Cornhole overview: rules, setup and scoring

Introduction: quick overview of cornhole

Cornhole is a simple but addictively fun throwing game with wooden boards and filled bags. Two players or teams try to throw the bags onto the board or into the hole to score points. In this overview, we explain the most important cornhole rules, the setup and the scoring step by step, so you can start playing right away.

This page is ideal for beginners who first want to understand the basics before diving into the full official cornhole rules or more advanced strategies, or visiting our Cornhole Hub.

What exactly is cornhole?

Cornhole is a lawn game in which players take turns throwing fabric bags at a slanted wooden board. At the top of the board there is a round hole. You score:

• 1 point for a bag that stays on the board;
• 3 points for a bag that goes through the hole.

The goal is to be the first to reach a predetermined score, usually 21 points, using a special way of counting: cancellation scoring.

The basic setup of a cornhole game

For a standard cornhole game you need two boards and eight bags. Below are the most important dimensions and distances.

Cornhole boards

An official (regulation) cornhole board has:

• a length of about 120 cm and a width of 60 cm;
• a round hole with a diameter of 15 cm, slightly below the top edge;
• a slanted position: low at the front, higher at the back.

The boards are placed opposite each other. The fronts of the boards are set at a fixed distance from each other.

Cornhole bags

The bags are square, about 15 × 15 cm, and weigh around 450 grams. Nowadays they are usually filled with plastic pellets instead of real corn. Many modern cornhole bags have two sides:

• a slightly smoother “fast” side;
• a slightly rougher “slow” side.

This allows you to play with speed and control on the board.

Distance and playing field

For adults, a distance of 8.23 meters (27 ft) is usually used in cornhole, measured from the front of one board to the front of the other board. For children or absolute beginners you can safely make the distance shorter, for example 4 to 6 meters.

Ideally you play cornhole on:

• grass in the garden or in a park;
• a level patio or driveway;
• a sports hall or other flat indoor surface.

Basic cornhole rules: how to play a turn

A cornhole game consists of a series of turns (innings). In each turn, both players or teams throw all their bags toward the board on the other side.

1. The players choose who may start. This can be done, for example, by drawing lots.
2. Player A and player B alternate throwing one bag until all eight bags have been thrown.
3. Each bag that stays on the board or goes through the hole scores points.
4. After the turn, the points are counted using cancellation scoring (see below).
5. Then a new turn starts from the other side.

You always throw underhand from an imaginary box next to the board (the so-called pitcher’s box). If you step over the front of the board during the throw, that is a foot fault and the throw does not count.

Scoring in cornhole (cancellation scoring)

The scoring in cornhole works as follows:

• 3 points for every bag that goes through the hole;
• 1 point for every bag that stays on the board;
• 0 points for bags that touch the ground, slide off the board, or are ruled foul.

Then the points of both players or teams are compared. Only the difference is added to the score of the player or team with the most points in that turn. This is called cancellation scoring.

Example:

• Team A has 1 bag in the hole (3 points) and 2 bags on the board (2 points) → 5 points;
• Team B has 2 bags on the board → 2 points;
• 5 – 2 = 3 → Team A gets 3 points added to their total score.

When do you win a cornhole game?

In most variants you win the game as soon as you are the first to reach 21 points or more. Some groups play with the rule that you must end at exactly 21, but in the official game going above 21 is also fine.

Do you want to know all the details, such as fouls, timing and tournament formats? Then check out our page Official cornhole rules & scoring.

Common beginner mistakes

• Throwing too hard, causing bags to keep sliding off the board.
• No fixed stance and varying throwing technique, making your throws less consistent.
• Not measuring the distance and therefore playing at too short or too long a distance.
• Not counting to 8 bags and accidentally playing with more or fewer bags.

By setting the distance correctly, throwing calmly and repeating the same motion each time, you will progress quickly and cornhole will become even more fun.

Frequently asked questions about cornhole rules and scoring