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Last updated on November 1, 2021
Whether you’re just learning how to throw darts, you’re a long-time player who just wants an extra sense of security, or you’re planning on adding alcohol to the mix, a dartboard wall protector is a sound investment for any darting enthusiast who plays the game at home. These dartboard wall protectors are designed to prevent darts from putting holes in your wall, safeguarding your even bigger investment—your home.
Best Dartboard Wall Protector 2018
Viper Defender II Dartboard Surround Wall Protector
The Viper Defender II Dartboard Surround completely surrounds your dartboard without any gaps or spaces, or any complicated assembly, thanks to its compression fit design, which hugs the dartboard snugly for the best possible fit.
A big part of what sets the Viper Defender II apart from other dartboard wall protectors is its high-density V-foam construction. This material has the wherewithal to prevent dart tips from impacting your walls, while having enough give to actually capture darts, instead of causing them to ricochet, leaving your floors and other surfaces in the home vulnerable to stray darts. The quintessential combination of strength and give is a highly prized feature in any good dartboard defender for this reason.
Thanks to the close, gapless fit of the Viper Defender II, and its V-foam construction, darts are captured in the wall protector without damaging your wall or falling to the floor. Falling to the floor is something a lot of people don’t think about since they are, understandably, highly concerned with not damaging their walls, but it’s important to consider. If the dart falls from the protector, the steel tip will scratch any type of hard floor, so being able to retain the darts is a huge part of what makes the Viper Defender II so adept at protector your home from errant darts. The Viper Defender II’s protection range is 5 inches from the board to the edge of the surround.
The surface of the Viper Defender II features a velvet-like appearance. If the surface was simply a matte black finish, it would easily show marks and holes, potentially becoming an eyesore. With the Defender II’s velvet-like surface, dart marks are minimized, keeping the surround looking new and attractive for years to come.
Since there are no braces or mounts involved in setting up the Viper Defender II, you can easily rotate it into a diamond position, if that’s your preference. The big benefit of this is the fact that you can orient the Defender II so that its broadest points are surrounding the high-traffic numbers, such as 20. Since these numbers get the most use, they’re also the ones people are most likely to miss, making this rotation capability a key feature of what sets the Viper Defender II apart from other wall protectors.
Easy tool-free assembly is perhaps the biggest ease of use feature the Viper Defender II has to offer. It comes in four pieces that interlock together in the fashion of a standard jigsaw puzzle. This works well with the compression fit design. Combined, they provide a secure fit that you can easily put together with your bare hands, making setup a breeze.
Viper Defender Dartboard Surround Wall Protector
The original Viper Defender’s protection radius is an impressive 5-inches going all the way around the dartboard, thanks to its circular design. The Viper Defender is sized to provide a great fit for all standard 18-inch bristle dartboards.
The Viper Defender’s velvet-like surface prevents the defender from showing visible signs of dart-induced damage. Think of it like camouflage. This keeps the defender looking great so that it and your dartboard can be showcased in your home or game room instead of being kept out of sight. The compression fit ensures there are no gaps that could render your home’s walls vulnerable.
The reversibility factor doubles your Viper Defender’s natural lifespan. The front and back are the same, so you get the same velvet-like camouflaging surface on both sides, as well as the benefits of the HD V-foam.
High-density V-foam is the big secret behind the Viper Defender’s excellent protective reputation. It has the strength to withstand being pummeled by darts for years, the fortitude to protect your walls for years to come, and the springiness to capture darts so they don’t drop to your floor and damage its surface.
Like its younger brother, the Viper Defender comes in four pieces that feature a puzzle-like interlocking design, so setup is incredibly easy. Simply snap the pieces into place and you’re done—no tools required.
Dart World Wall Protector
The Dart World Wall Protector is designed to fit any standard bristle dartboard for a secure fit. The Dart World Wall Protector’s jigsaw design enables easy tool-free assembly, with the bonus of a quick setup to boot.
Reversibility virtually doubles the Dart World Wall Protector’s natural lifespan; appearance is the same on either side, so you get the same good looks when you reverse it.
The Dart World Wall Protector is made of 1-inch thick high-density foam. High-density foam is an ideal material for a dartboard surround because it’s protective, but it also gives. This means that it stops dart tips from marring your wall, and captures them so they don’t mar your floors. The 1-inch thickness ensures that even darts thrown at high speeds are kept at bay.
Viper Championship Dartboard Backboard Set
The Viper Championship Wood Framed Dartboard Backboard Set features a dartboard surround made of medium density fiberboard construction for durability, with a tough felt panel that protects your wall from missed darts. The finish is mahogany, for a classic and sophisticated appearance.
The Viper Championship dartboard wall protector comes with a dry erase scoreboard included in the set. The scoreboard’s surface is explicitly designed to be non-smearing for improved appearance and user-friendliness. The whiteboard comes pre-labeled, so all you have to do is fill in the blanks with the dry erase marker, which is also included for customer convenience.
The third panel in the Viper Championship backboard set is a removable flight pouch. The really cool thing about this flight pouch is it holds up to four sets of darts and features twelve flight pockets, making it a great addition for darting enthusiasts. The Viper Championship wall protector fits all standard bristle dartboards as well as most electronic dartboards for a versatile and comprehensive fit.
Viper dartboard wall protectors are designed to have the perfect mix of rigidity and give. These buzzwords may be repeated often by the company, but it’s important to consider what they truly mean in terms of protecting your home. Rigidity prevents darts from penetrating the surround, keeping your walls safe; give ensures that darts are captured in the surround’s surface so they don’t fall and scratch your home’s flooring. It really is the best of both worlds on the dartboard wall protector front.
While the Championship dartboard setup isn’t as effortless as some of Viper’s other offerings, they still make things easy on the customer by providing them with what they need, along with clear instructions. The main panel, which is the dartboard protector itself, is pre-mounted with a bracket optimized for standard bristle boards. Golden heavy-duty strap hangers are also included for ease of use and easy assembly.
29″ Professional Dartboard Backboard
Dart-Stop’s 29” Professional Dartboard Background features a plush, felt-like fabric finish that’s designed to disguise dart holes. Framelessness is another nod by Dart-Stop towards dart-hole camouflaging. Frames may look classy, but they give an opportunity for dart holes to become highly visible. The frameless design prevents that issue before it becomes one.
The recessed mounting bracket comes preinstalled on Dart-Stop’s dartboard wall protector to simplify the installation process. This reduces both the tools and parts you need to complete setup, speeding things along. The mounting points are steel-reinforced for durability and for customer convenience, 3-inch screws and anchors come with the backboard.
The 1-inch thickness of Dart-Stop’s wall protector is not only backboard industry standard, but it gets the job done, saving your walls from dart holes. The back layer of Dart-Stop’s wall protector is 0.75-inches of wood, offering a final layer of protection for even the most highly-powered errant darts. As a nod to practicality, the Dart-Stop wall protector features an octagonal design which provides a more uniform protection surrounding your dartboard.
Top Recommendation
There are a lot of great dartboard wall protectors out there and many of them are even superficially quite similar, making the choice between them that much harder to make. But ultimately, there was a standout in this roundup: The 
Finally, if you’re looking for an alternative, consider using a dartboard cabinet instead.
