The Inner Bull Scores 50—Here’s Where the 25 Comes From

On a standard steel-tip dartboard, the small inner bullseye scores 50 points, while the surrounding outer bull scores 25 points. The distinction is confirmed by this X01 scoring guide.

The short answer: inner bull 50, outer bull 25

The board’s centre contains two separate scoring areas:

Target	Location	Common name	Point value
Inner bull	Small central circle	Bullseye, bull, double bull	50
Outer bull	Ring surrounding the centre	Outer bull, single bull, 25	25

Some players reserve “bullseye” for the 50-point inner circle; others use it for both central areas collectively. When calling or recording a score, say inner bull or outer bull so there is no ambiguity.

Why the bullseye is not the highest-scoring target

Despite occupying the centre of the board, the inner bull is not the highest-scoring target for one dart. That distinction belongs to treble 20:

Treble 20 = 3 × 20 = 60 points

One treble 20 therefore scores ten points more than an inner bull:

60 − 50 = 10 points

The difference also appears across a complete three-dart visit:

Three-dart visit	Calculation	Total
Three inner bulls	50 + 50 + 50	150
Three treble 20s	60 + 60 + 60	180

That makes 180, rather than 150, the maximum standard score with three darts. Dartshopper’s 501 scoring guide confirms that treble 20 scores 60 and three treble 20s total 180.

This is strictly a comparison of point values. It does not establish that either target is easier to hit; the treble multiplier simply makes treble 20 worth more.

How the inner bull works as a finishing double

In standard double-out 501 and 301, the 50-point inner bull counts as double 25. It can therefore be the final dart that reduces the remaining score to exactly zero. With 50 left, for example:

50 remaining − 50 for the inner bull = 0

That dart completes the checkout because the inner bull satisfies the double requirement. The outer bull does not: it scores 25 but is not double 25, so hitting it with 25 remaining would not complete a standard double-out leg. These rules are explained in the X01 scoring guide.

The inner bull also completes the highest standard three-dart checkout, 170:

Treble 20 + treble 20 + inner bull

60 + 60 + 50 = 170

The route is listed in this darts checkout reference.

These finishing rules apply to standard double-out formats.

When bull scoring changes by game or board

Other games can use the same central areas differently. In Cricket, the bull normally counts in marks:

• Outer bull: one bull mark
• Inner bull: two bull marks

A player needs three marks to close the bull. That can be achieved with three outer bulls, one inner bull plus one outer bull, or two inner bulls. “One” and “two” here mean marks towards closing the target, not one-point and two-point scores. Shot Darts’ overview of Cricket rules confirms the one-mark outer bull and two-mark inner bull convention.

Electronic soft-tip darts add another variable. Bull scoring can differ from steel-tip scoring depending on the board, machine mode or competition format. Some rules use a full-bull setting under which both central areas score 50, while others distinguish between the inner and outer bull. This specialist bullseye guide describes the soft-tip convention in which both areas count as 50. Check the selected machine mode, event rules or agreed house rules before starting.

The quick reference is:

• Steel-tip inner bull: 50 points
• Steel-tip outer bull: 25 points
• Cricket: usually two bull marks for the inner bull and one for the outer
• Soft-tip: depends on the applicable settings or rules

For standard steel-tip darts, use one rule: 50 for the inner bull and 25 for the outer bull. Treble 20 is worth more at 60, while the inner bull is especially important because it can complete a standard double-out finish. Check the chosen rules when playing Cricket, soft-tip darts or a house variant.