Choosing the right dart weight is one of the most important decisions you will make as a darts player. Get it right and you will find your grouping tightens, your doubles percentage improves, and the whole game feels more natural. Get it wrong and you will be fighting your equipment every time you step to the oche.
The good news? Finding your ideal weight is not rocket science. It comes down to understanding a few key principles, knowing what suits your throwing style, and giving yourself time to experiment.
The Standard Weight Range
Steel tip darts typically range from 18g to 30g, though you can find darts as light as 12g or as heavy as 50g if you really want to push the boundaries. The vast majority of players—amateur and professional alike—throw darts between 20g and 26g.
The most popular weight range is 22-24g. This sweet spot offers enough mass to fly true without requiring excessive force, whilst remaining light enough for precise control. Not coincidentally, this is where most manufacturers focus their product lines and where you will find the widest selection of barrel designs.
If you walk into a darts shop and ask for a “standard” set, you will likely be handed 24g darts. It is the default for a reason.
Weight Recommendations by Experience Level
Complete Beginners (Never Thrown Before)
Start with 23g or 24g darts. This weight gives you a stable platform to build proper technique without developing bad habits. The darts have enough mass to forgive minor inconsistencies in your throw, but they are not so heavy that they mask fundamental technique problems.
Avoid the temptation to start with cheaper brass darts that weigh 18-20g. These lighter, bulkier darts will force you to throw harder, and when you eventually upgrade to tungsten, the weight adjustment will feel jarring.
Our Red Dragon Pegasus (available in 21-30g) is an excellent beginner choice, offering 80% tungsten at a price that makes sense for your first proper set.
Intermediate Players (6-12 Months Experience)
If you started with 23-24g darts and they feel comfortable, stick with them. Consistency matters more than optimisation at this stage. However, if you have been throwing for six months and something feels off, now is the time to experiment.
Pay attention to how your darts behave:
- Landing nose-down consistently? Try dropping 1g in weight. Your darts may be too heavy for your throwing speed.
- Darts bouncing out frequently? Consider adding 1-2g. You may not be generating enough momentum.
- Grouping feels loose? Before changing weight, check your throwing technique and ensure you are releasing consistently.
Advanced Players (Averaging 60+)
You know what works for you. At this level, weight changes are about fine-tuning feel rather than fixing fundamental issues. If you are considering a change, keep it minimal—no more than 1-2g at a time.
Many advanced players keep multiple sets at different weights for different game formats or board conditions. A slightly heavier dart might perform better on a soft board, whilst a lighter setup might suit a lightning-fast Blade X.
How Physical Build Affects Your Ideal Weight
Your body type and throwing mechanics influence which weight suits you best. There is no strict rule here, but patterns emerge:
Hand Size and Strength
Players with larger hands and stronger wrists often gravitate towards heavier darts (24-26g). The extra mass feels more substantial and gives better feedback on release. Smaller hands typically prefer lighter darts (20-23g) that are easier to control through the release phase.
If you have particularly small hands, do not assume you must throw 18g darts. Many players with smaller hands throw 22-24g perfectly well—it is about what feels natural, not what “should” work on paper.
Throwing Style: Hard vs Soft
If you throw with a powerful, forceful action, lighter darts (20-22g) may suit you better. Heavy darts combined with a hard throw can lead to nose-down landings and reduced accuracy.
Conversely, if you have a smooth, gentle throwing action, you will benefit from the momentum of heavier darts (24-26g). They will carry better and maintain a flatter trajectory without requiring you to throw harder.
Watch yourself on video or ask a fellow player to observe your throw. If your arm is whipping through violently, consider lighter darts. If your release looks effortless and smooth, you can handle more weight.
Arm Length and Release Point
Taller players with longer arms sometimes prefer lighter darts because their throwing arc generates more natural speed. Shorter players with compact throws may benefit from the extra momentum of heavier darts.
This is highly individual, though. Phil Taylor, at 5’11”, threw 26g darts for much of his career. Gary Anderson, at 6’2”, throws 23g. Do not let your height dictate your weight—use it as a starting consideration, not a rule.
What Professional Players Throw
Professional players use a surprisingly wide range of weights, which tells you everything you need to know: there is no “correct” answer, only what works for each individual.
Popular Professional Dart Weights:
- Luke Littler: 23g (Target Luke Littler G1)
- Michael van Gerwen: 23g
- Luke Humphries: 24g
- Peter Wright: 22g
- Gerwyn Price: 24g
- Gary Anderson: 23g
- Rob Cross: 21g
- Dimitri van den Bergh: 18g (Target Dream Maker G2)
Notice the pattern? The majority cluster between 22-24g, but you have outliers in both directions. Van den Bergh throws exceptionally light darts (18g) and generates impressive power through technique. Others like Phil Taylor used 26g for decades with devastating effect.
The takeaway: your favourite player’s weight is interesting but irrelevant to what you should throw. Their biomechanics, release point, and decades of muscle memory are not yours.
How to Test Different Weights
Do not rush this process. Your muscle memory needs time to adapt to any weight change, and making snap judgements after ten throws will lead you astray.
The Proper Testing Method
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Start with your current weight and throw 50-100 darts to establish a baseline. Note how they feel, how they group, and where they land on the board.
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Move 1-2g in one direction (lighter or heavier based on your suspicions about what might work better). Throw another 100 darts. Resist the urge to judge immediately—your first 20 throws will feel strange regardless of whether the new weight is better or worse.
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Return to your original weight for another 50 darts. Does it still feel right, or has the experiment revealed something?
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Keep detailed notes. “23g darts felt lighter and faster, grouped well on tops but struggled on doubles” is useful data. “They felt weird” is not.
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Give any new weight at least 200 throws before making a final decision. If you are still unconvinced after 200 throws, it is probably not the right weight.
Where to Try Different Weights
Most darts shops will let you throw test darts if you are a serious customer. Some pubs keep house darts at various weights. Ask around your league—someone will have a spare set you can borrow for an evening.
If you are buying online, some retailers offer “try before you buy” schemes or generous return policies. The Red Dragon Pegasus range, available from 21g to 30g at a reasonable price, is a cost-effective way to experiment without breaking the bank.
Common Dart Weight Myths
”Heavier Darts Are More Accurate”
Accuracy comes from consistent technique, not dart weight. A 26g dart thrown inconsistently will scatter across the board. An 18g dart thrown with perfect mechanics will group beautifully. The weight that feels most natural to you will produce the best results, regardless of what the number says.
”Professionals Use Heavy Darts, So I Should Too”
The average professional dart weight is around 23g, which is firmly in the middle of the range. Some pros use heavy darts, others use light ones, most use something in between. There is no professional consensus because there is no objectively superior weight.
”You Need Heavy Darts for Doubles”
This myth likely stems from the fact that heavier darts tend to stick better in worn boards. Whilst there is a grain of truth here—more mass means more penetration—the difference is minimal on a well-maintained board. If your darts are bouncing out, fix your board or your points before changing your weight.
”Your Dart Weight Should Match Your Skill Level”
Some players believe you should start light and progressively move to heavier darts as you improve. Nonsense. Skill level does not determine ideal weight; throwing style and personal preference do. Plenty of beginners thrive with 26g darts, and plenty of world-class players throw 21g.
How Weight Affects Your Game
Understanding what actually changes when you adjust dart weight helps you make informed decisions.
Trajectory and Flight Path
Heavier darts follow a flatter trajectory. They drop less over distance, making them more forgiving if your throw is not perfectly horizontal. Lighter darts arc more, requiring greater precision in your release angle.
If you find your darts consistently landing nose-down, you are likely throwing too hard for the weight. Either develop a softer throw or move to lighter darts.
Grouping and Deflection
Lighter darts are easier to deflect when they hit existing darts in the board. This can work for or against you—a deflection might knock your first dart into the treble 20, or it might send it into the single 5.
Heavier darts plough through deflections more consistently, but their extra mass also means they can dislodge existing darts more easily. There is no clear winner here; it is simply a different characteristic to be aware of.
Board Wear and Bounce-Outs
Heavier darts penetrate the board more deeply, reducing bounce-outs on worn or lower-quality boards. If you play primarily in pubs with aging boards, this is worth considering. If you play at home on a fresh Blade X, it matters less.
Fatigue Over Long Sessions
Some players find heavy darts tiring during long practice sessions or multiple matches in a tournament. Others find lighter darts require more concentration and mental energy to throw consistently. Pay attention to how you feel after two hours of throwing—if your arm is aching or your accuracy is deteriorating, weight may be a factor.
Making the Change: How to Adjust
If you have decided to change dart weight, do it properly. Switching from 24g to 21g overnight and expecting instant results is a recipe for frustration.
The Gradual Approach
Move in 1g increments. If you are currently throwing 24g and want to try lighter darts, start with 23g. Throw them for a week or two before deciding whether to drop to 22g.
Your muscle memory is finely tuned to your current weight. Every gram you add or remove requires recalibration. Small changes allow your body to adapt without completely relearning your throw.
Expect a Transition Period
You will likely throw worse for the first few sessions. This is normal and does not mean the new weight is wrong. Give yourself at least a week of regular practice before making any judgements.
If you are still struggling after two weeks and 500+ throws, the new weight probably is not right. But if you abandon it after one poor session, you will never know.
Trust the Process
Many players who successfully change dart weight report that the new darts felt “wrong” for days before suddenly clicking. The moment everything aligns—when the new weight feels natural and your accuracy returns—is unmistakable. Trust that it will come if the weight is right for you.
The Bottom Line: Finding Your Weight
Start with 23g or 24g if you are a beginner. These weights work for the overwhelming majority of players and give you a solid foundation.
If you are experienced and considering a change, move slowly. Drop or add 1g at a time, give each weight a fair trial, and pay attention to how your darts fly rather than how they feel in your hand.
Remember that dart weight is just one variable in a complex system. Before you invest in a new set of darts, make sure your throwing technique is sound, your equipment is properly matched, and your dartboard is set up correctly.
The right dart weight is the one that disappears from your consciousness when you step to the oche. When your darts feel like a natural extension of your arm, when you are thinking about your target rather than your equipment, you have found your weight.
Everything else is just numbers on a packet.