before you judge your level, and compare month by month. If the trend is going up, your practice is working, whatever the exact number is.
Common questions
Does the average include darts at the double?
Yes. The standard 3-dart average counts every dart thrown in the leg, including those at the double.
What average do you need for a league?
There is no fixed requirement. Many local leagues have players from the low 40s to the 70s. Your checkout rate often matters as much as your average in a real match.