Cornhole Rules

Updated 20 October 2026 · By the Custom League Jerseys team

Two boards face each other 27 feet apart. Players take turns throwing four bags each per inning. A bag in the hole scores 3 points, a bag on the board scores 1. Only the difference between the two players' scores counts each inning, and the first side to reach 21 at the end of an inning wins.

Equipment and setup

• Boards: 2 ft by 4 ft playing surface, with a 6 in hole centered 9 in from the top edge.
• Height: the back of the board sits about 12 in off the ground, and the front edge is a few inches off the ground. Check the exact range in your rulebook.
• Distance: 27 ft from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other, under both the ACO and ACL rules.
• Bags: four per player or team, about 6 in square and roughly a pound each. The ACO and ACL set exact size, weight and fill rules for sanctioned play.
• Pitcher's box: the area beside each board where you stand to throw. Your feet must stay behind the front edge of the board, called the foul line.

How an inning works

1. Players throw from the same end, one on each side of the board.
2. They alternate throws until each player has thrown all four bags.
3. Score the inning, then throw from the other end.

In doubles, partners stand at opposite ends, so each player only throws at one board.

Scoring

Cornhole uses cancellation scoring. Work out each side's total for the inning and subtract the smaller from the larger. Only the side with more points scores, and only the difference. Example: you score 7 (two in the hole, one on the board) and your opponent scores 4 (one in the hole, one on the board). You get 3 points and your opponent gets 0.

Winning

The first side to reach or pass 21 points at the end of an inning wins. The winner of the previous inning throws first in the next one.

Fouls

• Stepping past the foul line before the bag leaves your hand.
• Throwing from outside your pitcher's box.
• Taking too long to throw, under the time limits in sanctioned play.

A fouled bag is removed and scores nothing. Rulebooks list more fouls, such as touching bags on the board.

Backyard vs sanctioned rules

Backyard games often shorten the distance for kids or play exact 21 (going over sends you back). Sanctioned events follow the full ACO or ACL rulebook. Both organizations publish their current rules on their sites.

Joining a league? Pick a name from our dart and cornhole team names list, then match your team with custom cornhole jerseys.

Sources

• American Cornhole Organization: ACO Official Rules of Play
• American Cornhole League: ACL Official Rules

Rules change. Check the current rulebook of the organization your league follows.

More guides

• How to Score Darts
• Cricket Darts Rules
• Dart and Cornhole Team Names