Cornhole Rules: The Complete Official Guide

Whether you’re playing for the first time at a cookout or settling a rules argument mid-game, this is your definitive guide to cornhole rules. We’ve based everything here on the official rules from the American Cornhole League (ACL) and the American Cornhole Association (ACA), plus the common house rules that most casual players use.

The beauty of cornhole is that the core rules are dead simple. You can learn to play in 60 seconds. But there are enough details — scoring, fouls, positioning, and etiquette — that even experienced players sometimes get things wrong.

Let’s fix that.

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The Basics: How to Play Cornhole in 60 Seconds

1. Set two boards 27 feet apart on a flat surface
2. Each player (or team) gets 4 bags of the same color
3. Players take turns tossing bags at the opposite board
4. Bag on the board = 1 point. Bag through the hole = 3 points
5. After all 8 bags are thrown, subtract the lower score from the higher (cancellation scoring)
6. Only the team with the higher score earns points that round
7. First team to reach exactly 21 points wins

That’s the game. Everything below fills in the details.

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Equipment You Need

Boards: Two regulation cornhole boards, each measuring 4 feet long × 2 feet wide, with a 6-inch hole centered 9 inches from the top. The back of the board sits 12 inches off the ground. For complete board specifications, see our cornhole board dimensions guide.

Bags: Eight cornhole bags — 4 in one color and 4 in another. Regulation bags measure 6″ × 6″ and weigh 15-16 ounces. They can be filled with corn, resin, or other approved fill materials. See our best cornhole bags guide for recommendations.

That’s it. No net, no special field, no referees needed. Just boards, bags, and a flat-ish surface.

Don’t have equipment yet? Check out our Best Cornhole Sets guide to find the right set for your budget.

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Court Setup

Distance between boards: 27 feet, measured from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other. This is the standard adult distance.

Junior distance: 12-21 feet for players 12 and under. Adjust based on the child’s age and ability — the goal is close enough that they can land bags on the board consistently.

Board placement: Boards should be on level ground with the front (low end) facing the opposing board. If the ground isn’t perfectly level, do your best to get both boards even. Shims or stabilizers under the legs can help.

Pitcher’s boxes: Each board has two pitcher’s boxes — one on each side. A pitcher’s box is the area beside the board (roughly 4 feet deep × 3 feet wide) where the player stands to throw. You must stay in the same pitcher’s box for an entire inning but can switch sides between innings.

Foul line: The front edge of each board serves as the foul line. Players must release the bag before stepping on or past this line.

Sun orientation: When playing outdoors, try to set up boards so the sun isn’t directly in either player’s eyes. North-south alignment usually works best.

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Scoring

Cornhole uses cancellation scoring, which means only one team scores per round. Here’s how it works:

Point Values

• Bag on the board (woody): 1 point
• Bag through the hole (cornhole): 3 points
• Bag off the board or on the ground: 0 points

Cancellation Scoring Explained

After all 8 bags have been thrown in a round (called an “inning”), each team counts their points for that inning. The team with the lower score subtracts their total from the team with the higher score. The difference is what the higher-scoring team earns.

Example 1: Team A scores 5 points (1 cornhole + 2 woodies = 3 + 1 + 1 = 5) Team B scores 2 points (2 woodies = 1 + 1 = 2) Team A earns 3 points for the inning (5 – 2 = 3)

Example 2: Team A scores 6 points (2 cornholes = 3 + 3 = 6) Team B scores 6 points (2 cornholes = 3 + 3 = 6) Neither team scores — the round is a wash (6 – 6 = 0)

Example 3: Team A scores 1 point (1 woody) Team B scores 9 points (3 cornholes = 3 + 3 + 3 = 9) Team B earns 8 points (9 – 1 = 8)

Cancellation scoring prevents runaway games and keeps things competitive. Even if you’re behind, one good round can swing the score significantly.

Winning the Game

The first team to reach exactly 21 points wins.

What happens if you go over 21? This depends on which rule set you’re using:

• Bust rule (most common in casual play): If your score goes over 21, your score resets to the number you had before that inning. Example: you’re at 19 and score 5 in an inning — your score stays at 19 instead of going to 24.
• No bust (ACL tournament rule): The game simply ends when a team reaches or exceeds 21 points. No reset.
• Skunk rule (optional): If a team reaches a lead of 11 or more points at any point during the game, they win automatically. This is common in league play to keep games moving.

Before you start playing, agree on which rule you’re using. Most backyard games use the bust rule because it adds drama and prevents blowouts. Most tournaments use no bust to keep games moving.

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How a Round (Inning) Works

An inning is one complete round of throwing. Here’s the sequence:

1. Determine who goes first. For the first inning, flip a coin, play rock-paper-scissors, or just agree. After that, the team that scored in the previous inning goes first (this is called having “honors”). If neither team scored, the team that had honors in the previous inning keeps them.
2. First player throws one bag. From behind the foul line (front edge of the board), the first player throws one bag toward the opposite board.
3. Opposing player throws one bag. Players alternate single throws — not all four at once. This alternating pattern continues until all 8 bags have been thrown.
4. Score the inning. Count each team’s points on the board and apply cancellation scoring. Only bags that are on the board or through the hole when scoring begins count. Bags hanging off the edge of the board count if any part of the bag is on the playing surface.
5. Clear the bags and start the next inning. The team that scored goes first in the next inning.

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Singles vs. Doubles Play

Singles (1v1)

Both players stand at the same board and throw toward the opposite board. After scoring an inning, both players walk to the other board and throw back. Players alternate ends each inning.

Each player picks a pitcher’s box (left or right side of the board) before the game starts. You can switch sides between innings but must stay on the same side for the duration of an inning.

Doubles (2v2) — Most Common

Partners stand at opposite boards. Player A from Team 1 and Player A from Team 2 throw from one end. Player B from Team 1 and Player B from Team 2 are at the other end. Partners stay at their respective boards for the entire game.

After the inning is scored, the partners at the other end throw back. Players never walk to the other board in doubles play — you stay at your board the whole game.

Each player must remain on the same side of the board for the entire game. If you start on the left side, you stay on the left side.

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Foul Rules

Foul line: A player must release the bag before stepping on or past the front edge of the board (the foul line). Bags thrown while a player is past the foul line are “foul bags” and are removed from play regardless of where they land.

Bounced bags: If a bag hits the ground before landing on the board, it must be removed immediately — even if it bounces up onto the board. Ground-first bags do not count. This is one of the most commonly overlooked rules in casual play.

Interference: If a thrown bag is interfered with by a player, spectator, or external object (wind doesn’t count) before coming to rest, the bag is re-thrown.

Distraction: Players should not distract the opposing player during their throw. This is more etiquette than a hard rule in casual play, but in tournament settings, deliberate distraction can result in a warning or foul.

Bag in play: A bag must be released within 20 seconds of stepping onto the pitcher’s box (tournament rule). In casual play, just don’t take forever.

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Bag Position Rules

Understanding what counts and what doesn’t:

On the board = 1 point. Any bag resting on the playing surface of the board scores 1 point. This includes bags hanging over the edge as long as some part of the bag is touching the top surface.

Through the hole = 3 points. A bag that passes completely through the hole scores 3 points, whether it was thrown directly in, slid in, or was pushed in by another bag.

On the ground = 0 points. Bags on the ground, leaning against the board but not on the surface, or touching the ground while hanging off the edge do not score.

Knocked bags. If your bag pushes an opponent’s bag off the board, the opponent loses those points. If your bag pushes an opponent’s bag INTO the hole, the opponent scores 3 points. If your own bag pushes your other bag into the hole, you score 3 points for that bag. All of this is legal and part of the strategy.

Bags pushed in by later throws. If a bag is sitting near the hole and gets knocked in by a subsequent throw (by either team), it scores 3 points for whichever team owns that bag. Bags are scored in their final position after all 8 throws are completed.

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Common House Rules

These aren’t official rules, but many casual games use them:

Bust/Reset rule: Going over 21 resets your score to what it was before that inning. This makes the endgame more strategic and prevents blowouts.

Dirty bag rule (bounce): Any bag that touches the ground before the board is dead and removed. This IS an official rule, but many casual players don’t enforce it. We recommend enforcing it — it rewards clean throws.

Skunk rule: A team that leads by 11+ points (or 7+ in some versions) at any point wins automatically. Keeps games from dragging when teams are mismatched.

Must win by 2: Instead of first to 21, you must reach 21 with a 2-point lead. Extends close games and adds drama.

Designated drivers first: The team that drove the farthest to get to the game gets to throw first in the opening inning. A fun alternative to the coin flip.

The foot shot (sending): Not actually a house rule — this is 100% legal. If your bag touches an opponent’s bag, you can place your bag next to theirs, step on it, and whack it to send their bag flying. Many casual players think this is cheating. It’s not. Embrace it.

Whatever your house rules are, agree on them before the first throw. Most arguments happen because players assumed different rules.

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Cornhole Etiquette

Official rules aside, these unwritten rules make the game more enjoyable for everyone:

Don’t walk in front of someone throwing. Stand to the side or behind the thrower. Walking across their line of sight during a throw is distracting and rude.

Wait for the previous bag to come to rest. Don’t throw while bags are still moving on the board from the previous throw.

Call your own fouls. If you step over the foul line, own it. If your bag bounced off the ground, own it. Self-policing keeps the game fun and respectful.

Don’t touch bags until the inning is scored. Leave all bags in position until both teams have agreed on the score for that inning.

Keep the pace moving. Take your throw, step back, let your opponent throw. Nobody wants to wait 30 seconds between every throw.

Have fun. Trash talk is welcome. Arguments about rules are not. When in doubt, replay the throw.

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Want to Get Better?

Now that you know the rules, it’s time to improve your game. Check out our Cornhole Throwing Techniques guide for tips on grip, stance, release, and advanced shots like airmails and slides.

Playing in a league? Our guide on How to Start a Cornhole League covers everything from finding a venue to choosing a format.

Running a tournament? See our Cornhole Tournament guide for bracket formats and organizing tips.

Want to learn the lingo? Check out our Cornhole Game Lingo page for every term from “ace” to “slider.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you score in cornhole? A bag on the board scores 1 point. A bag through the hole scores 3 points. Cornhole uses cancellation scoring, meaning only the difference between team scores counts each round. If Team A scores 5 and Team B scores 3, Team A earns 2 points for that round.

What happens if you go over 21 in cornhole? This depends on the rule set. In casual play, the most common rule is “bust” — your score resets to what it was before that inning. In ACL tournament play, the game ends when a team reaches or exceeds 21.

How far apart should cornhole boards be? Regulation distance is 27 feet, measured from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other. For junior players (12 and under), 12-21 feet is recommended.

What if a bag bounces off the ground onto the board? It doesn’t count. Any bag that touches the ground before the board is a foul bag and must be removed. This is an official rule, though many casual players don’t enforce it.

Can you push opponent’s bags off the board? Yes — this is a legal and strategic part of the game. If your throw knocks an opponent’s bag off the board, they lose those points. You can also push your own bags into the hole for 3 points or even push an opponent’s bag into the hole (which scores 3 points for them).

What is the skunk rule in cornhole? The skunk rule ends the game early when one team has an insurmountable lead — usually 11 or more points. This is an optional rule commonly used in league play to keep games from dragging on.