Steel Tip Darts Set: What's in the Box and What's Missing

Opening a brand new steel tip darts set is a bit like buying a new phone. You get the shiny main event, but you quickly realise you need a case, a screen protector, and a charger before you can actually use it properly. If you are buying your first set and wondering why you still can't play a game, you are not alone. A standard steel tip darts set is designed to give you the darts and the essentials to throw them, but it stops short of being a complete home setup.

This guide is here to help you avoid that disappointing moment. We will walk through exactly what ships in the box, from the barrels and shafts to the flights and the often included wallet. More importantly, we will look at what is missing, like the dartboard, the surround, and the mounting gear. We will also cover the consumables you will need to replace, the setup extras worth buying early, and how to budget for the whole package. Whether you are browsing the Unicorn, Harrows, or Target ranges, this will help you sort the set from the setup.

What a Steel Tip Darts Set Actually Includes

A steel tip darts set is more straightforward than the packaging sometimes suggests. Here is the honest version of what typically arrives.

At its core, you get three darts, each fitted with a fixed steel point, sold as a matched set. The barrels are usually brass or tungsten in varying percentage grades, and the listed barrel weight is the single biggest factor in how a set feels to throw. If you are unsure which weight suits a beginner, browsing the steel tip darts range gives you a feel for what is available.

Most sets also ship with a basic shaft (stem) and flight combination already fitted. Expect a standard shaft length and a standard shape flight, and some sets tuck a spare flight or two into the box.

Often there is a wallet or slim carry case sized for the three darts, sometimes with pockets for spare flights. This is the most commonly included extra, and it is the one most buyers assume is guaranteed.

Variation is wide, though. Some brands package just the three barrels with a bare shaft and flight set, while others add a wallet or extra flights. That makes the contents line on the product page the only reliable guide.

Brand matters less than contents at this stage. On Point Darts stocks steel tip darts from Unicorn, Mission, Harrows, Target Darts, Caliburn and Tex, and each product page states what that specific set contains.

One useful habit before buying: search a listing for the words "includes", "contents" and "supplied with". What is not mentioned is almost never in the box. If a set you want is unavailable, you can find current alternatives in the same range.

Next, it is worth looking at what is not in the box, because that shapes your budget more than the darts themselves.

What Is Not in the Box: Board, Surround and Mounting

That covers what's in the set, so let's be clear about what you'll be shopping for separately. The first real cost on top of your darts is a bristle (sisal) board. Steel tip darts need one, and the plastic soft tip boards that come with electronic machines will not hold up to steel points. On Point Darts stocks dartboards for home setups, sold as their own product category.

A surround is a separate purchase too. It's a foam or fabric ring that sits around the board, catches the darts that miss, and takes the damage that would otherwise land on your wall, skirting or door frame.

Mounting hardware is where expectations get shaky. Some boards ship with a bracket and screw, many do not, and the right fixing depends on whether you're drilling into brick, plasterboard or a cabinet. Check the listing before you assume it's covered.

Board height and oche distance are standardised by governing bodies, including the World Darts Federation and Darts Australia. Those measurements are published by the governing bodies rather than retailers, so measure your space before ordering.

Finally, a dart mat or oche marker is optional but genuinely handy if you can't or won't fix a permanent line to the floor. It keeps your throw distance consistent between practice sessions.

Next, let's look at the small parts you'll keep replacing.

The Dart Accessories You Keep Replacing: Flights, Shafts and Points

Flights take the most punishment of anything in your kit. A creased, split or torn flight changes how a dart flies, and once that happens you cannot trust your throw. That is why most players buy flights by the pack rather than one at a time, so a damaged flight never stops a session.

Shafts are next in line. They bend, snap and strip their threads, especially when a bounceout lands the dart on a hard floor. Keeping a spare set of shafts on hand is cheap insurance, and buying two sets at once just makes sense.

Steel points blunt with regular play. If you throw several times a week, repointing becomes a normal part of owning darts. Replacement points are sold as a separate accessory rather than included with the darts, so they are worth adding to the order before you need them.

The smaller consumables add up quietly too. O-rings, shaft springs and flight protectors are low-cost items that fix specific problems, and most players pick them up alongside flights and shafts. For quick answers on what fits what, the dart accessory FAQs are worth a read.

Buying spares with the set is the cheaper habit. On Point Darts stocks flights, shafts, points and cases as separate accessories, so your first order can cover both the set and the spares together. Next, it is worth planning the setup extras that make home practice easier.

Setup Extras Worth Buying Early: Storage, Lighting and Practice

With your spares sorted, a few setup extras are worth deciding on before your first throw. A dart case or wallet with pockets for spare flights and shafts keeps everything in one place and stops barrels knocking against each other in a bag, which is how shafts and points get damaged. If your set came with a slim wallet, check whether it has room for spares; if not, a proper case is a cheap upgrade.

Board lighting makes a real difference at home. Shadow across the board is the most common complaint from new players throwing in a spare room or garage, and a dedicated dartboard light removes it.

A scoreboard, chalkboard or scoring app keeps practice structured. Simple 501 legs with a running score are the fastest way for a beginner to feel progress.

Wall and floor protection is worth planning before the board goes up. A surround handles the wall around the board, but check what is underneath, since a concrete or tiled floor will be far less forgiving to dropped darts than carpet. If you are still choosing a board, Match the board to your style of home play helps you weigh up bristle options for your space.

None of these are essential for your first throw, but each one solves a problem new players run into within the first few weeks, so it is worth deciding now which you will add and when.

Buying a Bundle or Building Your Dart Setup Piece by Piece

Once you have decided which extras to add and when, the next question is how to buy them: as a bundle or one piece at a time. Bundles and accessory packs group a board, surround or set of extras at a single price, and they make sense when you own no darts gear and do not want to research every component separately. Buying separately gives you control over barrel weight, board quality and the exact spare parts you want, at the cost of more decisions and more time comparing listings.

Read bundle contents carefully. A "board and darts" pack can still leave out the surround, mounting hardware or spare flights, so the full dart setup costs more than the bundle price suggests. If you want help choosing barrels, use our guide to Choose a short, useful shortlist before you compare packs.

On Point Darts sells steel tip darts, dartboards, surrounds, flights, shafts, points, cases and accessories from a Perth base with Australia-wide delivery, so you can order a complete setup in one go rather than across several shops. A simple rule: buy a bundle if you own no darts equipment at all, and buy piece by piece if you already have a board and only need to upgrade the darts, flights or shafts. Either way, check what is included before you pay.

Budgeting for a Complete Dart Setup in Australia

Whichever route you take, the number that matters is not the set price on its own. Think in two numbers: the steel tip darts set, then the full dart setup. The first covers the darts and whatever shaft, flight and wallet combination ships in the box. The second adds a bristle board, a surround, mounting hardware, spare flights and shafts, and delivery.

Entry-level brass and basic tungsten sets sit at the cheaper end. Mid-range tungsten barrels cost more, and a competition-grade bristle board costs more than a budget practice board. Check current pricing on each product page rather than working from assumed figures. If you are weighing barrel materials, this guide to Price and value for Australian players is a sensible starting point.

Resist the urge to spend most of the budget on darts first. A decent board and a surround protect your wall and your darts, and a beginner's throw will not get the benefit of an expensive barrel for some months.

Delivery belongs in the budget too. On Point Darts delivers Australia-wide from Perth, so factor shipping into the total, particularly if you order a board, which is bulky and heavy compared with darts and flights.

Finally, keep a small running allowance for consumables. Flights and shafts are the recurring cost of playing darts, and a few dollars per month covers them without surprises.

The Short Version: Budget for the Setup, Not Just the Set

If you've followed the budgeting advice, you'll know to think in two numbers. Here's the short version of what that means in practice.

A steel tip darts set realistically covers three darts, a shaft and flight combination, and often a wallet. Treat anything beyond that as a bonus, not a given. Expect to add a bristle dartboard, a surround and mounting hardware as a minimum, plus spare flights and shafts so a breakage doesn't stop play.

Before you drill, check board height and oche distance against the governing body standard, and confirm what a bundle actually contains before you buy it as a shortcut. A "board and darts" pack frequently still leaves out the surround or mounting gear.

Buy your spares with the set. On Point Darts stocks steel tip darts, dartboards, surrounds, flights, shafts, points and cases with Australia-wide delivery from Perth, so one order can cover the whole setup. If you're shopping on a budget, start by comparing steel tip darts under $100 and build from there.

Read the contents line on every listing, add the two numbers together, and you'll know the real cost of starting darts before you spend a cent.

Conclusion

A steel tip darts set covers the darts, shafts, flights and often a wallet, but that's only part of what you need to start playing. Budget for the board, surround and mounting hardware as essentials, not optional extras. Buy spare flights and shafts with your first order so a breakage doesn't stop play. And check what a bundle actually contains before treating it as a shortcut, because many still leave out the surround or mounting gear.

The simplest next step is to compare the steel tip darts under $100 range at On Point Darts, then build your board and accessories around that choice. Read the contents line on every listing, add the two numbers together, and you'll know the real cost before you spend a cent.

Get the setup right from the start and the game takes care of the rest.