How Much Is a Bullseye in Darts? Scoring & Strategy

The Two Bulls: Inner vs Outer

The dartboard has two distinct scoring zones at its center. The outer bullseye is the green ring surrounding the red center. It is officially called the single bull and is worth 25 points. The inner bullseye is the small red circle at the very center. It is called the double bull or simply the bullseye and is worth 50 points.

Why does the inner bull count as a double? Because it sits inside the double ring. On a standard dartboard, the thin outer ring doubles the segment score. The bullseye follows the same logic — the outer bull is the single (25), and the inner bull is the double (2 × 25 = 50). This means the bullseye qualifies as a double for finishing a game of 501, just like double 20 or double 16.

The inner bullseye has a diameter of just 12.7 millimeters. That is roughly the size of a pea. The outer bullseye (the full bull area including the green ring) measures 31.8 millimeters across. For comparison, the treble 20 bed is about twice the area of the full bull. This tiny target makes the bullseye one of the most difficult shots on the board, despite its central location.

Why the Bullseye Isn't the Highest Score

Many first-time players assume the center of the board must be worth the most points. In games like archery or shooting, the closer to the center, the higher the score. Darts follows a different logic. The highest-scoring single dart is treble 20, worth 60 points. Treble 19 scores 57, treble 18 scores 54, and treble 17 scores 51. All four beat the bullseye.

The reason comes down to risk versus reward. When you aim at the bullseye and miss, you still hit the outer bull for 25 points if you are close. When you aim at treble 20 and miss, you might hit a single 20 — or worse, you could drift into the 1 or 5 segment for a measly 1 or 5 points. The treble 20 is flanked by low-scoring numbers, making it a high-risk, high-reward target. The bullseye has a much safer miss window: anything close to center still gives you 25 points. Lower risk means lower reward.

This is also why you rarely see professionals aim at the bullseye during the scoring phase of a 501 match. They chase treble 20 because 180 in a single turn is unbeatable. The bullseye becomes relevant only when the score drops low enough that treble 20 would cause a bust. For a full breakdown of scoring strategy, read our guide to why high averages do not win matches.

The Bullseye as a Double: Strategic Importance

In standard 501 darts, the final dart of each leg must land on a double. The inner bullseye qualifies as a double because it represents 2 × 25. This makes the bullseye the highest-scoring double on the board at 50 points. No other double comes close — double 20 is worth 40, double 19 is worth 38, and so on.

Having a 50-point double available opens up important checkout routes. The most famous is the 170 finish — the highest possible three-dart checkout in darts. You throw treble 20 (60), treble 20 again (60), then bullseye (50). Only three players have ever hit a televised nine-dart finish, and multiple have ended with the bullseye. Beyond 170, many common out shots use the bullseye as a "safety valve." For example, on 85 remaining, a player might aim treble 15. If they hit the single 15 instead, they can follow with single 20 then bullseye (15 + 20 + 50 = 85). The bullseye turns a potential bust into a clean finish.

Some game variants use masters out rules, where any double, treble, or bullseye can finish. In these games, the bullseye becomes even more valuable because it doubles as both a high-scoring double and a legitimate finishing target from almost any position. The Dartsva multiplayer demo supports multiple out rules so you can experiment with how the bullseye changes your strategy.

The Bullseye in Cricket and Other Games

In Cricket, the bullseye plays a starring role. Cricket uses only numbers 15 through 20 and the bullseye. You close a number by hitting it three times (singles, doubles, and triples all count). Once closed, any additional hits score points — until your opponent also closes it. The bullseye follows the same rules: a single bull (25) counts as one mark, the double bull (50) counts as two marks. This makes the bullseye one of the most tactical targets in Cricket. A well-timed bullseye can swing the score decisively.

In Around the Clock, the bullseye is typically the final target after hitting every number from 1 to 20. This gives the bullseye a special ceremonial role: you must hit it to win. It tests your composure after an entire game of segment-by-segment accuracy. For more on why this drill builds board-wide consistency, see why Around the Clock beats aimless throwing.

In the pub game Killer, each player is assigned a number. You try to hit your opponents' numbers to take away their "lives." The bullseye is often used as a "wild card": hit it and you can steal a life from any player. The low score (25 or 50) is irrelevant — the tactical advantage matters more. This shows how the bullseye's value changes depending on the game you are playing.

When Do Professional Players Aim for the Bullseye?

Professional darts players do not aim at the bullseye often, but when they do, it matters. Here are the three main scenarios:

The 170 checkout. As mentioned, treble 20, treble 20, bullseye is the highest possible checkout. Hitting this live on TV is one of the most dramatic moments in the sport. Michael Smith hit a nine-dart finish in the 2023 PDC World Championship final, ending on bullseye, to secure the biggest win of his career.

Pressure checkouts. When the score is between 50 and 60, many pros choose bullseye over double 20 or double 15. Why? Because the bullseye has a larger target area. The full bull (including the outer 25 ring) spans 31.8 millimeters. A double bed is only about 10 millimeters wide. For a nervous player, the bullseye offers a bigger safety net — even a missed bullseye often lands in the 25 ring, whereas a missed double often scores nothing useful.

Short formats. Games like 301 or 201 make the bullseye more prominent because the scoring phase is shorter. Players reach the double zone faster, and the bullseye becomes a viable finishing target earlier in each leg. The Dartsva multiplayer demo lets you try 301 and 201 to feel how the bullseye shifts your strategy in shorter formats.

How to Practice the Bullseye

Isolation drills. Dedicate one session per week to bullseye-only practice. Throw nine darts at the bullseye. Record how many hit the inner bull (50), how many hit the outer bull (25), and how many miss entirely. Track this number over time. A good target for amateur players is hitting the inner bull at least three times out of nine.

Checkout simulation. Set up common bullseye finishes: 170 (T20, T20, Bull), 110 (T20, Bull), 85 (T15, S20, Bull), and 56 (Bull). Practice each route ten times. Record your success rate. This trains both your accuracy and your decision-making under pressure.

Doubles rotation. Include the bullseye in your regular doubles practice. Many players practice double 20 through double 10 but skip the bull. This creates a blind spot. Add bullseye to your rotation with the same repetition count as every other double. Dartsva's structured training plans include bullseye-specific drills and track your hit rate across every double, including the bull.

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