How to Score 501 Darts

The simple version

Start both players on 501. Each turn, subtract the total scored with up to three darts. Keep playing until a player reaches exactly zero using the required finish.

Visits and scoring

A normal visit is up to three darts. Add the dart scores together, subtract that number from the player’s remaining score, then swap turns.

Finishing a leg

Most 501 games use double-out rules, meaning the winning dart must land in a double or the bullseye. If the player misses the finish, the leg continues.

A worked scoring example

A player starts on 501 and scores 60 with the first three darts, leaving 441. A visit of 45 leaves 396, and a visit of 100 leaves 296. Only the total of each completed visit is entered; there is no need to type every individual dart unless a particular training feature asks for extra information such as doubles attempts.

When a player reaches a checkout, the remaining number can be taken out with three darts or fewer. For example, 40 can be finished with double 20. A suggested route is a guide rather than a requirement: any legal combination that reaches exactly zero on the required finishing dart wins the leg.

How busts change the score

The whole visit is cancelled when a player goes below zero, leaves exactly 1 in a double-out game, or reaches zero without finishing on a double. If a player begins a visit on 32 and scores 20 followed by 13, the running total would pass zero, so the visit is bust and the score returns to 32. The remaining darts in that visit are not thrown.

A score of zero is therefore not automatically a checkout. The scorer needs to know whether the winning dart hit a valid double so it can finish the leg and record the checkout correctly.

Legs, matches and the starting player

One journey from 501 to zero is a leg. “Best of five legs” means the first player to win three legs wins the match; it does not mean that all five legs must be played. Players normally agree who throws first, then alternate the starting player in later legs.

Before starting the digital scorer, check the starting score, match length, player order and whether double-out rules are being used. Local competitions can have their own format, so league rules take priority over a general guide.

Using the scorer accurately

1. Confirm the correct player is highlighted before the first dart.
2. Add the darts from the completed visit and enter that total.
3. Use Bust rather than entering zero when the visit is invalid.
4. Record doubles attempts in Practice when you want meaningful checkout percentages.
5. Use Undo immediately if the wrong score or player was entered.

The match page calculates the remaining score and stores each visit. The stats page can then calculate averages, first-nine performance, high visits and checkout records from the actual sequence of play.

Useful links

Explore the main darts tools and guides:

Start a match About How to score darts Darts rules Pub league scorer Rankings