Cornhole Rules & Scoring: How to Play (and Win)
Cornhole is the king of the backyard for a reason: dead simple to learn, weirdly addictive, and perfect with a drink in your free hand. Here is everything you need to set up two boards and start tossing like a commissioner.
What you need
- 2 regulation cornhole boards (2 ft x 4 ft with a 6-inch hole)
- 8 bags total (4 per side, two colors)
- A flat lawn or driveway about 30 ft long
- Optional: a tape measure to set the distance
How to play cornhole
- Set up the boardsPlace the two boards facing each other so the front edges are 27 feet apart. Players or teams split up, one at each board.
- Decide who throws firstFlip a coin or rally for it. The first frame's honors go to the winner; after that, whoever scored last throws first.
- Toss your bagsEach player throws their 4 bags one at a time at the far board, alternating with their opponent. Stay behind the front edge of your board (the foul line) when you release.
- Tally the frameOnce all 8 bags are thrown, count the points on the far board. That completes one frame (also called an inning or round).
- Switch ends and repeatPlayers at the far board now throw back the other direction. Keep playing frames until someone hits the winning score.
- Win the gameThe first team to reach 21 points (or more) at the end of a frame wins.
Scoring
- Bag through the hole = 3 points.
- Bag landing and staying on the board surface = 1 point.
- Bags that hit the ground first then slide on, or that fall off, score nothing. A bag touching the ground and resting against the board does not count.
- Cornhole uses cancellation scoring: in each frame the two sides' points cancel out, and only the higher side scores the difference. Example: you score 5, opponent scores 3, you net 2 points for that frame.
- First side to reach 21 at the end of a frame wins.
Distance & setup
Fun variations
- Bust / wash-out house rule: some casual players require landing exactly on 21. Go over and you 'bust' back down to 15. Official ACL rules do NOT use this, you simply need 21 or more, but it is a popular backyard twist.
- Mini cornhole: smaller tabletop boards set about 8 to 10 feet apart, same scoring, great for indoors or kids.
- Play to 11 or 15 for faster games at a party.
- Move boards closer (15 to 20 ft) for younger kids.
Cornhole rules FAQ
How far apart are cornhole boards?
The front edges of the two boards sit 27 feet apart in regulation play. For kids or tight yards, move them in to 15 to 20 feet.
What happens if you go over 21 in cornhole?
In official ACL rules, nothing bad happens, you just need 21 or more to win. Many backyard players use a 'bust' house rule where going over 21 knocks you back to 15, but that is optional, not official.
How many points is a bag in the hole?
A bag through the hole is worth 3 points. A bag that lands and stays on the board surface is worth 1 point.
What is cancellation scoring?
Only one side scores per frame. You subtract the lower score from the higher one, and the leader banks the difference. If you net 5 and they net 3, you get 2 points that frame and they get zero.
Do you have to win by exactly 21?
No. Under official rules you just need to reach 21 or more at the end of a frame. The 'must land on 21 exactly' rule is a house variation, not the standard.
How many bags do you get?
Each player throws 4 bags per frame, so a 1v1 game has 8 bags in play and a 2v2 game splits 4 bags per team per side.
Ready to play?
Grab a set and start your league this weekend. We ranked the best cornhole sets for every budget.
See our top cornhole picks → Printable rules card