How to Play Cornhole Game | Official Rules & Scoring

Whether you are setting up for a backyard barbecue or a tournament match, knowing the exact board distance, how points cancel, and what constitutes a dead bag keeps arguments off the board and the game moving.

Setting Up the Cornhole Court

Two regulation boards go on a level surface, 24 inches wide by 48 inches long, with the 6-inch hole centered 9 inches from the top edge. The single measurement that controls everything: 27 feet from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other. That is the adult standard. For junior play, reduce the distance to 12–15 feet. The full court — including both pitcher’s boxes — runs about 40–45 feet long and 10–12 feet wide. Each pitcher’s box measures 3 by 4 feet; you must stay inside it during your throw.

Official Gameplay Step by Step

Who Throws First

Spin a bag on the board or ground; the player or team whose bag lands closest to the seam throws first. In tournaments, a coin toss is also acceptable. The team that scores in a round throws first in the next inning.

Throwing Rules

Four bags per player, eight total per round. You and your opponent alternate underhand throws — one bag from you, one from them — until all bags are in play. Your foot must stay behind the front edge of the board during the toss. Step over that line and the bag is voided, no matter what happens next.

A valid bag must contact the board first or go directly into the hole. If it hits the ground before the board, touches the ground after sliding off, or lands on the board but also touches the ground, it is dead and removed before scoring.

Scoring: How Points Actually Work

After all eight bags are thrown, the scoring round happens. Here is the point system based on official ACA rules:

Cancellation scoring is the key rule: subtract the lower score from the higher one. Only the team with the higher score earns the net difference. If Team A scores 5 and Team B scores 3, Team A gets 2 points. If both teams score the same number, zero points that round. No double scoring, no half-points — just the net.

When you are ready to buy a board set strong enough for consistent play, check our hands-on review of the best cornhole games to find a durable option that matches official dimensions.

Winning the Game

The first team to reach or exceed 21 points at the end of a full inning wins. You do not need to land exactly on 21 — exceeding it is fine. Some amateur leagues use a rule resetting to 15 if a team goes over, but official ACA rules do not include that cap. The game simply continues until a team hits 21 or higher when the inning closes.

A common mistake: both teams scoring in the same round is not a tie — it is why cancellation exists. Also, a bag that slides off the board and touches the ground scores zero, even if it looked like a boarder for a moment. Foot fouls void the bag immediately, so keep your toes behind the line.

Safety and Surface Tips

Play on a level surface — uneven ground changes how bags land and slide. Wet boards reduce traction significantly, so skip the game in rain or high humidity. Closed shoes are recommended; bare feet near boards risk impact injury from a wayward bag or a missed step.