Short answer: The percentage on tungsten darts is how much of the barrel alloy is tungsten; the rest is mostly nickel. A higher percentage makes the metal denser, so a dart of the same weight can be slimmer. Weight, shape and grip still decide how a set throws.
By Andy Gibson · Updated 18 October 2026
What does the tungsten percentage on darts mean?
Tungsten dart barrels aren't pure tungsten. They're an alloy: tungsten powder mixed with other metals, mainly nickel, pressed and heated into a solid bar, then machined into barrels (Shot). The percentage tells you how much of that alloy is tungsten. A 90% barrel is 90% tungsten and 10% other metals; an 80% barrel has 20% other metals (Harrows).
The other metals are there to hold it together. Pure tungsten is too brittle to make darts from: Shot notes a 100% tungsten barrel would break when hit repeatedly by other darts in a tight group.
Why are darts made from tungsten?
Because it's dense. Pure tungsten is about 19.3 g per cubic centimetre, more than twice the density of brass at about 8.4 to 8.7 g/cm³. The same weight of tungsten takes up well under half the space.
For darts, that means a slim barrel at a normal playing weight. A slimmer barrel takes up less room in the treble and double beds, which leaves more space for the second and third dart to land close to the first. That is the main reason tungsten replaced brass for regular players.
How much slimmer is a 90% tungsten dart than an 80%?
About half a millimetre, going by a barrel made in both. Harrows' Dave Chisnall Chizzy comes in 80% and 90% tungsten on the same 51 mm straight barrel. At every weight, the 90% version is narrower:
| Weight | Chizzy 80% width | Chizzy 90% width | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 g | 6.7 mm | 6.3 mm | 0.4 mm |
| 22 g | 6.8 mm | 6.4 mm | 0.4 mm |
| 23 g | 7.0 mm | 6.5 mm | 0.5 mm |
| 24 g | 7.1 mm | 6.6 mm | 0.5 mm |
| 25 g | 7.2 mm | 6.7 mm | 0.5 mm |
| 26 g | 7.4 mm | 6.8 mm | 0.6 mm |
Both 51 mm long. Widths at the widest point of the barrel.
Half a millimetre doesn't sound like much, but it's around 7% of the barrel's width, and it's the same dart in every other way. If your darts often touch or deflect off each other in the treble, that is the difference you're paying for.
Is 95% tungsten better than 90%?
It's slimmer again, but the step is smaller than from 80% to 90%. Engineering tungsten alloys are graded by the ASTM B777 standard, which specifies 16.85 to 17.25 g/cm³ for a 90% alloy and 17.75 to 18.35 g/cm³ for a 95% alloy. That makes 95% roughly 5% denser than 90%.
For a barrel of the same weight, length and shape, 5% more density works out to a diameter about 3% smaller. On a 6.5 mm barrel, that's roughly 0.2 mm. That figure is our calculation from the standard, not a maker's measurement: dart makers don't publish the exact density of their alloys, and the shape of the barrel can change the result.
So 95% is worth it if you group tightly and want the slimmest barrel at your weight. For most players, the grip and shape matter more. Harrows makes the same point: a well-gripped 90% barrel can suit you better than a slightly slimmer 95% one that doesn't fit your hand.
| Alloy | Density (ASTM B777) | Barrel at the same weight |
|---|---|---|
| Brass (for comparison) | About 8.4 to 8.7 g/cm³ | Thickest |
| 90% tungsten | 16.85 to 17.25 g/cm³ | Slim |
| 95% tungsten | 17.75 to 18.35 g/cm³ | About 3% narrower than 90% |
| 97% tungsten | 18.25 to 18.85 g/cm³ | Narrower again |
ASTM B777 doesn't cover 80% alloys, and dart makers don't publish their 80% density, so it isn't listed. The Chizzy table above shows the real-world 80% to 90% difference.
What about 97% tungsten?
Above 95%, barrels get as slim as tungsten allows. Harrows describes its 97% Wolfram Trinity as about as slim as a barrel gets for its weight. Mission's Zero goes to 97.5%. These suit players who already know their weight and grip and want the narrowest barrel available.
Does a higher tungsten percentage make darts last longer?
Tungsten outlasts brass. Brass is a less durable metal that wears faster when darts hit each other in a tight group, while tungsten barrels keep their shape and grip for longer (Shot).
Between 80%, 90% and 95%, no maker publishes wear figures, so we don't claim one lasts longer than another. In practice the grip cuts and the coating are what wear first, and those depend on the design more than the percentage.
Does tungsten percentage change the grip?
Not directly. Grip is the pattern machined into the barrel: rings, knurling, or sharper shark and razor cuts. What tungsten does is make room for it. Its density lets makers cut deeper, more defined grip patterns, including angled and lengthways cuts, than a typical entry-level brass barrel, which usually has rings only (Shot).
Two darts with the same tungsten percentage can feel completely different in the hand. When choosing between percentages, choose the grip and shape first, then the highest percentage you're comfortable with in that design.
What are dual-core tungsten darts?
Some barrels use two alloys in one barrel to move the weight. Winmau's Valhalla combines 95% and 85% tungsten in a parallel barrel that Winmau lists as front weighted. The denser alloy concentrates mass in one part of the barrel, so the dart balances differently from a single-alloy barrel of the same weight and shape.
Which tungsten percentage should you buy?
Match the percentage to how often you play and how tightly you group:
| Barrel | What changes | Suits | In stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brass | Thickest barrel; wears fastest | Occasional games, a spare set | Formula Sports Clone |
| 80% tungsten | Slim enough for regular play | A first set for regular practice | Winmau MvG Aspire, Red Dragon Swingfire 1 |
| 90% tungsten | About 0.5 mm slimmer than 80%; widest choice of designs | Most players, league and weekly play | Winmau Blackout, Harrows Chizzy 90% |
| 95% tungsten | About 3% slimmer than 90% | Players who group tightly | Mission Tycho, Goat Rook |
| 97% and above | As slim as tungsten allows | Experienced players chasing the slimmest barrel | Harrows Wolfram Trinity, Mission Zero |
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Frequently asked questions
What does 90% tungsten mean on darts?
The barrel alloy is 90% tungsten and 10% other metals, mainly nickel.
Is 90% or 95% tungsten better?
95% is slightly slimmer at the same weight, about 3% narrower by our calculation. For most players the grip and shape of the barrel matter more than that difference.
Are 80% tungsten darts any good?
Yes, for a first set or regular practice. On the same design, an 80% barrel is about half a millimetre wider than a 90% one.
Why aren't darts made of 100% tungsten?
Pure tungsten is too brittle. It's alloyed with nickel and other metals so the barrel doesn't break when darts hit each other.
Do higher tungsten darts weigh more?
No. A 23 g dart weighs 23 g at any percentage. A higher percentage puts that weight into a slimmer barrel.
Is tungsten better than brass for darts?
For regular play, yes. Tungsten is more than twice as dense, so the barrel is much slimmer at the same weight and keeps its grip longer.
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