Buy a dartboard for a family game room and you have six plausible answers: an electronic board with automatic scoring, a Bluetooth-connected model, a full-size paper board for steel tips, a magnetic set for toddlers, a sticky-ball board for cautious parents, or a safety design that splits the difference. Each one solves a different problem, and the wrong pick is expensive in a way reviews do not show — a tournament-size steel-tip board in a toddler’s playroom, or an 8-inch magnetic kit for a bar’s league night, both fail the room.
This guide compares the board families DAYIN manufactures — electronic, Bluetooth, paper, magnetic, sticky and safety — with the actual dimensions, weights and set contents of each product, so you can match the board to the players, the wall and the venue. The throwing distances and setup measurements for each board style are covered separately in the dart board distance guide.
The board families at a glance
| Board | Type | Segment size | Size / weight | Set includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PQ-89 | Electronic | 13.5 inch | 39 × 2.6 × 42.7 cm, 2 kg | Auto-scoring electronic board |
| A1 | Bluetooth | 15.5 inch | 47.7 × 47.7 × 3.7 cm, 3.1 kg | 2 × AA battery powered (not included) |
| JX-2000 | Electronic cabinet | 13.5 inch | 51.5 × 4 × 68 cm, 5 kg | Large-format electronic unit |
| Paper board | Corrugated paper (steel-tip) | 18 inch | Tournament-style diameter | 6 × 18 g steel darts |
| Magnet board | Magnet / plastic / fabric | 8 inch | Compact | 6 magnetic darts |
| Sticky board | Fabric-face sticky | 16 inch | — | 6 darts + 6 sticky balls |
| Safety board | Safety design | 13.5 inch | 40 × 2.5 × 40.3 cm | 6 darts + 6 sticky balls |
Electronic boards: automatic scoring for game rooms
Electronic boards accept soft-tip darts, register every hit through segmented sensors, and do the arithmetic — which is why they dominate home game rooms and bars. No chalk, no arguments, and most units support multiple game variants beyond standard 501.
Within DAYIN’s range the choice is mostly about scale. The Electronic Dartboard PQ-89 is the compact entry: a 13.5-inch segment board at 39 × 42.7 cm and just 2 kg, sized for a wall bracket in a den or kids’ room. The JX-2000 moves to the other end — a 5 kg cabinet-format unit 68 cm tall, for a dedicated darts corner rather than a shared wall. For connected play, the Bluetooth Dartboard A1 pairs a 15.5-inch segment field with app connectivity and runs on two AA batteries, so it mounts where no power outlet reaches. A deeper comparison of the electronic line-up is in the best electronic dartboards guide.
Paper boards: the traditional steel-tip game
Dayin’s paper board is the classic: an 18-inch corrugated-paper face — the traditional tournament diameter — played with the included 6 × 18 g steel darts. Steel tip on paper is what league players expect: the dart sticks between fibres with a satisfying thunk, and rotating the board between sessions evens out wear. The trade-offs are real, though: steel tips mark walls, demand a proper surround or cabinet, and are not appropriate where children play unsupervised.
For buyers and promotional programs, note the paper dartboard ships at an MOQ of 1,000 pcs — it is a volume item for events, branded giveaways and starter sets, not a single-unit purchase.
Magnetic, sticky and safety boards: the family tier
Below the steel-tip tier sit three designs that all answer the same question — what happens when a six-year-old throws a dart:
- Magnetic boards swap points for magnets. The 8-inch magnet dartboard is the smallest board in the range and the most portable — dorms, travel, desk-side. It includes 6 magnetic darts and ships at an MOQ of 2,000 pcs, so it is built for gifting programs and retail multipacks.
- Sticky boards use a fabric face that the included sticky balls adhere to. At 16 inches the sticky dartboard feels like a real board — full-size segments, real scoring rings — while the projectile is a soft ball, which makes it the natural first board for ages roughly 4–8.
- Safety boards combine a 13.5-inch segment field with the darts-plus-sticky-balls set in a 40 × 40.3 cm frame. The safety dartboard is the board to specify for family rooms, waiting areas and rental properties, and at an MOQ of 252 pcs it is the most accessible volume item in the lineup.
Upgrade path: lighting and commercial machines
Two products sit outside the board tiers but change the same rooms. The LED Ring V2 is a 590 × 215 mm, 0.5 kg light ring that mounts around a board — brighter sight lines for players and bar-style ambience for everything else; it is specified at an MOQ of 1,008 pcs for venue fit-outs and retail. At the far end of the range, the EDMINI commercial dart arcade machine — a foldable unit with a 25-inch touch screen at 680 × 2060 × 500 mm and 110 kg — turns darts into a revenue line for bars and family entertainment centres. Which machine class fits which venue is a conversation of its own; the board families above cover the wall-mounted market.
Matching the board to the room
- Kids under 8 playing unsupervised: sticky or safety board (16-inch sticky for feel, 13.5-inch safety for compactness) — zero sharp points, no wall damage.
- Family game room, mixed ages: electronic board (PQ-89 for compact walls, A1 where Bluetooth scoring adds the fun) plus house rules from the how to play darts primer.
- Serious practice / league: 18-inch paper board with steel darts, correct mounting height and the regulation distances from the distance guide, and the error corrections in the common darts mistakes article.
- Bars and venues: electronic cabinet (JX-2000) or the EDMINI machine depending on floor space, with an LED ring for sight lines; brand context in the dart brands overview.
Frequently asked questions
What size dartboard should I buy for a home game room?
For adult play, the traditional target is an 18-inch face — the paper board in DAYIN’s range matches the tournament diameter, and the electronic A1 (15.5-inch segments) plays nearly the same. Compact spaces and children do better with the 13.5-inch electronic PQ-89 or the 13.5-inch safety board, both of which keep the hitting zone manageable.
Are magnetic dartboards any good for learning darts?
They teach aiming and turn-taking safely, which is their job — but the 8-inch magnetic board is a toy scale, not a training scale. Children progress naturally from magnetic or sticky boards to the 13.5-inch safety board, and then to a full 18-inch face once they can throw a real dart responsibly.
Electronic or paper board: which should a beginner start on?
If the goal is casual fun with family, start electronic — automatic scoring removes the biggest beginner frustration and soft tips are safer indoors. If the goal is eventually playing league darts, start on the 18-inch paper board with steel tips, because segment discipline and throw mechanics transfer directly to pub and tournament play.
Summary
Match the board to the throwers: sticky and safety boards (16-inch and 13.5-inch) for young children, electronic boards (PQ-89, A1, JX-2000) for family game rooms and venues that want automatic scoring, and the 18-inch paper board with 18 g steel darts for the traditional game. Add the LED Ring V2 where visibility and atmosphere matter. For setup measurements, continue with the dart board distance guide, and for the electronic range the electronic dartboard comparison.