What do you need to set up Autodarts?

Five things: a standard steel-tip bristle dartboard, three Autodarts-compatible USB cameras, mounts to hold them steady around the board, even lighting (in practice a light ring), and a computer near the board to run the detection software.

Do you need a special dartboard for Autodarts?

No. Any decent standard bristle board works — there is no special or proprietary board. Autodarts watches the board you already own.

The software is free and so is normal play: solo practice, game modes, training, statistics, online matchmaking and entry to the automated online tournaments all cost nothing. The optional Autodarts Plus subscription, at £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year, adds advanced statistics, extra game modes, an AI referee and the ability to create your own tournaments. You buy hardware once; there is no subscription to us.

What height should a dartboard be for Autodarts?

The standard height applies — bullseye at 1.73m — because Autodarts works with a normal board and does not change how you hang it.

Can you play Autodarts online for free?

Yes. Online matchmaking and entry to the platform's automated online tournaments are free on any Autodarts account. Plus is what lets you create your own tournaments.

Can you correct a wrong score in Autodarts?

Yes. Mis-calls are rare with a good physical setup, and any dart can be corrected with a tap before the next turn.

What operating system does Autodarts run on?

The board software runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, so a laptop, a mini PC or a Raspberry Pi can all do the job. You then keep score from any browser — your phone, a tablet or a TV.

Guide · 31 August 2026 · 6 min read

Getting started with Autodarts: a beginner’s guide

Autodarts turns a normal steel-tip dartboard into an automatic scoring system: three small cameras watch the board, software works out where every dart landed, and your scores appear instantly on any screen — phone, tablet, laptop or TV.

The software itself is free and runs on your own hardware, which is why a full Autodarts setup costs a fraction of sealed commercial systems. Here is the whole journey from nothing to your first scored leg.

What you need

Five things make a complete setup:

A standard steel-tip dartboard — any decent bristle board works; no special board required
Three Autodarts-compatible USB cameras
Camera mounts that hold the cameras steady around the board
Even lighting — in practice, a light ring around the board
A computer to run the detection software (a small dedicated one is ideal — see our device guide)

Step 1: mount the board and the cameras

Fix the board solidly to the wall at the standard height (bullseye at 1.73m). Mount the three cameras evenly around the board — about 120 degrees apart — angled so each sees the whole face. Mounts printed to fit your light ring make this a clip-on job rather than a drilling-and-eyeballing job, and consistent positioning is most of what makes detection accurate.

Step 2: install the Autodarts software

Create a free account at autodarts.com, then install the board software on the computer that will live near your board — it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Plug in the three cameras and open the board manager, where you will see all three camera views.

If you buy a pre-configured computer (like ours), this step is done before it ships: plug in power, network and the cameras.

Step 3: calibrate

Calibration tells the software exactly where the board sits in each camera view. It is guided, takes a few minutes, and you only redo it when something physically moves. Get the lighting on before you calibrate, and check each camera is in focus first.

Step 4: play

Open play.autodarts.com in a browser on any device — the computer by the board does the detecting, but you can keep score on your phone or put the match on the TV. Throw three darts and watch them score themselves; pull them out and the next turn starts.

From there you have solo practice, the full range of X01 games, training modes, online matchmaking and entry to the automated online tournaments — all included, no subscription. The optional Autodarts Plus subscription adds advanced statistics, two extra game modes, an AI referee and the ability to run tournaments of your own.

Wrong call? It happens rarely with a good setup, and you can correct any dart with a tap before the next turn.

The mistakes beginners actually make

Calibrating before the lighting is sorted — calibrate last, with the ring on
Cameras loosely mounted, so accuracy drifts as they sag
Buying cheap unbranded cameras that ghost or drop frames — camera quality is not the place to save £10
Running the board software on a laptop that leaves the room — a small dedicated device by the board means it always just works

What do you need to set up Autodarts?: Five things: a standard steel-tip bristle dartboard, three Autodarts-compatible USB cameras, mounts to hold them steady around the board, even lighting (in practice a light ring), and a computer near the board to run the detection software.
Do you need a special dartboard for Autodarts?: No. Any decent standard bristle board works — there is no special or proprietary board. Autodarts watches the board you already own.
Is Autodarts free?: The software is free and so is normal play: solo practice, game modes, training, statistics, online matchmaking and entry to the automated online tournaments all cost nothing. The optional Autodarts Plus subscription, at £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year, adds advanced statistics, extra game modes, an AI referee and the ability to create your own tournaments. You buy hardware once; there is no subscription to us.
What height should a dartboard be for Autodarts?: The standard height applies — bullseye at 1.73m — because Autodarts works with a normal board and does not change how you hang it.
Can you play Autodarts online for free?: Yes. Online matchmaking and entry to the platform's automated online tournaments are free on any Autodarts account. Plus is what lets you create your own tournaments.
Can you correct a wrong score in Autodarts?: Yes. Mis-calls are rare with a good physical setup, and any dart can be corrected with a tap before the next turn.
What operating system does Autodarts run on?: The board software runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, so a laptop, a mini PC or a Raspberry Pi can all do the job. You then keep score from any browser — your phone, a tablet or a TV.

Start from nothing with one box

Our full setup — pre-configured mini PC, light ring, printed mounts and cameras — arrives bench-tested with a free remote setup call. Answer two questions on the homepage and we build the right basket.

Build your kit