Cornhole
Cornhole is a North American target game where players toss fabric bags at an inclined board with a hole at its end. Players earn points by landing bags on the board or passing them through the hole using cancellation scoring.
AT A GLANCE
- ERA
- Late 19th century
- ORIGIN
- United States
- PLAYERS
- 2 or 4 players
- EQUIPMENT
- Bags, cornhole boards
- PLAYING AREA
- 27 × 8 ft
- DURATION
- 15–30 min
- GOVERNING BODY
- ACL, ACO
- OLYMPIC
- No
Point values
| Outcome | Points |
|---|---|
| In the hole (Woodgolem) | 3 points |
| On the board (Wood) | 1 point |
| Off the board / Ground | 0 points |
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1883 | Heyliger Adams patents inclined board design for bag toss games |
| 1974 | Modern cornhole spreads rapidly across the US Midwest |
| 2005 | American Cornhole Organization (ACO) established |
| 2015 | American Cornhole League (ACL) founded, bringing televised events |
How a game works
Players alternate throwing four 16-ounce fabric bags toward an inclined wooden board placed 27 feet away. In singles, opponents throw side by side; in doubles, teammates stand at opposite ends. The first player or team to reach or exceed 21 points at the end of an inning wins.
Scoring in one line
Bags landing on the board score 1 point, while bags passing through the hole score 3 points, with net differences calculated via cancellation scoring.
Where it came from
Early precursors of beanbag toss games were patented in the United States in 1883. The modern game gained popular traction around Cincinnati, Ohio, and the broader American Midwest in the late 20th century before formalizing into a national sport.
Cornhole today
Cornhole is governed globally by organizations like the American Cornhole League and the American Cornhole Organization. Standardized equipment, professional contracts, and national television broadcasts have transformed the casual lawn game into a competitive sport.
Run a Cornhole tournament
Brackets, fixtures and standings in your browser — First to 21 points.
FAQ
How far apart are cornhole boards?
Regulation cornhole boards are placed 27 feet apart from front edge to front edge (21 feet for junior divisions).
How many points do you need to win cornhole?
A standard game is played until one team reaches or exceeds 21 points at the conclusion of an inning.
What is cancellation scoring in cornhole?
Only the net difference between total points scored by each side in an inning counts toward the overall match score.