How to Paint Your Cornhole Boards

Paint Your Cornhole Boards

We’ve had a lot of people ask for advice and tips on how to paint their cornhole boards. Whether you just made a new set in your garage, purchased some unfinished boards online, or want to bring new life to an old set of boards…you came to the right place.

Painting is not hard, but it does take some prep work and patience. If you take your time, not rushing the process, you will end up with a quality finish that will last many years.

This post provides you with the details you will need to get your boards painted and looking good!

Supplies

Here is what you are going to need to paint your cornhole boards:

  • Cornhole Boards (duh!)
  • Sandpaper (180, 320 grit)
  • 2″ Paint Brush
  • 1/2 Gallon Primer
  • 1/2 Gallon Exterior High Gloss
  • Cloth/Rag
  • Drop Cloth / Newspaper / Cardboard
  • 2 or 3 Cold Beers
  • Patience

We’ve found that it takes about 1/2 gallon primer and 1/2 gallon high gloss to finish one cornhole set (two boards). If you have paint lying around the house, as long as you have at least 1/2 gallon you should be good to go! (Be aware though the mileage varies by brand…the cheaper stuff doesn’t seem to go as far and might require almost the full gallon.)

It is recommended that you spend a little extra on a good 2″ paint brush. Yes, you can get a cheap 2″ brush for $3 and you’ll be picking bristles out of your paint job for hours of endless fun. Save yourself the headache and spend $8 on a good 2″ brush. You not only won’t be losing bristles, the finish will turn out a lot smooth (less sanding).

Preparation

Ideally you will be painting your boards inside to avoid wind borne dust and insects from landing in your wet paint. (I swear insect and small children has some unnatural affinity for wet paint…beware of both while painting!) Before you bring them in to paint, it is recommended that you give them a good sanding.

I’m lazy so I use my Ryobi 18v sander and some 180/320 grit sand paper.   You can do it all by hand of course, but the electric sander does the job a whole lot faster.

If you purchased your boards, you can most likely skip this step. If you made or inherited them, you’ll probably have some sanding to do in order to get the smoothest surface possible.

Since we are painting the boards, they don’t need to be baby bottom smooth. We just want to remove all of the rough edges and scratches in the wood. The process of sanding also gives the paint a better surface on which to stick.

Once you’ve completed sanding, give it a wipe down with a damp cloth and then take it inside to be painted.

Lay your drop cloth or some newspaper/cardboard on the floor. (You don’t want to get paint all over the floor.)

At this point I recommend removing the legs from the boards. It is a little more work, but the paint job will turn on better if each part is painted separately.

Also, you’ll notice that the edges of the board come in direct contact with your drop cloth (newspaper/cardboard). When painting the edges, you are going to have paint that gets on the drop cloth. When it dries, it will stick and you’ll be scraping and sanding.

To avoid this trouble, place a couple of scrap 2x4s under the boards to bring them up off the drop cloth. If you don’t have scrap 2x4s, you can make two stacks of books (the same height) and place them about three feet apart. Then set the board on top of the stack so that the books are supported the board from the underside.

Primer Painting

With the pieces cleaned and laid out, it is time to paint!

Mix your primer up nice and good. You can do this with a stir stick, but I prefer to use something like Edward Tools paint Mixer.

We recommend using a good quality primer. We’ve always had really good success with Kilz brand primer.

Using your brush, apply the first coat to the tops, sides and legs. Allow the paint to dry.

TIP: You don’t have to paint the under side of the boards. However, painting the undersides will prolong the life of the wood…and generally just look better.

Once the primer is dry, take the 320 grit sandpaper and give the top surface a good once over. You only need the top of the board to be smooth, so I normally don’t waste time sanding the legs, sides or bottom.

After sanding the surface of the boards, once again wipe them down with a wet cloth to remove any dust and debris that may have collected.

Finish Painting

Now you are ready to apply your finish coat of paint. The finishing coat of paint should be a quality (quality interior/exterior) high gloss paint. Again, you should be able to find this at any Home Depot or Lowes.

Apply the first coat of finish paint over the primer. Depending on the color of your finish paint, you may need to do a second coat. (The primer is white which tends to wash out some colors).

Once the final coat of paint has dried, check it for any rough spots. These spots will make the bags stick and you don’t want that. If you find a rough spot, just hit it lightly with the 320 grit sandpaper until smooth. (Depending on how much sanding you do…you may need to do little touch up painting).

You don’t have to paint you boards a single boring color! Get creative folks! One of the favorite designs is two-tone, with one color making a triangle where the tip of the triangle goes into the cornhole. For more creative ideas, check out our BoardDecals.com Pinterest Board.

Conclusion

Well there you have it…everything you ever wanted to know about how to paint your cornhole boards!

We’d love to hear and see how your paint job turned out. So if you want to share, or just want to give some addition advice, please leave comments below.

Now get outside and enjoy those newly painted cornhole boards!

Have Fun Out There!

OK, so a few closing comments…

There is more than one way to trick out your cornhole boards.  Check out this AMAZING stained wood cornhole set…

Not super “handy”?  Does more of the paint and stain end up you than the actual cornhole boards?

Don’t fret, there is hope for you yet!  Keep killer looking boards using vinyl wraps and decals!


This post contains affiliate links, which means boarddecals.com will earn a commission if you decide to purchase anything through my link. The commission we earn, at no extra cost to you, helps us run this website . For more information, visit my disclosure page.

26 thoughts on “How to Paint Your Cornhole Boards

  1. Hello Michael, as I started to read your post I was wondering what Cornholing was, then as I got further in to the post I got a better understanding. I know the game as Beanbag toss and it is a lot of fun. Making your own and painting it would be interesting. I like the way you have broken down the whole process of painting the board to ensure a smooth surface. Thank you.

    1. Whether you call it bean bag toss or cornhole, I’m always so happy when I get a chance to meet someone who enjoys the game!  So glad you found us, and that you now understand a little more about the game of cornhole.

      You know, I need to do some kind of survey and found out which parts of the country call the game “bean bag toss” and which ones call it “cornhole”.  It would be really interesting to see if there are geographic areas that call the game cornhole, and other that call it bean bag toss!

      Making your own boards and then customizing them with paint and decals is very rewarding.  You don’t need very many tools, but you do need time and patience.  Cornhole boards are a great project for the first time wood workers.

      Thanks again for stopping by.  If you end up making your own boards and/or painting your boards we’d love to see them!

      1. Great article. However there was no mention of what type of paint you use. Oil or latex? How about the appropriate type of clear coat for the type of paint?. Also what type of plywood? Thanks!

        1. Hey there Scott!

          The paint is really up to you. I find that exterior latex is a lot easier to work with and holds up just as well as oil based paints. With latex, you can cleanup with water and don’t really need to worry about drips or getting paint on your hands. Oil based will require a paint thinner/cleaner and over all is just a more smelly and messy experience.

          I don’t normally use a clear count until I have added decals to the board. In that case, I would add some spray on clear acrylic paint. A few coats gives a consistent finish and helps to prevent the decals from peeling. Can also help with UV damage.

          You have some options for the tops of the boards. If you want a really nice finish, go with cabinet grade birch plywood. To safe on cost you can go 1/2 or thinner, and then add a 2×2 or 2×4 brace on the underside. (If you don’t do this your bags will tend to bounce when they hit the top of the board). I usually go with 1/2 and look for a sheet with one clear side (no visible knots).

          Hope that helps!!!

  2. You said that finishing coat of paint should have good quality actually my uncle said the same thing.
    But I live in Europe and actually could not find a good reviewed one. The ones in depot have quite bad feedbacks. Should I just buy one or should I order it online?

    1. Hello there!

      It’s pretty cool to see that The Cornhole is making it’s impact all the way over in Europe.  Soon, the game of cornhole will be an international game! (OK, maybe not soon…or ever…but it’s nice to dream).

      In Europe you should be able to find quality paints and supplies at Der Bauhaus or OBI.

      There is an old saying, “There is nothing more expensive that cheap paint!”.  Meaning, if you go with the cheapest paint, you’ll have to repaint (or put on multiple coats).  In the long run it cost you more money and time.  My advice is to spend the extra money and get the good paint!

      I wouldn’t recommend ordering paints online from Home Depot or Lowes.  It would be much better to find a local supplier. 

      Thanks for stopping by The Cornhole!

  3. Cute article on painting a Cornhole board. This is a real fun backyard game for BBQ and cocktail parties. I recently painted two with the New England Patriots logo on them for a Superbowl party.
    I find that paint & primer all in one is a big short cut.
    Do you have any ideas for children’s Cornhole boards?

    1. Hey there Karen.  Thanks for stopping by The Cornhole!

      So glad to hear that you enjoyed this article.  While it takes a little effort, painting your own boards is a rewarding processes.

      Great tip on using an all in one paint and primer.  I’m going to have to try that out on my next sets of boards and see how the paint holds up.

      I do have a couple of recommendations! 🙂

      – Use your existing boards, just move them closer together.  You can also pickup some bags (usually used when playing Baggo) that are a little bit lighter.  They are the same size, just a few ounces lighter means the kiddos can toss them further.

      – If you don’t already have a cornhole set, consider picking up a Baggo set instead.  These boards are lighter and smaller than the cornhole boards and will come with the lighter bags mentioned above.

      – If you have kids under 6, I recommend getting them a tabletop version of the game.  There are also all kinds of bag toss related games you can get that are more fun for the kids…but still makes them feel they are playing the same games as the adults and bigger kids.  Check out our fun Review of Tabletop Cornhole Sets.

      Have fun playing cornhole this summer!

  4. I have never done this before and I am afraid that I can screw it up since I am just a newbie. You said that we need a good quality primer my bro used to have one but I don’t whether it is any good or not. How can I understand it?

    1. So, one tip I have for newbies when it comes to painting…find some test material to practice on before painting your cornhole boards.

      Really this can be any scrap of wood you have lying around.  If you can’t find one, head to your local Home Depot or lumberyard.  They will have all kinds of scraps of wood for free (or less than $1).

      If you are unsure about the quality of your brother’s primer…test it out on one of these scraps.  

      These scraps are not only going to be used for testing your paint, but perfecting your painting skills.  Paint a couple of pieces (or repaint a single piece) until you feel comfortable with the process.  (Be sure to properly care for your brush so you can reuse it when it comes time to paint your cornhole boards.)

      You might also consider getting a two in one paint.  These have the primer and paint in one can.  This will save you a little time.

      Best of luck!

  5. Cornhole, Bean bag toss, heck we just called it “bags”. I am curious as to the use of the high gloss and primer vs. a paint w/ primer included(to save a step). I’m not as concerned with how it looks as how the bags slide on the board, since a sticky board makes the game less challenging. As far as board slickness, what do you recommend?

    Cold beers are a must. Getting antsy for this project!

    1. Ryan,

      So, my recommendation is to paint with a high gloss whenever possible.  

      As you mentioned, paints that are not high gloss may have more friction, causing the bags to “stick”.  If you are just playing in your back yard a few weekends over the summer, I don’t think it really matters.  

      What does matter is that both of the boards have the same paint on them.  If they don’t you’ll have a different experience on each board during the same game…this is not fun.

      But yes, high gloss is the way to go.  Taking the time to do that extra step is worth it.  Those boards are fast and require a lot of skill to keep the bags on the board.

      Here’s to cornhole and cold beers!

  6. Question: I have some large (14′) Boston College decals made specifically for cornhole boards that I plan on applying over high gloss paint. After I put the decals on, should I spray some gloss polyurethane over the whole board to keep the level of gloss and slickness “even?” What I mean is: Will the amount of slickness vary between the painted wood and the decal ? I don’t want the bags slowing down when they hit the decal. I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thanks

    1. Hello Bert! Thanks for the great question.

      First off, you mentioned your Boston College decals are 14’…I’m assuming you meant 14″ (Or you are a giant and play on extremely large cornhole boards.) 🙂

      I would recommend applying polyurethane over the entire board once the vinyl decals are in place. If the decals are made from UV resistant vinyl, you should have no issues with shrinking and cracking underneath the poly.

      There are some significant benefits to going this route…
      – Your vinyl decals will last a lot longer…many many years, as long as there is a coating of poly protecting them.
      – It’s easy to get a consistent “slickness” across your boards when the entire surface is covered in poly.

      I promise you that the vinyl without poly will produce some additional friction (and some players might really bitch about it when they start playing bad) and slow down the bags. What’s worse though is the inevitable peeling back of the vinyl.

      With that said, if you want your board to look good for years, and provide a consistent game play experience…take the time to apply a coat of poly!

      Thanks again for the great question Bert. Maybe I should do a detailed post on this!

  7. Honestly painting corn hole boards requires so much patience and not to do it in a hurry so that the best result will be achieved and it can last for years. I was thinking about the best paint to paint the corn hole board. Some paints may tarnish with time if the right paint is used.

  8. Hahahaha!!! Isn’t it amazing how people become penny wise and pound stupid? If you really want to do a great job and ensure that your paintings are as fantastic as you want you have them, invest more on the tools that you use in carrying out the job. It just doesn’t make sense if you spend so much on paint and primer and you are trying to save cost on brush, it will mess up everything. Thanks for this guide I pretty much appreciate it!

    1. You hit the nail on the head.  If you want cornhole boards that look amazing and last a long time, you need to use good paint and tools…and take your time!  I find that poor results mostly come from not taking the time to do the job right.  I’ve also seen folks take the cheapest tools and paint…and because they took their time, the boards turned out amazing.

      If you are going to build and paint your own boards, my advice is to enjoy the process.  You will appreciate taking the time as you spend many summer evenings enjoying your cornhole boards with family and friends.

  9. Hi I am not apainter and more so I have never heard of corn hole so imagine  when I found out that this blog is about the best to paint  and I really have enjoyed the flow of the work but one thing is  I would like to learn more about about painting and to go about  it I can start it as a hobby .as I become proffesional as you then I can earn some money.

    1. Yeah, folks are making some good side cash building cornhole boards.  You are not going to get rich, but if you create a good product with awesome paint jobs (maybe even do custom work)…then is some good potential.  A lot of folks that have woodworking skills and are somewhat artistic have created some masterpieces.  These boards can sell for well over $500.

      So if you enjoy building, painting and playing cornhole…try and make some money with it!

  10. Great review on the cornhole board painting. You know I’ve painted quite some boards but, the results are not that good. However, stumbling upon this article, have seen where my fault lies and have taken note of them. Thanks Michael for this awesome review and I  hope to get more insight from you. Good job Welldone. 

    1. Thanks!

      I’ll probably spend some more time creating more detailed how to posts and videos.  Of course there are already some outstanding ones on YouTube….don’t want to reinvent the wheel…unless I have something really good to add.

  11. Hi! Yes, painting is not hard. I agree with you that when we do a good job, our work lasts for many years.

    Thank you very much for outlining in this post the preparation process and the actual painting procedures.

    Thanks for the tip of painting the underside of the wood. I want to prolong the life of the wood, so I’ll paint it!

    1. Painting, for a lot of people, can be intimidating.  It shouldn’t be though.  To do a good job you just have to get good quality materials and tools and take your time.  Painting isn’t something you want to rush.  If you have multiple colors…take the time to mask you design and allow each layer of paint to cure fully before moving onto the next.

      I’ve seen some cornhole boards that are akin to works of art!  I don’t have that kind of patience (or skill)!!!

      If you have any painted boards, or are going to be painting your boards we’d love to see the process and how they turn out.

      Take care and enjoy!

  12. Question, we are building our own cornhole boards, We have bought wraps for them. my husband wants one set painted but I think the spar urethane will look better one the one set. So if I put the spar urethane on the one set, do I need to put it on top of the wrap?

    1. Samantha – sorry it has taken so long to get back to you! You’ve probably finished your boards, but I thought I better comment just in case (and to help other readers).

      No, I don’t recommend putting spar urethane on top of the board wraps…especially full board wraps. The reason is that it just doesn’t stick to the vinyl. I’ve have some good luck with spray on clear acrylic when there are a few vinyl decals, but mostly I avoid putting anything on top of full board wraps. Over time, you’ll also find the boards have a more consistent “play” if the entire surface is uniform. Applying just the wrap also prevents you from some maintenance as there shouldn’t be an touching up or additional coats of anything that need to be added.

      Hope you are having a great summer.

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