What Dart Weight Should I Use?

If you have no starting preference, compare steel-tip darts around 22g to 24g. Treat that as a manageable shortlist, not a rule: the right weight is one you can throw comfortably and repeatably with your usual grip.

If you already own darts, start with that weight. First identify what you want to improve. A dart catching your fingers, a bent shaft or damaged flights can feel like a weight problem even when the barrel is suitable.

Choose a starting point

• First set: compare 22g, 23g and 24g darts, with a straightforward barrel and moderate grip.
• Comfortable current set: stay close to its weight while comparing the feature you actually want to change.
• Testing a different weight: borrow or compare a nearby weight in the same model where possible. Keep flights and shafts the same.
• Prefer a heavier feel: include 25g darts in your comparison, without assuming that heavier means more accurate.

Check what the listed grams include

Weight conventions can differ between products and steel-tip or soft-tip listings. Check whether the stated figure describes the barrel and fitted point or the complete assembled dart. Adding shafts, flights or a different point changes the assembled weight. Ask us when a listing is unclear, rather than comparing two different measurements.

Keep the comparison fair

1. Check that all three darts have matching, undamaged parts.
2. Warm up with your familiar setup.
3. Compare two nearby weights with similar barrel shapes and the same flight and shaft setup.
4. Alternate which set you throw first. Record comfort, release and grouping across several sessions.
5. Make a decision from the repeated pattern, not a single high score.

Use our three-session dart-weight test for a simple recording table. The test is a practical comparison method, not a guarantee that one weight will improve your average.

The same weight can feel different

Two 24g darts may differ in length, diameter, grip position and point system. For example, the listed 24g Target EXO 02 barrel is 50.5mm × 6.90mm, while the 24g Datadart Deadeye is 51.0mm × 6.20mm. The Deadeye listing is 0.70mm narrower; the matching gram number does not make the barrels equivalent.

See the 24g barrel comparison with product photos before changing weight to solve a grip or shape problem.

What your misses can and cannot tell you

High or low darts alone do not diagnose an unsuitable weight. Release timing, stance, grip and accessories can produce similar patterns. If a setup consistently feels awkward, test a controlled change and observe the result. Avoid rules such as “low darts always mean the dart is too heavy”.

When to adjust flights, shafts or points

If the barrel feels comfortable but the flight path or entry angle does not, test one accessory change at a time. Read the flights and shafts guide. Check the point system before buying replacements; standard fitted points and proprietary systems are different fittings.

Common questions

Is 23g the best beginner weight?

It is a useful middle option to compare, not a universal best weight. Comfort and repeatability matter more than copying a number.

Should I copy a professional player's weight?

Only if it suits your own throw. A player's model also has a particular barrel shape, grip and balance.

Do I need a new set after a bad session?

No. Check wear and loose components first, then compare several sessions before blaming the barrel.

Browse steel-tip darts or ask for help with your current model, weight, grip position and budget.

Compare fit alongside weight

• If 24g is on your shortlist, compare the trade-offs in the 24g darts guide.
• Separate barrel fit from the gram number with the dart grip and barrel-shape guide.