DART / KNOWLEDGE BASE

Steel tip vs soft tip – what to choose?

18.04.2026·3 min reading

If you start your dart adventure, one of the first questions is: steal tip or soft tip? The choice of the type of darts and dartboard is important for the style of the game, the place of use and the cost.

In this article we compare both solutions and suggest what will be better for beginners and more advanced players.

What is steel tip?

Steel tip is a classic dart version that uses a metal tip dart and a sisal dartboard.

used in tournaments and professional competitions
more technically demanding
realistic playing conditions

What is soft tip?

Soft tip is a plastic dart, used on electronic dartboards.

often found in bars and houses
safer for the environment
automatic point counting

Steel tip vs soft tip – the most important differences

Characterism	Steel tip	Soft tip
End	metal	plastic
Dartboard	sisal	Electronic
Security	lower	higher
Game level	professional	recreational

What would you choose to start with?

Select steel tip if:

You want to play like professionals
You plan to develop your skills
you have a place to play

Select soft tip if:

You play recreationally.
You want to automatically count points
You care about safety.

Can you play at home?

Yes – both types are suitable for playing at home, but require proper space preparation. In case of steel tip it is worth to secure the wall and floor.

Also check out the guide: How do I set the dartboard to the dart?

Which dart is better?

There is no one good answer – everything depends on your needs. If you want to play seriously and develop, a better choice will be the steel tip. If you treat the dart as an entertainment – soft tip will be more comfortable.