Bean Bag Toss Board Plans: Official Dimensions & Build Steps
A regulation bean bag toss board is 24 by 48 inches with a 6-inch hole centered 9 inches from the top and 12 inches from each side – get those numbers wrong and bags won’t drop true. This guide covers the official American Cornhole Association specs, a step-by-step build with a circular saw and 2×4 frame, and the one paint mistake (a flat finish) that stops bags from sliding into the hole.
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Official Bean Bag Toss Board Specifications
Bean bag toss, cornhole, baggo, and corn toss are the same game under different regional names, so the official numbers below (per the American Cornhole Association) apply no matter what you call it. If you only need the dimensions and not the full build, our dedicated dimensions breakdown covers every tolerance in more depth.
| Spec | Official Measurement |
|---|---|
| Board size | 24 in. wide x 48 in. long (23.5-24 in. x 47.5-48 in. tolerance) |
| Board thickness | 1/2 to 5/8 in. plywood |
| Hole diameter | 6 in. (+/- 1/4 in.) |
| Hole placement | 9 in. from the top edge, 12 in. from each side (center of hole) |
| Front leg height | 3 to 4 in. |
| Rear leg height | 12 in. |
| Bag size | 6 in. x 6 in., about 1 in. thick |
| Bag weight | 14 to 16 oz., filled with roughly 2 cups of feed corn or ACA-approved plastic pellets |
| Playing distance | 27 ft. front-edge to front-edge (official); 12-15 ft. for casual or junior play |
Materials and Tools You’ll Need
Two boards means doubling every material below. Here’s what goes into one regulation board – it’s one of the more approachable weekend builds in our full library of woodworking project plans.
- Plywood: one 1/2 in. x 24 in. x 48 in. sheet (birch-faced holds paint better than construction-grade)
- 2×4 boards: about 8 linear feet, cut down for the frame and legs
- Wood glue and 2.5 in. deck screws: for the frame joints and attaching the top
- 3/8 in. carriage bolts, washers, and wing nuts: for folding legs
- 120-grit sandpaper: to round over edges and the hole rim
- Primer, exterior paint, and a gloss topcoat: color plus the finish that keeps bags sliding (see below)
- Bean bags: buy a regulation set or sew your own (materials further down)
Best Bean Bag Toss Bags Pick
SPORT BEATS Cornhole Bags, Set of 8 (Regulation 6″x6″, 14-16 oz)
Skip the sewing machine – these already meet the official size and weight spec from the table above.
- Best for: builders who want to play the same day the board is finished
- Why we picked it: double-stitched canvas and consistent 14-16 oz fill match the ACA spec exactly
- Main drawback: fill is river sand, not feed corn, so it won’t have the exact same slide as a corn-filled bag
Compare more bean bag toss build supplies
 Option 1 GoSports Official Regulation Bean Bags (All-Weather)
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 Option 2 Rust-Oleum Gloss Clear Topcoat
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 Option 3 27-Foot Regulation Distance Setup Tool
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How to Build a Bean Bag Toss Board (Step by Step)
This builds one board in an afternoon. Repeat everything to make the matching second board.
- Cut the plywood top: Cut the plywood sheet to 24 in. x 48 in. with a circular saw and a straightedge guide.
- Mark and cut the hole: Measure 9 in. from the top edge and 12 in. from each side to find the hole center, trace a 6-in. circle with a compass, then cut it out with a jigsaw.
- Build the 2×4 frame: Cut four 2×4 pieces to match the board’s edges and screw them into a rectangular frame with 2.5 in. deck screws and wood glue at each corner.
- Attach the top to the frame: Set the plywood on top of the frame and drive screws every 6-8 in. around the perimeter so the surface doesn’t flex when bags land.
- Add folding legs: Cut two leg pieces, round one end of each, and attach them near the top with carriage bolts and wing nuts so they pivot to prop the back of the board to the regulation 12-in. height and fold flat for storage.
- Sand every edge: Round over the plywood edges and the hole rim with 120-grit sandpaper so bags don’t snag and hands don’t splinter.
- Prime, paint, and seal: Prime bare wood, paint your design, then finish with a gloss (never a flat or matte) topcoat so bags glide into the hole instead of catching on the surface.
Painting and Finishing for a Smooth Slide
The paint sheen you choose changes how the game plays, not just how the board looks. A flat or matte finish grips the fabric of a bean bag and slows it down before it reaches the hole; a gloss or semi-gloss topcoat lets bags slide the last few inches the way they’re supposed to. Exterior acrylic paint stands up to sun and rain better than interior paint, and a clear gloss topcoat over your design protects the color while keeping that slide.
For stencil work and paint product picks specific to outdoor game boards, see our guide to the best paint and sealer combinations for cornhole boards. If bags are still catching on an older board, our fix for making cornhole boards slippery covers wax and polish options that don’t require repainting.
Making or Buying the Bean Bags
Regulation bags are 6 in. x 6 in., about 1 in. thick, and weigh 14 to 16 oz. – filled with roughly 2 cups of dried corn or an ACA-approved plastic pellet fill for all-weather bags. Buying a pre-made set is often cheaper than sourcing duck cloth, corn, and a sewing machine for a one-off project; see the product picks above if you’d rather skip sewing.
To sew your own, our full step-by-step bean bag sewing guide covers cutting the duck cloth, stitching the seams, and filling to the correct weight in more detail than fits here.
Setting Up and Playing the Game
Set the boards 27 ft. apart, front edge to front edge, for official play; 12-15 ft. works better for kids or a casual backyard game. Players alternate tossing four bags each turn: a bag through the hole scores 3 points, a bag resting on the board scores 1 point, and only the difference between the two teams’ scores counts each round (a common rule called cancellation scoring). First team to reach exactly 21 points wins.
Maintenance and Storage
- Wipe the board down with a damp cloth after use – dirt and grass clippings dull the gloss finish over time.
- Check bags for split seams before each game; a corn-filled bag left out in rain can mold from the inside.
- Store boards flat or upright in a dry space out of direct sun, which fades paint and can warp thinner plywood.
For a full breakdown of stacking, covering, and off-season storage, see our cornhole board storage guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far apart do you set up bean bag toss boards?
Official American Cornhole Association play uses 27 ft. measured from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other. Casual and junior games commonly shorten that to 12-15 ft. so younger players can reach the hole.
How much should each bean bag weigh?
Regulation bags weigh 14 to 16 oz. and measure 6 in. x 6 in., about 1 in. thick. They’re typically filled with roughly 2 cups of dried corn, or an ACA-approved plastic pellet fill for bags meant to handle wet weather.
What paint should I use so the bags slide smoothly?
Use an exterior acrylic paint for the design, then seal it with a gloss or semi-gloss topcoat. Flat and matte finishes grip the bag’s fabric and slow it down before it reaches the hole.
Is bean bag toss the same game as cornhole?
Yes. Bean bag toss, cornhole, corn toss, and baggo all refer to the same game with the same board and bag specs – the name just varies by region.
Can I build a bean bag toss board without power tools?
A circular saw or jigsaw and a drill make the cuts and the hole far more accurate than hand tools, but many home improvement stores will cut the plywood to size for you, leaving only the hole-cutting and assembly to do by hand with a hand saw, coping saw, and screwdriver.
Building your own bean bag toss board comes down to four things: hitting the official dimensions, assembling a frame that won’t flex, sealing the paint with the right sheen, and filling bags to the correct weight. Get those right and the board plays the same as one bought off the shelf, for a fraction of the cost.
