Cornhole Rules: Scoring and How to Win

In cornhole, a bag that lands in the hole is worth 3 points and a bag that stays on the board is worth 1. But you do not simply add up your points, because cornhole uses cancellation scoring: the two players’ or teams’ totals for the round cancel out, and only the difference is scored by the higher side. That one rule is what most casual players get wrong.

The rest is straightforward once the scoring clicks. Here are the official specs, exactly how a round is scored, how to win, and what “busting” actually means.

The setup and specs

Regulation cornhole, as defined by the American Cornhole League, uses standard equipment and one key distance.

Element	Regulation spec
Board size	48 in long, 24 in wide
Hole	6 in diameter, 9 in from top edge
Distance between boards	27 ft, front edge to front edge
Bag size	6 x 6 in
Bag weight	15.5 to 16.5 oz
Target score	21

For a full breakdown of the throwing distance and how to adjust it for kids or tight yards, see our dedicated guide to cornhole distance. Casual games routinely shorten the 27-foot gap, and that is fine as long as both boards match.

How a round is played

Each player (in singles) or team throws four bags per round, called a frame or inning. In singles, one player throws all four from beside one board, then the opponent throws their four. In doubles, teammates stand at opposite boards and alternate throws with their opposing player.

You must release the bag before your front foot crosses the foul line, which is the front edge of the board. A bag that touches the ground first and then slides onto the board does not count and is removed.

Cancellation scoring, step by step

This is the heart of the game. After all eight bags are thrown, you total each side’s points, then cancel.

1. Score each bag: 3 for in the hole, 1 for on the board, 0 for on the ground or knocked off.
2. Add each side’s total for the round.
3. Subtract the smaller total from the larger. Only the side with more points scores, and only the leftover difference.

So if you score 7 in a frame (two bags in the hole for 6, plus one on the board for 1) and your opponent scores 5, you get 2 points that round and they get none. If both sides tie at 6, nobody scores. Because of cancellation, big-looking rounds often produce only a point or two.

How to win

The first side to reach 21 points wins. Under official ACL rules you just need to hit 21 or more at the end of a round, so there is no penalty for going over.

That is where house rules diverge. Two popular add-ons:

• Win by two: some groups require a two-point margin, extending the game past 21 until someone leads by two.
• Busting: in this variant you must land exactly on the target. Overshoot 21 and you “bust,” dropping back to a set number like 15 or 11. The official game has no bust, so agree on this before you start.

Our advice: play straight-to-21 ACL rules for a clean, quick game, and only add the bust rule if everyone actively wants the extra tension. It tends to drag out casual matches.

Strategy in one paragraph

Because scoring is cancellation, defense matters as much as offense. A bag parked on the board just in front of the hole blocks your opponent and can be nudged in later for 3. Knocking their scoring bags off the board erases their points for the round. Good players think about the whole frame, not just sinking every throw.

Cornhole shares its “only the leading side scores” logic with several backyard games. If you enjoy that, our guides to bocce ball rules and shuffleboard rules cover the same idea on grass and on a board.

The short version: 3 for the hole, 1 for the board, cancel the two totals so only the difference counts, boards 27 feet apart, and first to 21 wins with busting strictly optional.