Understanding Averages
The three-dart average is the single most-cited statistic in televised darts. Understanding what it means, how it is calculated, and what its limitations are will transform how you watch professional matches.
How it is calculated
The three-dart average is calculated as:
Example: a player scores 501 in 15 darts. Average = (501 ÷ 15) × 3 = 100.20.
The multiplication by three normalises the figure to "per visit of three darts", which is why you see headline averages between about 80 and 130 rather than per-dart figures of 27-43.
What counts as good?
| Average | Level | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Below 70 | Club / pub | Typical recreational player. Legs routinely last 25+ darts. |
| 70-85 | Good amateur | County-level and local league standard. Competitive pub darts. |
| 85-95 | PDC floor tour | Comfortable Tour Card level. Will win legs in 15-18 darts regularly. |
| 95-100 | PDC TV stage | Consistently competitive at televised events. Top-32 Order of Merit. |
| 100-105 | Elite | Top-10 Order of Merit. Expected to win legs in 12-15 darts. Will win majors. |
| 105-115 | World-class peak | Taylor at his best, Van Gerwen at his best, Humphries on form. Major-winning performances. |
| 115+ | Historic | Rarely sustained over a match. MVG's 123.52 in the 2017 World semi-final is the all-time televised record. |
What averages do not tell you
- Checkout percentage
- A player can average 105 but miss doubles consistently. The "finishing" stat - checkout percentage - is tracked separately and tells you how clinical a player is under pressure.
- Scoring vs finishing
- The average treats scoring darts and finishing darts the same. A player who scores T20-T20-T20 every visit but misses doubles will have a high average but lose legs. Conversely, a player who averages 95 but checks out everything will often beat a 100-averaging opponent.
- Match length effect
- A short match can produce a misleadingly high or low average. A best-of-5 match lasting only 8 legs is much more volatile than a best-of-35 Matchplay match.
- Pressure context
- Averages do not distinguish between the first leg of a match and the deciding leg. Some players consistently average higher in no-pressure legs and lower when it matters.
The 100-average threshold
A "ton average" - 100 or above - is the benchmark that separates the top end of the PDC from the rest. At a 100 average, a player is winning most legs in 15 darts or fewer. In the Taylor era (late 1990s through 2013), a 100 average was exceptional; in the current era, the top 8-10 players routinely average 100+ at televised events.
This does not mean the standard of play has risen uniformly. It means the depth of the top tier has increased. A 2025 PDC field has more players capable of a 100 average in any given match than a 2005 field did, but the ceiling (Taylor's 115+, MVG's 123) remains extremely difficult to reach.