Tungsten

Learn More

Tungsten is the material of choice for competitive darts, and for good reason. It's incredibly dense — about 1.7 times denser than lead — which means you can make a thin, compact barrel that still has significant weight. This thinness is crucial because thinner darts physically take up less space on the board, allowing you to group three darts more tightly in the treble 20 bed. Dart barrels are made from tungsten alloy, not pure tungsten (which would be too brittle). The percentage refers to how much tungsten is in the alloy — typically 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 97%, with the remainder being nickel and other metals. Higher tungsten percentage means a denser, thinner barrel for the same weight, but also a higher price. For most players, 80% tungsten is an excellent starting point. The barrels are slightly thicker than higher-percentage options but significantly thinner and better than brass darts. The price is reasonable, and the performance difference between 80% and 90% is noticeable but not dramatic. At 90%+ tungsten, you're in professional-grade territory. The barrels are noticeably slimmer, and the feel in your hand is distinctive — dense and solid. 95% and 97% tungsten darts are premium products with correspondingly premium prices, but the difference from 90% is subtle enough that most players won't benefit significantly. Before tungsten became standard, darts were made from brass, which is much less dense. Brass darts are bulky — a 24g brass barrel is significantly thicker than a 24g tungsten barrel. You can still find brass darts in pubs and beginner sets, but any player who takes the game seriously will eventually switch to tungsten.