High Score Darts: Rules and Practice

Last updated 10 November 2026

High Score is the simplest darts game there is: throw, add it up, and the biggest total wins. Its simplicity is also what makes it useful, because it measures pure scoring with nothing else in the way.

The rules

1. The game lasts ten rounds. Each player throws three darts per round.
2. Every dart scores its full value: singles at face value, doubles twice and trebles three times. Outer bull is 25 and inner bull is 50.
3. After ten rounds, the highest total wins.

That is 30 darts each. There are no busts, no targets and no penalties.

Turn your total into an average

Because every game has exactly ten turns, your 3-dart average is simply your total divided by 10. A total of 550 means you averaged 55 per turn. That figure matches the average used in 501, so High Score is a quick way to measure your scoring without any finishing involved. Our average calculator does the sum for any number of darts.

Using it for practice

• Treble 20 versus treble 19. Play one game aiming only at treble 20 and another only at treble 19. Your totals tell you which works better for your grouping.
• Track it over time. One game is noisy. The average of your last five games is a much better measure of progress.
• Warm up with it. One game before a match gets your scoring rhythm going without the pressure of finishing.

Variations

• Longer games: play 20 rounds for a more reliable average.
• Target number: race to a total such as 1,000.
• Trebles only: darts outside the treble ring score nothing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum score in High Score darts?

1,800 over ten rounds: thirty darts, all in treble 20.

How do I work out my average from High Score?

Divide your total by the number of rounds. Over ten rounds, a total of 620 is a 3-dart average of 62.

What happens in a tie?

Play an extra round. The DartScore.uk scoreboard gives a tied game to the player listed first.