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Beer darts: rules and a safe setup
Beer darts means one of two games: throwing darts at the other team’s cans (hit one and they drink), or playing regular darts on a board with drinking rules. Both are here, with a setup that keeps every throw pointed away from people, and a scoreboard for the can version.
- 👥 2–8 players (2 teams)
- ⏱ 20–30 minutes
- 🎒 Darts, cans, a board or plank to stand them on
Beer Darts: play online
Beer darts scoreboard
Log every can hit. First team to 10 hits wins; we remind the other team to sip.
Tap Hit or Puncture under the team that threw. First team to 10 wins; the scoreboard reminds the other team to sip.
Beer Darts: quick rules
Stand each team’s cans on a board or cooler lid 8–10 ft from a throwing line, with nobody standing near the targets. Teams take turns throwing three darts at the other team’s cans. A hit is a point and a sip for the owners of that can; a dart that sticks in a can is 2 points and 2 sips. First team to 10 points wins.
Safety first: the only rule that matters
- Everyone throws from the same line, like a normal game of darts.
- Targets go on a board, table or cooler lid with nothing and nobody behind them.
- Use soft-tip or magnetic darts on a party; steel darts only with an experienced group.
- Never use lawn darts (the big weighted garden darts): they caused serious injuries and have been banned from sale in the US and Canada since the late 1980s.
Never throw darts towards a person. Many “beer darts” videos show players sitting opposite each other with cans at their feet. Don’t play that way. Put all targets on one side, throw from one line, and walk up to collect darts only when everyone has thrown. Anyone who has had a few drinks too many is on scorekeeping duty.
How to play beer darts (the can game)
Set the targets
Each team stands 3 cans (full or empty, with a little drink in them) on the target board, a team’s cans on the left and the other team’s on the right.
Throw
Teams take turns: each player throws three darts at the other team’s cans from the throwing line, 8–10 ft away.
Hit
A dart that touches a can but bounces off: 1 point, and the can’s team takes a sip.
Puncture
A dart that sticks in a can: 2 points and 2 sips. Pull the can, empty it into a cup and replace it with a fresh can (never drink from a punctured can).
Win
First team to 10 points wins. Losers take one more sip each and collect the darts.
Dartboard drinking games
Got a dartboard? These are the classic drinking versions of standard darts games.
Drinking cricket
Play standard cricket (close 15–20 and the bull). Every time an opponent scores on a number you haven’t closed, take a sip. Close all numbers first to win.
Drinking 301
Start at 301 and count down; a bust (going below zero) is a sip. Finishing on a double wins, and the loser takes a sip for every 20 points they have left.
Your number
Each player picks a number from 1 to 20. Hit your own number: take a sip and give out a sip. Hit another player’s number: they take a sip. Miss the board completely: take a sip.
Around the clock
Hit 1 to 20 in order. Every turn with no progress is a sip. First to hit the bull after 20 wins.
Keep it steady
Darts is a game of aim, and aim is the first thing to go. Keep drinks small, keep water close, and stop throwing when the throws start wandering. The scoreboard’s “Go easy” option caps every reminder at 2 sips. For outdoor alternatives with no sharp points, try beersbee or the games on our outdoor drinking games page.
Beer Darts variations
- Magnetic beer darts
- Magnetic darts on a metal target board with can-shaped zones: completely safe for mixed groups.
- Balloon darts
- Balloons pinned to a board, each with a slip of paper inside (a sip, a dare, a safe). Pop one and do what it says.
- Bottle-cap darts
- Target bottle caps glued to a board; closer to the centre scores more.
Tips for a good game
- Play in daylight or under good lights, never in the dark.
- Collect darts only when everyone has finished throwing.
- Keep children and pets well away from the throwing area.
Play it safe: every game here works with sips of any drink, or none at all. Only adults of legal drinking age should drink alcohol, alternate with water, and never drink and drive. [How to drink responsibly](/drink-responsibly/)
Beer Darts: FAQ
How do you play beer darts?
Teams take turns throwing darts at the other team’s cans, set on a board with nobody near it. A hit is a point and a sip for the can’s team; a dart that sticks is 2 points and 2 sips. First to 10 wins.
Is beer darts safe?
Only with a safe setup: everyone throws from one line, targets have nobody behind them, and soft-tip or magnetic darts are used. Never throw towards a person or play the version with cans at players’ feet.
What are dartboard drinking games?
Standard darts games with drinking rules: drinking cricket, 301 with a sip for every bust, “your number” and around the clock.
Can you drink from a can that’s been hit by a dart?
Don’t drink from a punctured can: pour it into a cup and replace the can.
More drinking games to try
- Beersbee Knock the bottle off the pole with a frisbee; play to 21.
- Beer Golf Golf-course drinking games, pub golf and a scorecard.
- Outdoor drinking games Cornhole, hook and ring, yard pong, beersbee and more.
- Beer games Beer pong, flip cup, rage cage, quarters and more.