How Does Darts Scoring Work? | Points, Doubles & Bullseyes

Darts scoring depends entirely on where the dart’s point lands on the board—the segment’s printed number, multiplied by 2 or 3 if it hits the thin outer or inner ring, plus a 25-point outer bull or 50-point inner bull.

A standard dartboard has 20 numbered segments (1–20) plus the bull at center. Each segment is divided into three scoring zones: the single area (face value), the thin outer double ring (2× the segment value), and the thin inner treble ring (3× the segment value). The bull splits into the outer bull (25 points) and the inner bull or bullseye (50 points). In a typical game of 501, players start at 501, throw three darts per turn, subtract the turn total, and must reach exactly zero on a double—going below zero is a bust, and the turn’s score doesn’t count.

The Board Layout: Zones and Point Values

Every numbered segment has three scoring areas:

• Single area — Scores the segment’s printed number.
• Double ring — The thin outer ring; scores 2× the segment value. For example, a dart in double 20 scores 40 points.
• Treble/triple ring — The thin inner ring; scores 3× the segment value. Treble 20 scores 60 points, the highest single-dart score.

The bullseye is scored separately: the outer bull (the green ring) is 25 points, and the inner bull (the red center) is 50 points—which counts as a double for checkout in most standard rulesets. The highest possible three-dart score is 180 (three treble 20s).

How to Score a Turn in 501

In the most common competitive format, 501, scoring works like this:

1. Identify the segment where the dart’s point lands. Board colors don’t determine the score—only the exact wire-defined segment matters.
2. Apply the zone multiplier — single, double, or treble.
3. Add the scores of all three darts from that turn.
4. Subtract the turn’s total from your running game score.
5. Win by finishing on a double — you must land on exactly zero, and the final dart must hit a double ring or the bullseye (which counts as a double). If your score would drop below zero, the turn is a bust and your score reverts to what it was before the turn.

Darts only score if they remain in the board. If a dart falls out or bounces off, it doesn’t count—though electronic boards may handle dislodged darts differently.

Common Scoring Mistakes

• Color confusion — New players often assume black/white areas determine the score. In reality, the segment number and ring zone control the value, not the paint.
• Forgetting the double-out rule — In 501, you can’t win on a single. You must hit a double or the bullseye.
• Mixing up the bulls — The outer bull is 25 points, not 50. Only the inner bull scores 50.
• Counting non-sticking darts — A dart that touches the board but doesn’t stick usually doesn’t count; check your board type for exact rules.

If you’re ready to simplify practice and keep accurate tallies, a quality electronic board handles the math automatically with an auto-scoring dartboard, making game tracking effortless.

Game formats besides 501—like 301 or Cricket—may adjust the starting score or checkout rules, but the core scoring mechanics stay the same: segment value × ring multiplier, plus 25 or 50 for the bull.