Cornhole Rules: Official Rules, Scoring & How to Play
Cornhole is a backyard and tournament game in which two players or two teams take turns tossing bags at a raised, angled board with a hole cut near the top. The objective is simple: land bags on the board or through the hole to score points, and be the first side to reach the winning score. Games are played in singles, with one player per side, or doubles, with two-player teams throwing from opposite boards. This guide covers the complete rules of cornhole — how to set up and play, how scoring and cancellation scoring work, regulation board distance, foul rules, and the differences between singles and doubles play.
How to Play Cornhole
A full cornhole game breaks down into six steps: set up the boards, form your teams, decide who throws first, alternate throws, score the frame, and repeat until a side reaches the winning score.
1.Set Up the Boards
Place the two cornhole boards on flat ground, facing each other with the holes aligned down the center of the lane. For regulation play the front edges sit 27 feet apart.
2.Form Teams or Players
Play singles with one player per side, or doubles with two-player teams. In doubles, partners split up and stand at opposite boards, throwing toward each other.
3.Decide Who Throws First
Flip a coin for the opening frame. After that, the side that scored in the previous frame throws first in the next one.
4.Throw the Bags
Players alternate throws, one bag at a time, from behind the foul line, until all eight bags — four per side — have been pitched.
5.Score the Frame
Once all eight bags are thrown, count the points for both sides and apply cancellation scoring to find the frame's result.
6.Continue Until the Game Is Won
Collect the bags, switch throwing ends if you're playing singles, and start the next frame. The first side to reach the winning score takes the game.
Cornhole Game Setup
Cornhole Scoring Rules
Every bag is worth points based on where it ends up when the frame is over. Here is exactly how much each result is worth.
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| Bag in the hole | 3 |
| Bag on the board | 1 |
| Bag on the ground | 0 |
1 Point
A bag that lands on the board surface and is still there when the frame ends.
3 Points
A bag that goes through the hole at any point during the frame.
How Does Cornhole Scoring Work?
Cornhole uses cancellation scoring. At the end of each frame, total both sides' points, then subtract the lower total from the higher one. Only the side with the higher total scores for that frame, and only the difference counts — the lower total is wiped out, not added to the running score.
Team A scores 5 points and Team B scores 3 points. Team A receives 2 points for the frame.
Team B's 3 points cancel out 3 of Team A's 5 — only the difference of 2 goes on the scoreboard.
Frame-by-frame examples, running totals and the most common scoring mistakes are covered in the full cornhole scoring guide. To keep score as you play, use the free cornhole score calculator.
How Far Apart Are Cornhole Boards?
Regulation cornhole boards are placed 27 feet apart, measured from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other. This is the distance used in sanctioned tournament and league play, and it stays the same regardless of whether the game is singles or doubles.
The measurement is always taken front edge to front edge, not from where the player stands. Recreational and backyard games often shorten the distance, since 27 feet takes up a fair amount of yard space.
For youth, senior and backyard distances, plus how to measure the lane, see the cornhole board distance guide. For the 4-by-3-foot pitcher's boxes and the total space a regulation lane needs, see the cornhole court dimensions.
Cornhole Distance for Different Players
Adults / Competition
27 feet, front edge to front edge — the standard for regulation and tournament play.
Recreational Play
Often shortened to 21 or 24 feet for casual backyard games where space or player experience is limited.
Youth / Junior Players
Commonly played at 21 feet or less so younger players can reach the board with a regular underhand throw.
Cornhole Board Dimensions
A quick summary of regulation board sizing. These figures reflect the specifications most commonly used across sanctioning bodies.
| Specification | Regulation Size |
|---|---|
| Board length | 48 in (47.5–48 in) |
| Board width | 24 in (23.5–24 in) |
| Hole diameter | 6 in |
| Hole position | Centered, 9 in from top edge |
| Front height | 3–4 in |
| Back height | 12 in |
Each measurement has its own guide: the complete cornhole board dimensions, the regulation board specifications, the cornhole hole size, the board angle and the board height.
Cornhole Foul Rules
Every throw must be released from behind the foul line — the front edge of the board on the throwing end — while the player stays inside the pitcher's box beside it. Stepping on or past the foul line before the bag leaves your hand is a foul.
A foul bag is dead: it's removed from play immediately and cannot score, even if it lands on the board or drops through the hole. It still counts as one of the four bags thrown for that frame.
What Happens If You Cross the Foul Line?
If a player's foot touches or crosses the foul line before the bag is released, the throw is ruled a foul. The bag is taken out of play for that frame and scores nothing, regardless of where it lands. Play simply continues with the next throw in the rotation.
Foot faults, bag-swipe fouls, the pitcher's box boundaries and how officials enforce them are covered in the complete cornhole foul rules.
Singles Cornhole Rules
Singles cornhole is one player against one opponent. Both players start at the same board and throw all four of their bags at the opposite board before play passes to their opponent.
Once both players have thrown their four bags, the frame is scored using cancellation scoring. Players then walk down to the board they just threw at to start the next frame, alternating ends throughout the game.
Throwing order, switching ends and the full 1 vs. 1 format are laid out in the cornhole singles rules.
Doubles Cornhole Rules
Doubles cornhole is played with two-player teams — four players total. Partners split up and stand at opposite boards, throwing toward each other rather than walking down the lane between frames.
Throwing order alternates between the two teams, one bag at a time, until all eight bags have been pitched. Frames are scored the same way as singles, with cancellation scoring deciding the points awarded.
Partner positions, rotation and how doubles play differs from singles are covered in the cornhole doubles rules.
| Format | Players |
|---|---|
| Singles | 2 |
| Doubles | 4 |
Cornhole Game Rules
How Many Points Do You Need to Win Cornhole?
Most games are played to 21 points, and a team must reach 21 at the end of a completed frame — not mid-frame — to win. Shorter casual formats sometimes play to 11 or 15 points instead.
What Happens If Both Players Reach the Winning Score?
Cancellation scoring means only one side can gain points in a given frame, so a game rarely ends level. If the match is still tied before either side reaches the winning score, play simply continues into another frame until one side pulls ahead.
Winning scores by format, the win-by-2 question and why a side that passes 21 mid-frame still has to finish it are explained in the cornhole scoring guide. To track frames on paper, print the free cornhole score sheet.
Cornhole Rules for Beginners
If you only remember six things about cornhole, make it these.
- Set up the boards
- Stand behind the foul line
- Throw the bags
- Score the frame
- Apply cancellation scoring
- Continue until the game is won
Official Cornhole Rules
Official tournament rules. Sanctioning bodies such as the American Cornhole Association and the American Cornhole League publish detailed rulebooks covering certified board specifications, bag weight tolerances, throwing distance, foul enforcement and match formats for sanctioned competition.
Casual backyard rules. Backyard and social cornhole follow the same core rules — scoring, distance and setup — but with far more flexibility. Boards and bags rarely get measured, and enforcement of the foul line is usually left to the honor system.
Match formats, brackets and sanctioned play are covered in the cornhole tournament rules, and approved equipment in the cornhole bag rules.
Cornhole Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Standard |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 or 4 |
| Boards | 2 |
| Bags | 8 |
| Board distance | 27 ft |
| Bag in hole | 3 points |
| Bag on board | 1 point |
| Bag off board | 0 points |
| Winning score | 21 points |
Frequently Asked Questions About Cornhole Rules
How do you score cornhole?
Cornhole uses cancellation scoring. At the end of each frame, total both sides' points, then subtract the lower total from the higher one. Only the side with the higher total scores, and only for the difference.
How many points is a bag in the hole?
A bag that goes through the hole is worth 3 points.
How many points is a bag on the board?
A bag that lands on the board surface and stays there until the frame ends is worth 1 point.
How far apart are cornhole boards?
The rulebook figure is 27 feet, front edge to front edge, and it does not change between singles and doubles. Shorter lanes at 21 or 24 feet are common recreationally, but they are house distances rather than regulation ones.
What is the cornhole foul line?
The foul line is the front edge of the board you are throwing at from that end — there is no separate mark to lay down. The bag has to leave your hand before any part of you touches or crosses it.
What happens if you cross the foul line in cornhole?
If a player's foot touches or crosses the foul line before the bag is released, the throw is a foul. The bag is removed from play and scores nothing, even if it lands on the board or through the hole.
How many players can play cornhole?
Cornhole is played with 2 players in singles, or 4 players in doubles — two-player teams throwing from opposite boards.
How do you win a cornhole game?
The first side to reach 21 points at the end of a completed frame wins the game. Some casual and youth formats play to 11 or 15 points instead.
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