Steel Tip vs Soft Tip Darts — Which Should You Choose?
The choice between steel tip and soft tip often comes down to one thing: where you're going to play. But there are real differences in how the darts feel, what boards they need, and how they perform — especially once you start comparing weights and barrel sizes.
The core difference
Steel tip darts have a fixed metal point. They're designed for traditional bristle dartboards — the kind you'll find in pubs, clubs, and most competitive venues. The tip buries into the sisal fibres and the board self-heals when the dart is removed.
Soft tip darts have a flexible plastic tip that snaps into small holes in a plastic-segmented electronic dartboard. The board scores automatically via sensors. They're popular in home setups, arcades, and some bars in the US and Japan.
You cannot use steel tip darts on an electronic board (you'll damage the sensors), and soft tip darts on a bristle board will result in the tip bouncing out constantly.
Weight differences
This is the most noticeable technical difference when you're shopping:
- Steel tip darts typically run from 18g to 30g, with 22–26g being most common in competitive play.
- Soft tip darts are lighter — usually 14g to 20g — because the electronic board requires less force to trigger the sensors, and lighter darts put less stress on the plastic barrel holes over time.
If you're used to throwing steel tips and then pick up soft tips, they'll feel unusually light and fast. The weight change affects trajectory: soft tip darts tend to arc more, so your release point and follow-through need adjustment.
Barrel size
Electronic boards use a smaller scoring segment — the double and treble beds are narrower than on a standard bristle board. As a result, soft tip barrels tend to be slimmer and shorter to make tight groupings easier.
Steel tip barrels come in a wider range of diameters and lengths. There's no equivalent constraint from the board.
Points: fixed vs replaceable
On most steel tip darts, the point is either fixed (welded into the barrel) or replaceable via a Swiss Point or Storm Point system. If you break or bend a point, a replaceable system lets you swap it in seconds without buying new darts.
Soft tip darts always use replaceable plastic tips. The tips are cheap, standardised, and screw into the barrel — most players keep a pocket full of spares.
Where you'll be playing
The simplest way to decide:
- Pub, club, or competition — steel tip. Bristle boards are the standard in every organised format. PDC and BDO rules mandate steel tip.
- Home with an electronic board — soft tip, unless you're also planning to play out and want consistency.
- Home with a bristle board — steel tip. You'll play more like the pub/club environment and your technique will transfer directly.
Can you practise with both?
Some players own both setups — steel tip for competitive play, soft tip for a home electronic board when they want automatic scoring or don't want to wake the house with a 26g dart hitting a bristle board at midnight.
The weight difference means your throwing motion won't be identical, but many players adapt quickly. If you only want one set, match it to where you play most.
Which brands cover each format?
Most major brands — Red Dragon, Winmau, Target — make both steel and soft tip ranges. Many barrel designs exist in both formats, so you can often find the same barrel profile you like in whichever tip type you need.
Our quiz on Darts Match is currently focused on steel tip darts from Red Dragon and Winmau, as those cover the majority of played formats in the UK and Europe.
Quick summary
- Steel tip: bristle board, 18–30g, fixed or replaceable metal point, used in all organised competitions.
- Soft tip: electronic board, 14–20g, plastic replaceable tips, auto-scoring convenience.
- Decide by: where you play most and which board type you own or plan to use.