Regulations & Gameplay
Official cornhole rules 2024
- Official regulations
- How to start playing
- Scoring
The rules of cornhole and Bean Bag Game are basically simple and easy to understand. For those who play at a higher level, there are more subtleties to take into account, but in this article you will learn everything about how to play Cornhole with official rules..
You may have found this page while searching for rules for the Bean Bag Game, but don’t worry – it’s just another name for Cornhole.
In short, the following rules apply:
The boards should be made of wood, approx. 120x60 cm and the round hole should be 15 cm in diameter. The boards must have a smooth surface and the far short side must be approximately 30 cm higher than the other.
The bags must be square with 15.24 cm x 15.24 cm (6 inch) long sides and weigh approximately 450 g. Each player must have a set of four identical bags. The bags can have different slippery materials on the top and bottom, but it is not permitted to otherwise affect the slide over the board, for example by wetting the surface.
During the throw, the player must stand to the side of one board, the front foot must not be further forward than the front edge of the board during any part of the throw, then it counts as overstepping. The place next to the board where the player is standing is called the box square.
Watch the video (English speaking) to learn how to play cornhole with official rules.
This is how you count
Cornhole score count
During the throw, the player must stand to the side of one board, the front foot must not be further forward than the front edge of the board during any part of the throw, then it counts as overstepping. The place next to the board where the player is standing is called the box square.
Players alternate their throws until all eight bags (four each) are thrown. They then go to the other board, add up the points and start a new round. The game continues in this manner until any player reaches 21 points.
How to count points in the Cornhole and Bean bag game:
- Each bag that goes down the hole gives three points
- Each bag lying on the board gives a point
- Bags that hang over the edge in such a way that they touch the leg rest of the board or the ground earn zero points
- Bags that are partially on the ground during a round in progress must be removed so as not to block upcoming throws
- The first team to score 21 points or more wins the game
- The scoring is always done at the end of each round and in such a way that each player adds up their points and then calculates the difference between the respective results.
Below you can see an example:
In the round above, the black team gets 2 points. The black team has put a bag in the hole (3 points) and a bag that stayed on the board (1 point). The gray team has two bags on the board (1 point x 2 bags).
The score calculation is done by subtracting the losing team’s points from the winning team’s points. Calculation example: 4 – 2 = 2.
In the round above, the black team gets 7 points. The black team has put two bags in the hole (3 points x 2 bags) and two bags that stayed on the board (1 point x 2). The gray team has a bag on the board (1 point).
The score calculation is done by subtracting the losing team’s points from the winning team’s points. Calculation example: 8 – 1 = 7.
Gameplay
How to play Cornhole
It’s easy to play a match in the cornhole. Below we go through step by step how to play a match and start from scratch – what is needed before starting the match?
Before the match
The players agree on the distance they want to play at (if it is not an official competition) and choose the color of their bags.
In singles games with two players, they stand in each throwing square next to the same board and then lots are drawn to determine who will start throwing. In doubles, you and your fellow player face each other at each board. See the graphic below.
During the match
The lottery determines who will throw the first throw. After that, you throw every other time. When all eight bags have been thrown, the points are added up. After each round, you switch sides. Whoever won the previous round throws the first throw in the new round.
That's how you win the match
According to the official rules, whoever gets at least 21 points first wins. Only one player or team can score after each round and the score is calculated by subtracting the respective player’s accumulated points.
First to 21 points or more wins the game
Winning the match is not only about getting the bags into the round hole, but it can be just as important to knock the opponent’s bags off the board, both to prevent points from being scored and so that they can block upcoming throws.
The score may vary during a round depending on what happens. The only bags and points that are safe are those that have already fallen into the hole. Each such bag is worth three points. If there are bags on the board, the opponent can knock them away so they get zero points.
A skilled player can also give his own cornhole bag a push so that it goes from being on the board down into the hole. So there is some strategy during the match because the points are only counted after a completed round. Read more about how to throw a cornhole bag like a pro.
Dimensions and distances
Cornhole official measurements and distances
Cornhole is basically American and many measurements and distances are therefore given in inches or feet when it comes to official competitions where it is important that the conditions are the same for everyone and that everyone follows the same rules. This is how to setup your cornhole boards before the game.
Cornhole boards used for official play shall be 122 x 61 cm (48 x 24 inches) and the round hole shall be 15.24 cm (6 inches) in diameter.
The hole should be located nine inches from the far edge of the board and it should be centered on the board with a distance of 12 inches to each long side. The far, raised side of the board must be 12 inches from the ground and the entire surface of the board must be smooth and completely free of scratches or anything else that could adversely affect the sliding of the bags.
Cornhole boards must be placed opposite each other at a distance of 8.23 m (27 ft), in junior games a shorter distance of 21 ft applies.
The distance is counted from the front edge of the boards, i.e. the low short side that faces the other board, it is the same short side that is also counted as the overstep line. They must stand completely flat, but the nature of the surface is otherwise of no importance as long as the board cannot slide in any way.
Cornhole bags must be perfectly square measuring 15.24 x 15.24 cm (6 x 6 inches) and they should weigh approximately 440g (15 ounces).
The filling can consist of dried corn, beans or the like. To avoid the influence of possible moisture, plastic granules are now usually used.
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