Cornhole rules and dimensions: how to set up, play and score

Cornhole has two kinds of players: those who just toss bags and those who care about the rulebook. Whichever you are, knowing the official dimensions and the scoring system makes games fairer and arguments shorter. This guide follows the American Cornhole Association (ACA) rules, with notes on how backyard play often differs.

Equipment

• Boards: two, each 47.5 to 48 inches long and 23.5 to 24 inches wide, with a 6-inch hole whose center is 9 inches from the top edge and centered side to side.
• Height: the front edge is 3 to 4 inches above the ground and the back edge is about 12 inches.
• Bags: eight, in two colors, each about 6 by 6 inches and weighing 14 to 16 ounces. Traditional bags are filled with about 2 cups of feed corn.
• Space: a flat lawn, driveway or floor, with room to stand beside each board.

Step 1: set up the boards

1. Choose a flat spot. A slope changes how bags slide.
2. Place the boards 27 feet apart, measured from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other. Use a tape measure.
3. Make them parallel and facing each other, with the holes in line.
4. Mark the pitcher's area. It is the zone beside each board where players stand to throw.
5. Agree on the rules before the first throw.

Step 2: understand the round (an "inning")

Each round, every player throws four bags.

• Singles: the two players stand at the same board and take turns, throwing one bag at a time to the other board. After eight bags, they walk to the other board and score.
• Doubles: partners stand at opposite boards. Each team member throws four bags from one end, while the opponents throw from the same end. After all bags are thrown, players score and then walk to the opposite ends.
• Turn order: players alternate throws. The team that scored in the previous round often throws first, and if no one scored, the order stays the same.

Players stand at or behind the front edge of the board and must not step past it as they throw.

Step 3: score the round

ACA cancellation scoring works like this:

1. A bag in the hole is worth 3 points.
2. A bag on the board (resting on the surface) is worth 1 point.
3. A bag that falls off, or touches the ground, scores nothing and is removed.
4. Add up each team's points for the round.
5. Cancel: subtract the lower score from the higher score. Only the difference is awarded to the team with more points.

Example: Team A has one bag in the hole and one on the board (4 points), and Team B has three bags on the board (3 points). Team A scores 1 point for the round. If both teams score the same, no one gets points.

6. Play to 21. The first team to reach 21 or more at the end of a round wins.

Backyard variations are common. Some groups play "exactly 21," some play to 15 and others use a "skunk" rule when a team is far ahead. Agree on them in advance.

Common fouls

• Foot fault: stepping past the front edge of the board before the bag leaves your hand.
• Throwing out of turn.
• Bag hits the ground before the board: the bag is dead.
• Moving bags before scoring or knocking bags off the board by hand.
• Throwing from the wrong side.

Fouls are enforced strictly in tournaments, and casually in the backyard, though everyone enjoys a fair game.

Tips for better play

• Fast and slow sides. Many bags have a slick side and a rough side. Use the slick side for slide shots and the rough side for stopping.
• Think about the game, not only the throw. A bag on the board can block your opponent's bag from reaching the hole, or you can knock a bag in with a bag behind it.
• Aim for a gentle arc. Many players toss with a slight spin, so the bag lands flat.
• Check the weather. Humid or damp boards slow the slide.
• Warm up before a game.

Build your own boards

A pair of boards is a classic weekend project. Check the measurements above, and adapt as you wish.

1. Cut the tops from smooth plywood, at least about 1/2 inch thick, to 24 by 48 inches.
2. Cut the frame from lumber, such as 2-by-4s, to make a rectangle around each board. Glue and screw it together.
3. Drill the hole. Mark the center 9 inches from the top edge and 12 inches from each side, and cut a 6-inch circle with a hole saw. Sand the edges smooth.
4. Attach the legs, so the front edge is 3 to 4 inches high and the back edge about 12 inches. Hinged legs make the board fold.
5. Sand and seal. Use a smooth finish, with no wax or glossy coating that stays sticky.
6. Check the slope with a level, and test the boards before the party.

Playing with kids

Shorten the distance, such as 12 to 15 feet, which is a common junior distance. Use lighter bags if you can, and let children throw underhand. Make a game of getting the bag on the board, not only in the hole.