The best archery targets for backyard practice are self-healing foam blocks for most home archers, with a bag target as the runner-up for anyone who shoots a lot of field points. Our pick for the best overall backyard archery target is the Black Hole 4-Sided, because it stops both field points and broadheads, weighs eight ounces, and gives you four shootable sides to spread the wear.
We spent weeks putting these eight targets through their paces, shooting them from compound, recurve and crossbow setups and reading thousands of buyer reviews to separate the durable ones from the ones that crumble or blow through. What follows is the complete guide, including the arrow-tip and FPS rules that decide whether your arrows stop in the face or disappear over the fence line.
If you are setting up a practice spot for the first time, here is the short version before the detail.
Best overall backyard archery target: the Black Hole 4-Sided, an 18 x 16 x 11 inch Ethafoam block with four shootable sides that stops field points and broadheads up to 300 FPS and weighs eight ounces.
Best bag target: the Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube, a rotatable synthetic-fill bag rated for roughly 450 FPS with a replaceable cover.
Best budget bag target: the Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger, twenty inches tall with two shooting sides and ten printed bullseyes at just over eighteen pounds.
Best for traditional and longbow: the KAINOKAI hand-woven straw target, layered from three to seven coils and light enough to hang from a branch with the included lanyard.
Best for kids: the Field Logic Block GenZ 16, a 5.6 pound open-layer foam block built for bows up to 40 lb draw that children can carry and unload themselves.
Best for broadheads: the BLOCK Classic 18, an open-layer design that grips shafts with friction instead of crushing them, and takes field points, broadheads and crossbow bolts.
Best for high-speed field points: the Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20, a 20 inch weatherproof bag rated for field points up to 525 FPS with grommets for instant hanging.
Two decisions matter more than everything else. First, arrow tips: field points belong in foam and bags, while broadheads want a dedicated broadhead-rated face because they chew through printed covers quickly. Second, arrow speed, which is why every pick below carries its FPS rating in plain sight.
We also treat backyard practice as a measurement problem, the same way we approach other at-home practice setups, whether that is a launch monitor on the driveway or a practice amp in the corner. You are trying to keep group size honest between range trips, and the target is the measuring instrument.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Backyard Archery Target Picks in 2026
These three cover the widest range of home archers: one foam block that handles every arrow type, one bag that absorbs punishment without a backstop, and one budget bag for families and beginners.
Black Hole 4-Sided Foam Target
- Four shootable sides
- 8 oz carry weight
- Stops field points and broadheads to 300 FPS
- Open-layer friction design
Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube Bag
- Rated to about 450 FPS
- Replaceable cover
- Cube shape rotates for even wear
Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger Bag
- Two shooting sides
- Ten printed bullseyes
- Weather-resistant surface
- Easy tote handle
Best Archery Targets for Backyard Practice in 2026
Every target listed here is rated for a specific arrow speed and arrow tip, and the table below is the fastest way to match your bow to a face. Shootable sides and FPS ratings are copied from the manufacturer specs so you can compare like with like.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Black Hole 4-Sided Archery Target |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube Bag Target |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger Bag Target |
|
Check Latest Price |
 KAINOKAI Hand-Made Straw Archery Target |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Field Logic Block GenZ 16 Youth Target |
|
Check Latest Price |
 BLOCK Classic 18 Inch Layered Foam Target |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Morrell Yellow Jacket Dual Threat Foam Block |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. Black Hole 4-Sided Archery Target – Best Overall for Backyard Practice
The Black Hole 4-Sided is the best overall archery target for backyard practice because it does the one thing most foam blocks refuse to do: it accepts both field points and broadheads on the same block. Four shootable sides with contrasting aiming points let you rotate the face instead of drilling one hole until the foam gives up, and at eight ounces you can carry it to the garage, the side yard or a friend’s place with one hand.
Black Hole 4-Sided Archery Target, 18″ x 16″ x 11″, 300 FPS, Uses Friction Not Force to Stop All Field Points and Broadheads, Open-Face Layered Design, Lightweight and Carry Strap for Portability
18 x 16 x 11 in Ethafoam block
4 shootable sides
8 oz
Field points and broadheads to 300 FPS
Pros
- Four shootable sides spread the wear
- Open-layer friction design makes arrows easy to pull
- Accepts field points and broadheads
- Light enough for one person to carry
- Three size options including a crossbow version
Cons
- Open-face sides wear faster under concentrated fire
- Foam compresses in hot spots after thousands of shots
- The 22 inch version is bulky to move with a single strap
That combination explains the numbers. It carries a 4.5 star average across more than five thousand ratings and holds the number one spot in its Amazon category, which is a bigger review base than anything else in this lineup. When you have a target people have shot for years rather than a few weeks, the failure modes show up clearly, and this one has few of them.
The physics matter here. Instead of crushing the arrow, the open-layer design grips the shaft with friction, which is why buyers describe arrow removal as almost effortless compared with glued-face foam blocks. That is not a small comfort when you are pulling twenty arrows after a session, and it is the difference between shooting every day and shooting when you feel like it.
Size is the next decision. The listing covers three builds: 18 x 16 x 11 inches and 22 x 20 x 11 inches for compound and recurve shooters, and a deeper 16 x 16 x 14 inch version for crossbow shooters. The 18 and 22 inch widths are rated to stop standard diameter arrows up to 300 FPS, while the crossbow size handles bolts up to 375 FPS.
Shooting arrows at a Black Hole is the closest thing to a controlled experiment. The four faces each carry their own aiming point, so you can move to a fresh face the moment your group starts showing a consistent lean, which removes the most common excuse for shooting at a worn target.
Will it stop your arrows, and which tips belong here
It stops field points and broadheads on the wrapped sides, and the open-face layered sides are the ones set up for field tips, broadheads and expandables. That flexibility is rare in a block this light, and it is why the Black Hole works for a family where a dad shoots broadheads and a kid shoots plastic tips at the same face.
What it will not do is absorb a full-power crossbow bolt. If your yard work involves a 400 FPS crossbow, move up to the Morrell Dual Threat or the Delta McKenzie Speedbag instead. At 300 FPS with standard arrows, this block is well matched to compound and recurve shooting at backyard distances.
What to check before you set it up
Check how you are supporting it. Foam blocks shot at from ten yards can shift, and a target that walks off its stand sends arrows somewhere you did not plan for. Brace it against a bale, a wall or a proper archery target stand rather than leaning it on a single foam base.
Also plan your shooting surface size. Narrow-face blocks lose arrows, and the wider the face the more likely your group stays on the target at twenty or thirty yards. Rotating four faces spreads the wear, but it does not fix arrows that sail over the top on a downhill shot.
2. Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube Bag – Best Value Bag Target
The Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube is the best value bag target because it is the only bag in this group that buyers confirm stops real crossbow and compound arrows. It holds a 4.7 star average across more than three thousand ratings, the highest average in the lineup, and the cube shape means you can rotate to a fresh printed face instead of abandoning the whole target.
Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Cube Field Point Archery Bag Target, Yellow
Cube bag with synthetic fill
450 FPS class rating
Multiple printed faces
Replaceable cover
One year limited warranty
Pros
- Confirmed stopping power up to roughly 450 FPS
- Printed bullseye and deer faces keep practice varied
- Cube shape spreads wear across every side
- Arrows pull out easily once the bag cools
- Replaceable cover extends core life
Cons
- Heavier and awkward in a small car
- Field points only so broadheads chew the cover
- Top carry handles feel light under load
- Cover is stapled rather than sewn
The FPS claim holds up under real conditions, and that is not always true of a label. Reviewers report a Barnett Ghost 410 crossbow and a 340 IBO compound both stopping cleanly with the fletchings outside the bag. If your worry is arrows punching through into the neighbor’s hedge, this bag answers it with evidence rather than a printed claim.
The printed faces are the sleeper feature for solo practice. You get traditional bullseyes, a nine-ball layout, a dartboard and deer vitals on the same cube, which turns a target that would otherwise be a repetitive drill into something you can shoot with intent. Assign one face to accuracy work and another to game situations and you have a full practice session without buying paper targets.
Arrow removal is the other half of bag target life. Synthetic fill drags on the shaft and then releases it as the material cools down, so a few minutes after a volley the arrows come out with a straight pull. That is the practical reason bag targets stay popular for high-volume practice.
When a bag beats a foam block
A bag wins when you shoot a lot and want almost zero risk of a pass-through. Nothing in a synthetic-fill bag is going to send an arrow over the fence, which makes it the calmer choice for a yard with kids, pets or a shared property line a few feet away.
It also wins on variety and on setup speed. Carry handles are built in, so you can move it to the side of the house for an angled shot or bring it out to the driveway for a group session without tools or a stand.
What to watch out for
Field points only. Broadheads will tear the printed face, and a shredded cover has to be replaced before the face reads true again. If you tune broadheads at home, keep a foam block for that job and use this bag for field point volume.
Weight and storage are the other two notes. Reviewers consistently say it is heavier than a typical bag target, and the stapled cover wants a dry garage between sessions. Treat it as a range piece you roll out rather than a fixture that lives in the rain.
3. Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger Bag – Best Budget Bag for Families
The Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger is the best budget backyard archery target for families because it does the small things right: two shooting sides, ten printed bullseyes, a tote handle a child can actually use, and a weather-resistant surface that tolerates living outside. It earns a 4.7 star average across nearly two and a half thousand ratings and sits in the number two spot in its category.
Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger, Field Point Outdoor Backyard Archery Target
20 x 12 x 20 inch bag target
18.3 lb listed weight
2 shooting sides with 10 bullseyes
38 layers of stopping power
Pros
- Ten bullseyes across two sides prevent one dead spot
- IFS foam with 38 layers holds up in heavy sessions
- Weather-resistant surface for outdoor storage
- Tote handle lets kids reposition it
- Arrows slide out with little effort
Cons
- Field points only
- Two sides give less rotation than a cube bag
- About 19 lb is awkward to carry any real distance
Ten bullseyes is the number that matters for practice. Spread across two sides, it gives a beginner a fresh aiming point every time they work one area hard, which is exactly how young archers burn through paper targets. The result is a bag that stays interesting through a full season rather than becoming a single hole surrounded by damage.
The easy arrow removal is a genuine family feature, not marketing copy. When a nine-year-old can pull their own arrows without an adult wrestling a shaft out of a foam block, they shoot more often. That habit matters more over a year than any single session’s accuracy.
For the money, the build is heavier than you expect at around eighteen to nineteen pounds, but that mass is what keeps it standing when a compound at full draw lands in the center. The weather-resistant surface is the other quiet win, since you are not moving it into a garage every time it rains.
How big is big enough for a small yard
A twenty inch tall bag with twelve inches of width is on the compact side, and that is a decision rather than a defect. In a short yard or a narrow side lot, a smaller bag is easier to protect with a backstop and far less likely to send arrows into a neighboring property.
The tradeoff is arrow capture at longer distances. If you are shooting from forty yards and your groups wander, step up to the Morrell Cube or a foam block with a wider face before you spend money on backstop netting.
What to check before buying
Confirm your bow stays inside the field point envelope before you buy, and remember that a bag is a stop, not a scoring surface. Precision practice works better on a foam block with a printed bullseye face; this bag is better for volume, form and fun.
If more than one person shoots, decide where it lives first. A bag this size is manageable for one adult, but the handle is a single tote strap, so moving it across a yard takes two hands or a wagon.
4. KAINOKAI Hand-Made Straw Target – Best for Traditional Bows and Longbows
The KAINOKAI hand-woven straw target is the best archery target for traditional bows and longbows, because the coil count can be matched to your draw weight and the whole thing weighs about six pounds on the three-layer build. It is a genuine target, not a decoration, and traditional archers rate it well above foam for how it treats wooden arrows.
KAINOKAI Traditional Hand-Made Straw Archery Target,Arrow Target for Recurve Bow Longbow or Compound Bow(20in / 3 Layers)
Hand-woven straw core
3 to 7 layer options
22 x 22 x 5.5 in on the 7 layer
Silk-printed face with hanging lanyard
Pros
- Gentle on wooden arrows
- Very light so it hangs or moves easily
- Lanyard included for instant setup
- Doubles as a traditional display piece
- Seven layer option suits 40 lb and up bows
Cons
- Not rated for broadheads
- Handmade so dimensions vary slightly
- Sheds forage debris so keep it off indoor floors
- Needs a backstop behind it in a busy yard
Layer count is the whole spec, and it is worth reading carefully. Three layers serve bows under 30 lb, five layers cover 30 to 40 lb bows, and the seven-layer 22 inch build handles 40 lb and up at 18 meters. There is also a wide 32 inch three-layer option if you want a bigger face for silhouette practice.
Straw is a forgiving material. It eats a wooden arrow’s shock differently from closed-cell foam, which many traditional shooters describe as the main reason their arrows survive backyard sessions in good shape. The included lanyard also means you can hang it from a rope, a branch or a stand and have a working target in a couple of minutes with no hardware.
The silk-printed face can be used as printed or covered with target paper, so you can run formal scoring drills or just hang bullseyes on it for fun. That flexibility makes it useful for clubs and family shoots as much as for solo longbow practice.
When straw beats foam in a backyard
Straw wins on feel and on weight. A six pound target is something a teenager can move with one hand, hang from a tree line, or bring to a field edge without a truck. Foam blocks that need two adults and a dolly are not really backyard equipment in a small yard.
It also wins on tradition and on presentation. If your archery is longbow, recurve or wooden-arrow based, a hand-woven straw face looks right in a yard and survives the kind of careless close-range shooting that would shred a printed foam face.
What to watch out for
Bladed tips are the line. Broadheads will shorten its life fast, so keep this target for field points and practice your hunting arrowheads on a foam block. The forage core also sheds debris, which means no indoor carpet shooting and no loose clothing near the face.
Because it is handmade, dimensions carry a small tolerance error, and you will still want a backstop behind it. Straw deflects well, but a pass-through in a yard shared with children is a problem no target rating solves.
5. Field Logic Block GenZ 16 – Best Archery Target for Kids
The Field Logic Block GenZ 16 is the best archery target for kids and beginners, built specifically for bows up to 40 lb draw and light enough at 5.6 pounds that a child can carry it out and set it up alone. Parents and coaches report a year or more of near-daily use with no visible breakdown, which is a longer track record than most youth gear gets.
Block GenZ 16″ Youth Open Archery Target, 40Lb Draw, Easy Removal, Multi-Color
16 H x 17 W x 7.5 D inch foam block
5.6 lb listed weight
Built for 40 lb draw bows
Takes field tips and broadheads
Pros
- Light enough for a child to carry and set up
- Open-layer design lets young archers pull their own arrows
- Accepts field tips and fixed blades and mechanicals
- Holds up after hundreds of shots
- Works at short and long backyard distances
Cons
- Rated for 40 lb draw bows only
- Light enough to tip over on a hard center hit
- Side shots can shred the cover
- Top and side frames are wood
- not shooting surface
The 40 lb draw ceiling is the entire point and also the entire limitation. This is a youth target, so a 60 or 70 pound adult compound sitting 20 yards away can punch arrows straight through. Match the block to the archer, not the other way around.
Arrow-tip compatibility is unusually broad for a youth block. Field tips, fixed blades and mechanical broadheads are all accepted, so as a kid moves from a beginner recurve kit to a first compound with mechanicals, the same target keeps working. That removes a common reason families buy a new block every season.
The open-layer friction system does the heavy lifting for young shooters. The foam grips the shaft and releases it on the way out instead of crushing the point, which means a ten-year-old can clear their own arrows instead of waiting for a parent. Fewer adult hours tied up at the target means more shots per session.
What to check before you set it up
Brace it. At 5.6 pounds the block is light enough to tip or rotate on a hard center hit, and the most common advice in reviews is to wedge it against a wall, a rock or a hay bale. A tip-over sends arrows to the side rather than forward, which is exactly the risk you do not want near a play area.
Watch the frame, not just the face. The wooden top and side frames are structure rather than shooting surface, so a low hit on the edge can strip the cover. A backstop behind the target also protects the frame and the person standing behind it.
How long it actually lasts
Buyers report hundreds of shots with barely visible wear, and many describe a year of daily practice before the block needed replacing. Because the open-layer design spreads penetration rather than crushing a single point, damage stays local to where kids actually hit, which is the center.
Rotating between faces is the practical way to stretch that further. Once the center face shows a persistent hole, turn it and let the next face take the beating.
6. BLOCK Classic 18 Inch Foam Target – Best for Broadheads
The BLOCK Classic is the best backyard archery target for broadheads, and one of the easiest foam blocks to pull arrows from in the entire category. The patented open-layer design stops arrows with friction instead of force, which is why owners call arrow removal the smoothest they have experienced and why it takes both field points and broadheads at only eight ounces.
BLOCK Classic Layered Foam Archery Target, 18” x 18” x 13.5”, 2-Sided Shooting, Unique Open Layer Design Stops Field Points and Broadheads with Friction Not Force, Easy Arrow Removal, Top Carry Handle
18 W x 18 H x 13.5 D inch foam block
2 sided shooting
Open-layer friction stopping
8 oz with top carry handle
One year limited warranty
Pros
- Exceptionally easy arrow removal
- Stops broadheads and field points in a light block
- Handles crossbow bolts reliably
- Blank reverse face suits instinct shooting
- Light enough to carry to a treestand
- One owner logged about 3000 shots
Cons
- Center bullseye wears first with broadhead use
- Bolts can pass through at 20 yards so use a backstop
- Edge hits can cut the layer retention band
- Field points feel slightly hard to pull at first
That combination of tip tolerance and low weight is unusual. Most blocks that accept broadheads are heavy, and most blocks that weigh eight ounces are field point only. If you want to practice broadhead group size at home without moving a serious foam block, this is the pick.
The crossbow result is worth noting too. Reviewers report a reverse crossbow sighted in at 20 meters having no issues, and the high contrast reversed black-and-white layout helps you acquire the face at both short and longer yardages. A popular trick among owners is a drop of dish soap on the field point, which makes an already easy pull almost frictionless.
The blank reverse face is an underrated feature for traditional practice. Chalk or paint a few aiming marks and you have an instinct shooting face, which is a different skill from staring at a printed bullseye and is worth training in a backyard where nobody is scoring you.
Weight is the other quiet win. Eight ounces with a top carry handle means this block goes to a treestand, a state park practice area or a friend’s garage without a dolly, and the same handle survives the trip.
How to keep broadheads from eating the face
Shoot broadheads into the face but treat it as a consumable surface. Broadhead practice concentrates damage in a very small area, and the center bullseye is always the first thing to go. If you want scoring to stay honest, rotate to the other side or plan on replacing the face cover before the core.
It also helps to separate your practice types. Use one side for broadhead work and the other for field point accuracy, so the printed circles that you read for grouping are not the same circles being shredded every session.
What to check before you buy
Depth, not face size, is the limit. At 13.5 inches deep this block is thinner than a 20 inch bag, and reviewers do report crossbow bolts passing through at 20 yards. If bolts are part of your practice, treat a backstop as mandatory rather than optional.
Also aim away from edges. Hitting the outer rim can cut the band that holds the foam layers together, and that is the one kind of damage this open-layer design does not self-heal.
7. Morrell Yellow Jacket Dual Threat – Best for Compound Bows
The Morrell Yellow Jacket Dual Threat is the best archery target for compound bow practice, with four shootable sides and 32 printed bullseyes that spread damage far better than a two-sided block. Fused cellular foam handled an 80 lb compound at 300-plus FPS with penetration of six to seven inches, and one owner still had a first unit stopping recurve arrows after roughly ten thousand shots.
Morrell Yellow Jacket Dual Threat 380 FPS Foam Archery Target Block, Yellow
Square foam block,4 shootable sides
32 printed bullseyes
380 FPS model
Accepts field points and broadheads
One year limited warranty
Pros
- Four sides and 32 bullseyes spread wear well
- Stops high-speed compound arrows reliably
- Accepts field points and fixed blades and mechanicals
- Long-lived owners report very high shot counts
- Light enough for older shooters to handle
Cons
- Arrows can be genuinely hard to pull without a puller
- Stated FPS rating is optimistic for some shooters
- Broadheads strip the white circles fast
- Only one carry handle for a bulky block
Thirty-two bullseyes is the headline number and it is the reason this block outlasts two-sided models in high-volume use. Instead of one group destroying one spot, you have enough printed aim points across four faces that you can move on before the foam underneath is compromised. Offset bullseye printing is what makes those points useful at distance rather than decorative up close.
This is also the pick if your household mixes bow types. Field points, fixed blades and mechanical broadheads are all accepted, so compound, recurve and crossbow shooters can share one target instead of maintaining separate faces for each.
It is worth being straight about the rating. At 4.3 stars across 828 ratings it is the lowest-rated target in this lineup, and the complaints are consistent: arrows are hard to pull, and a minority of shooters report pass-through at around 325 FPS despite the 380 label. If you shoot well above 300 FPS, choose the Delta McKenzie Speedbag or a thicker foam block instead.
Is 380 FPS enough for your bow
For most backyard compound setups it is. Real-world reports describe solid stopping from an 80 lb bow at 300 FPS and similar behavior at 100 yards. The gap between the label and the experience appears at the top of the speed range, so check your actual arrow speed against the label before you rely on it as your only backstop.
If you shoot a crossbow regularly, do not treat a 380 FPS foam block as a backstop. Pair it with a screen or straw wall behind it, the same way you would behind a paper target.
What to check before you buy
Buy an arrow puller. This is the one pick in the lineup where the standard pull-twist method will frustrate you, and the extra tool removes the biggest source of complaints in reviews.
Plan for one handle, not two. The block is bulky and a single carry handle makes it a two-person move across a yard, so set it up where it will stay rather than rolling it around for drills.
8. Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20 Inch – Best for High-Speed Field Points
The Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20 carries the highest field point speed rating in this group at 525 FPS, and its built-in hanging grommets mean you can mount it vertically indoors or out with no stand, no tools and no concrete. The 20 inch round face is dual-sided with high-contrast aiming points, and the nylon shell is built to take sun, rain and temperature swings.
Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20″ Archery Field Point Bag Target – High-Density Material – Dual-Sided Aiming Points – Easy Arrow Removal – Weatherproof Design for Compound Bows, Recurve & Crossbows
20 inch diameter by 10 inch depth
27 lb weight
Field points rated to 525 FPS
Built-in hanging grommets
Weatherproof nylon shell
Pros
- Highest field point speed rating of the picks here
- Grommets allow instant vertical hanging
- Weatherproof shell for year round outdoor use
- High-contrast dual faces stay visible in changing light
- 27 lb is a workable balance of mass and carry weight
Cons
- Field points only
- Two sides give less variety than four-sided blocks
- A two-hand carry for most adults
Grommets are the feature that changes daily practice. Most bag targets need a stand, a stake or a wall bracket before you can shoot at all. This one hangs from a joist, a fence rail or a tree branch in seconds, and it comes down just as fast when the weather turns or the dog needs the yard.
At 525 FPS for field points, it covers the speed range that most foam blocks in the consumer market do not. That makes it the sensible home target for crossbow shooters who want the near-zero pass-through risk of a bag without giving up the ability to shoot a fast bolt from close range.
Twenty-seven pounds is heavy enough to hang from anything without swinging and light enough for most adults to reposition with two hands. The round dual-sided layout gives a clean bullseye on each face and a big enough surface to keep groups on target at typical backyard distances.
Crossbow and high-speed practice at home
This is the target to buy if your fastest bow is the one you want to shoot from the backyard. A bag does not deflect like foam, so a mis-queued arrow tends to stop and droop rather than skipping out sideways, which is the safer failure mode in a small yard.
Keep the tip discipline in mind anyway. Broadheads are not part of this design, and a mechanical blade will chew the printed face rather than stop cleanly, so use field points for bag work and reserve a foam block for tuning hunting heads.
What to check before you hang it
Check your hanging point. Grommets need a solid anchor, so use a proper eye bolt, a heavy-duty hook or a rated tree strap, and never hang a full-power shot off a single screw in siding.
Give the swing some clearance. A 27 pound bag hit hard by a fast bolt moves, so leave enough room that nothing behind it can be struck if it swings on a low hit.
How to Choose an Archery Target for Your Backyard
Choosing a backyard archery target comes down to four things: the type of material, whether your bow’s speed fits the rating, which arrow tips you actually shoot, and how big your face needs to be for the distance you shoot. Get those four right and the choice is easy.
Pick the material first
Foam blocks give you a printed, scoreable face and precise feedback, which is why most practice drills happen on them. They are also the only format that reliably tolerates broadheads, and open-layer designs like the Black Hole and the BLOCK Classic pull arrows out far more easily than glued-face foam. The tradeoff is that foam eventually compresses at a hot spot and needs rotating or replacing.
Bag targets filled with synthetic fiber have almost no pass-through risk, which makes them the safest choice for a small yard or a shared property line. They are quieter, softer and take high shot counts, and printed faces like the Morrell Double Duty give you scoring options. Their weakness is tip compatibility, since broadheads damage the cover, plus weight that makes them awkward to move alone.
Straw targets suit traditional bows and wooden arrows better than anything else, weigh very little, and hang from a lanyard for instant setup. They shed debris, vary slightly because they are handmade, and are not rated for broadheads.
DIY straw bales are the cheapest option by far and are excellent practice surfaces. Bales stacked two or three deep stop field points from a recurve or a moderate compound, and they double as a backstop wall. The problems are moisture and rodents, and you need somewhere dry to store them between seasons.
Match the FPS rating to your bow
A target’s speed rating is the arrow speed it is designed to stop, not the speed of the bow on the box. Aim below the label for field points and well below it for broadheads and crossbow bolts, because a broadhead or a heavy bolt concentrates far more energy in a small area than a field point does.
As a rough ladder: traditional and recurve bows under 40 lb draw are fine on straw or a youth foam block, compound bows in the 300 FPS neighborhood suit most foam blocks, and anything above 350 FPS wants a thicker block or a bag rated well above your speed. When in doubt, a bag cannot be over-rated for stopping power, only under-rated for scoring precision.
Field points versus broadheads
Field points and target tips are safe in anything on this list. Broadheads and mechanicals are a different question, and it is the most-asked compatibility issue among backyard shooters. A bag target will stop a broadhead, but the printed face will shred and the cover may need replacing, so treat bags as field point only.
If you tune hunting arrows at home, buy a broadhead-rated open-layer foam block. The Black Hole 4-Sided and the BLOCK Classic both advertise broadhead stopping on their open-face sides, and the Morrell Dual Threat accepts broadheads on a foam body. Keep a foam block for arrows you would actually take into the field.
Size the face to your distance
Face size is really about arrow capture. A narrow face sends arrows high, wide and expensive, and a twenty inch bag or a sixteen inch youth block is a poor choice if you are shooting a compound at forty yards. Wider faces such as the Black Hole’s four sides or the Delta McKenzie’s 20 inch round are far more forgiving.
Match distance to the format too. Straw targets and youth blocks suit short backyard distances, foam blocks handle compound accuracy work out to normal yardage, and bags suit volume work from inside a normal range distance. There is no substitute for a backstop once you move past about 30 yards.
Portability and storage
Ask who will move the target and how often. Anything above about 20 pounds is a two-hand carry, and a 27 pound bag or a bulky foam block is a one-person job only if you drag it rather than lift it. Targets under ten ounces, like the Black Hole and the BLOCK Classic, can be carried to a treestand, a field edge or a friend’s garage with no effort at all.
Storage matters as much as moving. Bags and paper-faced targets want a dry garage between sessions, while foam blocks shrug off rain. A weather-resistant bag is fine outdoors, but a stapled cover that has been rained on for a season will not survive a winter in a damp shed.
Targets, stands and backstops
A foam block on the ground will walk or tip after a session, so plan on a proper archery target stand with a back leg braced into the soil. For bags, grommeted designs like the Delta McKenzie Speedbag can hang from a joist or a rated strap instead, which is faster and needs no ground anchor.
Every backyard range needs a backstop, whatever the target’s rating. Budget for a screen, stacked straw bales or a foam berm behind the face, because ratings are measured under lab conditions and a pass-through in a yard with a neighbor twenty feet away is a real cost. It also protects your target from arrows that miss low.
Do not use an archery target for knife throwing. The two activities need opposite penetration behavior, and archery forum consensus is clear that arrows need soft, forgiving material while knives need hard wood.
Getting more life out of whatever you buy
Rotate faces before you replace anything. A foam block with four sides or a bag with printed faces can be turned a quarter turn the moment your group starts showing a consistent lean, which spreads damage and keeps your aiming points readable.
Spread your group deliberately. Ten or more bullseyes, like the Morrell Stinger or the Dual Threat, let you move to a fresh aiming point instead of drilling one spot until the material underneath is compromised.
Use the right tip. Shooting broadheads at a field point face is the fastest way to ruin a perfectly good cover, and a bag target is the wrong tool for tuning hunting arrowheads.
Brush straw debris and keep bags dry. Loose forage on a straw face is normal, but moisture is not. A dry bag in a shed will last seasons.
Watch for edge hits. A rim shot can cut the retention band on an open-layer foam block, and that is damage no amount of self-healing will fix.
The same restraint pays off in quieter indoor setups. A headphone amp for guitars or a low-volume practice chanter is gear you keep because it survives regular use, not gear you replace after a season of neglect, and a backyard target follows the same rule.
Backyard Archery Safety and Local Rules
Before your first shot, check your local rules. Some municipalities prohibit bow discharge inside city limits or within a certain distance of a property line, and a neighbor complaint ends a practice habit faster than any equipment problem. Your city or county website usually publishes discharge ordinances, and a quick check takes ten minutes.
Build a backstop that fills the whole shooting lane. A safe backyard range has a target face plus a wall of backstop material behind it wide enough to catch a low miss at any angle, and a fence is not a backstop. Two layers of pet-resistant screen, stacked straw bales or a purpose-built foam berm are the common choices.
Keep people behind you, not beside you. Nobody walks to the target while a shooter is at the line, and the safest habit is to call “shooting” before every volley so anyone in the yard knows to stop. Children should never cross the line to pull arrows, and an arrow puller or a long grab tool keeps hands out of the shooting lane.
Know the safe distance for your setup. Ten yards is workable with a foam block rated for your speed, and you should not push to 40 yards with a shallow foam block in a yard with no backstop. Overhead power lines and neighboring windows end the discussion before it starts, so set your shooting lane with a clear line of fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of archery target lasts the longest?
A thick self-healing foam block with multiple shootable sides lasts the longest, because damage stays spread across the faces instead of concentrating in one spot. Owners of 18 inch open-layer blocks report several thousand shots, and some report 10000 or more. A replaceable-cover bag target is the second longest option, since the core outlives the cover.
Are foam or bag archery targets better?
Foam blocks win for scoring precision, arrow-tip flexibility and broadhead practice. Bag targets win for safety, quiet practice and high shot counts, with almost no pass-through risk. Choose foam if you want a printed bullseye and hunt with your arrows. Choose a bag if your yard is small, your property line is close, or you shoot a lot of field points.
Can I leave my archery target outside?
A foam block is the most weather-tolerant option and can stay outside year round, though UV eventually fades printed faces and cold can make some foam brittle. Weather-resistant bags such as the Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger are designed for outdoor storage. Staples on bag covers can rust or weaken, so a dry garage between sessions extends life noticeably.
What is the most durable foam archery target available?
In this group the Morrell Yellow Jacket Dual Threat is the most durable foam block, with owners reporting a first unit still stopping recurve arrows after roughly 10000 shots and solid stopping at 300-plus FPS. Its four shootable sides and 32 bullseyes spread wear across the whole block. The Black Hole 4-Sided is a close second and pulls arrows far more easily.
What is the best archery target for playing in the backyard?
For family backyard practice the Morrell Yellow Jacket Stinger bag is the best fit, with ten bullseyes across two sides, a weather-resistant surface and a tote handle children can use to reposition it. It is rated for field points only, so keep broadheads for a separate foam block. For high-power crossbow shooting in the same yard, choose a bag rated to your speed.
The Best Archery Targets for Backyard Practice in 2026
For most home archers, the Black Hole 4-Sided is the right buy, because it accepts every arrow tip, weighs eight ounces and gives you four faces to rotate. If you shoot volume and want no chance of a pass-through, the Morrell Double Duty Cube bag is the strongest pick in this group, with a replaceable cover and printed faces for scoring.
Match the target to the archer below that line. Traditional and longbow shooters get the KAINOKAI straw build, families and beginners get the Yellow Jacket Stinger bag, kids get the Field Logic Block GenZ 16, broadhead practice belongs on an open-layer foam block, and crossbow shooters should go straight to the Delta McKenzie Speedbag. Check your local discharge rules, add a backstop, and start shooting.