Cornhole — also called bean-bag toss or sack toss — is a staple of American backyard gatherings. The goal is simple: toss bags onto the opposite board and into the hole to score points.
Rules and gameplay
You need two sets of four bags, two boards, and two to four players. Boards are placed 27 to 33 feet apart (measured from bottom edge to bottom edge). Kids' versions use proportionally smaller equipment.
The area near the boards is called the "pitcher's box." There's also a foul line — a real or imaginary line at the front edge of the board. You can't step over it when throwing.
In singles, the two players alternate throwing bags at the opposite board. After all eight bags are thrown, they walk to that end, tally the score, then throw back the other way.
In doubles, the setup is the same — but each player stays on their side for the whole game. Your partner is already at the far end, ready to throw after your round finishes.
Cornhole scoring
The scoring is straightforward:
- 3 points — bag goes through the hole ("Bag In-The-Hole" or "Cornhole")
- 1 point — bag lands on the board surface ("Bag In-The-Count" or "Woody")
- 1 point — bag hangs into the hole but hasn't fallen through (some variants award 2 points for this, calling it a "Hanger")
- 1 point — bag hangs off the edge of the board without touching the ground
- 0 points — bag hangs off the edge but rests on another bag that's on the ground (unless you can pull the bottom bag away and yours still doesn't touch the ground — then it counts for 1)
Cancellation scoring
The standard scoring method is "cancellation." After each round, you subtract the lower score from the higher. Only the player or team with more points gets credit — and only for the difference.
So if player 1 scores 10 and player 2 scores 12, player 2 gets 2 points for that round. If both scores are equal, nobody gets anything.
The game ends when someone reaches 21 points.
Winning score variations
- 21 points — the standard. First team to reach (or pass) 21 wins. Some play that you must hit exactly 21; going over sends you back to 13.
- 25 points — used when people want a longer game.
- Win by 2 — some groups require a 2-point cushion to win.
Agree on the rules before you start. Arguing about this mid-game at a barbecue is not fun.
Fouls
Stepping over the foul line, throwing a bag that bounces before landing, or throwing from the wrong box are all fouls. A fouled bag is removed from play — no points scored. In some cases, the offending team loses their highest-scoring bag from that round's total.
Tournament rules
Tournaments typically tighten these rules:
- Boards 27 feet apart (measured front to front)
- Coin toss to determine who throws first
- First to 21 wins
- Cancellation scoring throughout
- No-bounce rule: bags that hit the ground and bounce onto the board don't count
- Disputes go to the tournament coordinator
Keeping score in cornhole
Digital cornhole scoreboard from Keepthescore.com
A digital scoreboard lets you share scores with spectators, keep a running total across rounds, and avoid the "wait, what are we at?" conversation mid-game. Keepthescore.com is free to use and works on any device.
Focusport Cornhole Scoreboard
A metal magnetic scoreboard designed specifically for cornhole. The magnets make score-tracking easy, and it has a built-in drink holder. Available on Amazon.
Cornhole FAQs
- How do you score points in cornhole? Bag through the hole = 3 points. Bag on the board = 1 point.
- What is cancellation scoring? Only one team scores per round. Subtract the lower total from the higher — the difference goes to the team with more points.
- What's the objective? Be the first player or team to reach 21 points.
- What are the official board dimensions? Regulation boards are 4 feet deep by 2 feet wide (48" × 24"), made of plywood.
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