Brass vs Tungsten Darts – What's the Difference?

When buying your first set of darts, one of the most common questions players ask is whether to choose brass or tungsten darts. While they may look similar at first glance, the material used in the barrel makes a significant difference to performance, consistency, and long-term enjoyment.

In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between brass and tungsten darts, explain why tungsten darts are almost always the better choice, and highlight when brass darts still make sense for beginners.

What Are Brass Darts?

Brass darts are typically aimed at beginners and casual players. They are widely available across the UK and are often included in starter kits or budget dartboard bundles. You’ll find them in most high-street sports shops, supermarkets, and online retailers, usually priced between £5 and £15 for a set of three.

The brass used in dart barrels is actually an alloy of copper and zinc, which gives it that distinctive golden colour. It’s easy to machine and relatively inexpensive to produce, which is why brass darts dominate the budget end of the market.

Advantages of Brass Darts

• Very affordable – Often under £10 for a complete set
• Easy to find – Available online and in most high-street sports shops
• Suitable for casual play – Fine for the occasional game at home or trying darts for the first time
• Good for children – The lower cost means less worry about damage or loss
• Variety of designs – Many colourful and novelty options available

Disadvantages of Brass Darts

Brass is a low-density metal, which means the dart barrel has to be quite thick to reach standard playing weights such as 22g or 24g. To put this in perspective, a 24g brass barrel might be 8-9mm in diameter, while a tungsten barrel of the same weight could be as slim as 6mm.

As soon as you start grouping your darts more closely, this extra thickness becomes a significant disadvantage. Thicker barrels can physically block scoring areas, making it harder to fit three darts into the treble 20 bed. They also tend to produce more bounce-outs when darts collide, which can be frustrating when practising.

Brass is considerably softer than tungsten, so the barrels wear down more quickly. Over time, the knurling and grip patterns can smooth out, and the darts may start to feel inconsistent in the hand. Heavy use can even cause visible deformation of the barrel shape.

The softness of brass also means the darts are more prone to damage if dropped on hard floors or knocked together during storage.

What Are Tungsten Darts?

Tungsten darts are the most popular choice among experienced players and professionals. Almost every dart you see used on TV – from the World Championship at Alexandra Palace to the Premier League – features a tungsten barrel.

Tungsten (chemical symbol W, from the German “wolfram”) is one of the densest naturally occurring metals. This density is the key to why tungsten darts perform so much better than brass alternatives.

Why Tungsten Makes Such a Difference

Tungsten is approximately 1.7 times denser than brass. This allows manufacturers to create significantly slimmer barrels while maintaining the same overall weight. A 24g tungsten dart can be almost half the diameter of an equivalent brass dart.

Slimmer barrels offer several important advantages:

• Tighter groupings – More room in the bed for all three darts
• Better access to scoring areas – Easier to fit darts around those already in the board
• Fewer bounce-outs – Less chance of darts deflecting off each other
• More consistent scoring – Your grouping ability improves as your throw develops
• Greater precision – Slimmer profile means small adjustments have bigger effects

Tungsten darts are also far more durable than brass. The hard surface holds its grip pattern even with heavy use, and the barrels maintain their shape for years. Many players use the same set of tungsten darts for a decade or more.

Understanding Tungsten Percentages

When shopping for tungsten darts, you’ll notice they’re labelled with percentages like 80%, 90%, or 95%. This refers to the proportion of tungsten in the alloy – pure tungsten would be too brittle to machine into dart barrels, so it’s mixed with other metals (usually nickel and iron).

80% Tungsten – The most common and affordable option. Offers a good balance of slimness and value. Ideal for beginners moving up from brass or intermediate players.

90% Tungsten – Slimmer barrels than 80% at the same weight. Popular with club players and those who want tighter groupings without the premium price tag.

95% Tungsten – The slimmest barrels possible. Used by many professionals. More expensive and can feel slightly more brittle, but offers the ultimate in slim profile design.

For most players, 90% tungsten hits the sweet spot between performance and value. The difference between 90% and 95% is marginal, while the jump from 80% to 90% is more noticeable.

What About Nickel-Silver Darts?

You may occasionally see nickel-silver darts mentioned as an alternative. These sit somewhere between brass and tungsten in terms of density and price.

Nickel-silver (also called German silver) is denser than brass but less dense than tungsten. This allows for slimmer barrels than brass while remaining more affordable than tungsten.

However, nickel-silver darts have largely fallen out of favour. The price difference compared to entry-level tungsten has narrowed considerably, making tungsten the obvious choice for anyone wanting an upgrade from brass. Unless you find a particularly appealing design, tungsten is almost always the better investment.

Should You Choose Brass or Tungsten Darts?

If you have the option, tungsten darts are the better choice in almost every scenario.

Brass darts are acceptable if you:

• Are completely new to darts and unsure if you’ll enjoy it
• Just want a cheap set for occasional games at Christmas or parties
• Are buying for young children who might lose or damage them
• Have a very limited budget (under £10)

However, if you find yourself practising regularly, playing in the pub, joining a local league, or simply wanting to improve your scores, brass darts will quickly become limiting. The thick barrels actively hinder your development by preventing tight groupings and causing unnecessary bounce-outs.

Tungsten darts support progression far better. They allow you to develop proper grouping habits, reward improvements in your throw, and won’t hold you back as your accuracy improves.

Are Tungsten Darts Expensive?

Many beginners assume tungsten darts are prohibitively expensive, but this isn’t the case.

While premium professional models endorsed by PDC players can cost £100+, quality tungsten darts are available from around £20-35. At this price point, you can find excellent 90% tungsten darts from reputable brands that will serve you well for years.

Here’s a rough price guide for the UK market:

• Budget brass darts: £5-15
• Entry-level 80% tungsten: £15-25
• Mid-range 90% tungsten: £25-40
• Premium 90-95% tungsten: £40-70
• Professional signature darts: £50-100+

Given their durability (easily 5-10 years of regular use) and benefits, tungsten darts provide significantly better value for money over time. A £30 set of tungsten darts that lasts a decade works out at £3 per year – far cheaper than replacing worn brass sets every year or two.

Final Verdict: Brass or Tungsten?

• Brass darts – Suitable only for complete beginners who want to try darts with minimal investment, or for casual party games where quality doesn’t matter.

• Tungsten darts – The clear choice for anyone who wants to play regularly, improve their game, or simply enjoy the best possible experience at the oche.

If you’re enjoying darts and want to progress, investing in a set of tungsten darts is well worth it. Even if you’re not currently at a level where you’re grouping them close, you might be one day.