Playing Cornhole: How to Play Bean Bag Toss with Family

If you’ve ever been to a tailgate, barbecue, or birthday party, chances are you’ve come across a game of cornhole! Cornhole (or bean bag toss) is a fun game you and your family can play almost anywhere with its convenient and portable design.

Playing cornhole/bean bag toss is easy to learn. In this guide, you’ll learn all about how to play bean bag toss, keep score, and so much more so you can get to playing the game.

Cornhole, bean bag toss, bags, and baggo are essentially variations of the same game (or concept) — with minor differences present aside from the most obvious name variations.

• Cornhole is the standard version of the game: using 2x4 feet wooden boards and bags that weigh 12 ounces each. The boards are placed 27 feet apart (or 33 feet from hole to hole).

• Bean Bag Toss is usually used interchangeably with cornhole. The rules and measurements might be more flexible — allowing for adaptation to various settings like indoor play or for younger players.

• Bags is another name for Cornhole: mostly used in certain regions. It emphasizes the use of the bags themselves in the game, and the rules and setup typically align with the traditional cornhole game.

• Baggo is a brand name that has become synonymous with a more portable version of Cornhole. The boards are often made of plastic and are 18 feet apart. The bags are lighter: weighing 9.5 ounces. Baggo sets are popular for travel, beach outings, and places where carrying wooden boards would be impractical.

Part of the fun of playing cornhole is how easy it is to understand! The rules and setup are very simple, so every member of your family can get in on the action.

Cornhole (or bean bag toss) is a relatively simple game to set up and play! You only need two sets of items, and then you’ll be ready to start tossing.

• 2 cornhole boards: Place each board on a flat surface 27 feet apart (front to front). Both boards should measure 2x4 feet.

• 8 cornhole bags: Each player or team of two should have four bags of each color that all measure 6 inches by 6 inches and have 1 pound of corn inside.

• Scorepad (optional): If you’re the type that likes to keep score, make sure you keep track of each team’s points on a sheet of paper or your phone.

A coin flip usually determines which team throws first. After the first game, the winning team goes first. Each player takes their turn throwing their bag, aiming for the hole in the opposite board.

Make sure to stay behind the foul line when throwing! You’ll find the foul line at the front end of the cornhole board.

While you’d strictly adhere to this imaginary foul line in a professional game, relaxing this rule might help to accommodate the family’s younger ones. Feel free to even adjust the distance between both boards to accommodate younger players if needed!

You can play cornhole strictly abiding by the rules or loosely following them — depending on who you’re playing with, their ages, and skill levels. If you want to play according to the rules created by the American Cornhole Association, they include the following:

• Divide players into two teams each made of 1-2 players.

• Space both cornhole boards so that they are 27 feet apart.

• Two single-player teams stand on opposite sides of the same board, while each partner within two double-player teams stands at opposing boards.

• Each team gets 4 bean bags to throw at the board opposite from where they stand. All players take turns throwing them.

• No player should step over the foul line (which is the front end of your board lowest to the ground).

• Count the score only after players throw all 8 bags in each round. Bags that go through the hole are worth 3 points, while bags that land fully on the board are worth 1 point.

• A team wins the game once its score reaches 21 points.

In regulation cornhole, the winning team must reach 21 points. However, you may choose to relax or raise this final score number depending on the venue, ages of players, or competition level.

If you’re a more competitive player, you’ll probably want to keep score according to the rules mentioned below. If you’re new to the game or playing with kids, you can be more lenient about scoring. The great thing about cornhole is it can be easily adapted to whoever plays!

• Beanbags that land anywhere on the board are worth 1 point.

• Beanbags that fall into the hole are worth 3 points.

• Beanbags that touch the ground, touch the board and the ground, or bounce onto the board from the ground do not count toward the score.

• Both teams’ beanbags CAN be knocked off during the tossing phase of each round.

• Negate the opposing team’s point(s) by landing your bag onto the board OR knocking off their bag(s).

For each round, players on each team will count up their points according to the rules above (if you choose to play that way). Calculate the final score for the round based on the rules below. Make sure to keep a pen and paper handy to write them down!

• If each team has the same number of bags on the board (or through the hole), neither team or player earns a score for that round.

• If one team (e.g. blue) lands 2 bags on the board and gets 1 bag through the hole, their points for the round add up to 5 total.

• If the other team (e.g. red) lands 2 bags on the board and gets no bags through the hole, their points for the round add up to 2 total.

• After accounting for each team’s total points, subtract the lower score from the highest — resulting in the round’s point total to the winning team’s overall score.

No matter if you’re picking it up for the next tailgate or you want to practice your throws for an upcoming regulation game, Academy offers cornhole boards for players of all budgets, ages, and experience levels.

Q. How Many Feet Apart Are Cornhole Boards?

Regulation cornhole mandates that 27 feet should separate both cornhole boards. If you’re just playing casually, you can shorten the distance between the boards to around 24 feet (or shorter if you have younger players).

Q. Are There Any Fouls in Cornhole?

Fouls do exist in the game of cornhole in a few situations. However, it really depends if you want to enforce them or not. When a foul happens, the bag that was thrown will be removed from the board and not counted. Official cornhole fouls include:

• A player’s foot goes past the front of the cornhole board (foul line)

• Any bag hits the ground but then ends up on the board.

• A player goes out of turn

Q. What Are the Benefits of Playing Cornhole/Bean Bag Toss?

Whether you’re new to playing cornhole or you’re an old pro, it’s an exciting game that’s not too difficult to play or learn. This makes it great for playing with friends, family, and even strangers you come across at the game or park.

• Easy setup: Cornhole is a game that is quick and simple to set up anywhere you have enough space, including backyard parties, camping trips, tailgates, and more.

• Minimal equipment: With only two pieces of equipment, cornhole is fairly easy to take with you in your car and to games and trips.

• Beginner-Friendly & Accessible: All ages can enjoy this game, as you only need to be able to throw and stand to participate. It can also be adapted for younger kids and individuals with disabilities.

• Fun for Family Gatherings: Playing cornhole offers a chance for the whole family to socialize, compete and be active outside.

Q. How to Break In Cornhole Bags

There are 3 main ways to break in your cornhole bags: putting them in the dryer, washing with fabric softener, or simply using them enough over time (although this method takes longer).

Now that you know all about the rules and how to keep score, the only thing left to do is get your family and friends together for a tournament! Shop cornhole boards and sets at Academy — online and in stores — to find the best one for you and your family. We even offer sports team-themed cornhole games to show your spirit while you play.