Updated on May 8, 2023 5:56 PM EDT
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Cornhole is a popular outdoor game for good reason. It’s fast to set up, easy to learn, and fun for kids and adults alike. This simple bag toss game can be played virtually everywhere when friends and family gather, from wedding receptions to tailgate parties and from company picnics to campgrounds. If you want to entertain a group, bring the cooler and set up a cornhole game.
Easier than creating a DIY cornhole, the official league-size cornhole board is made of sturdy plywood 48 inches long by 24 inches wide with legs that prop the high end 12 inches off the ground. A variety of smaller, packable sizes is available as well to bring your game anywhere.
Whatever the situation, there is probably a cornhole set that will fit. If you’re looking for a fun way to keep friends, family, or coworkers occupied, read on to learn why these recommendations are among the best cornhole boards available.
Cornhole sets and bags are an easy-to-use, fun, and budget-friendly way to have tons of fun with family and friends, year after year. We selected the best cornhole boards for this guide by considering size, portability, materials, and accessories.
With small and large options represented, our lineup includes something for every preference or space limit. Each set of boards is lightweight enough to tote to the game site and some even come with handles or carrying bags for easier portability. These boards are also multifunctional, as some can double as tables, a ladder toss set, and other lawn games.
We considered various materials, including sturdy wood, aluminum, polyethylene, and melamine, to ensure that each of these sets will have a long lifespan. Many are also made to be weather- and scratch-resistant for play rain or shine without needing to prop an umbrella over the board.
We prioritized complete sets that come with prefilled bags along with the board, and select options also have plastic rings or bolas for ladder and ring toss.
These top picks reflect material quality, price, portability, and brand reputation. Chances are you’re going to find the best cornhole board for your entertaining needs below.
Those looking for a premium-quality cornhole board will definitely want to check out this model from Backyard Games USA. It is made from high-quality Baltic birch plywood, a material known for durability. This board can offer a more stable frame than a model made from such solid wood as pine, which is prone to warp if it gets damp.
At 48 inches long by 24 inches wide, this cornhole board is regulation size and comes with eight durable double-stitched bags that meet American Cornhole Association (ACA) standards. A high-resolution process is used to print a choice of dozens of different designs on the upper surface. There is a carry handle, and the folding legs even have built-in cup holders.
Get the Backyard Games USA cornhole boards at Amazon.
The affordable Triumph premium cornhole set includes two wooden game boards, measuring 35 inches long by 24 inches wide by 1.5 inches high, and eight 6-inch 12.5-ounce square beanbags (four red, four blue). This durable set of two cornhole boards features a scratch-resistant melamine laminate surface.
Sturdy, foldable wooden legs support the boards for setup and use in different settings, and there are rope carry handles for portability. After playing, pack up the beanbags in the interior compartment between the two boards for easy storage. Thanks to its bargain-friendly price, this set packs a ton of value and an equal amount of fun.
Get the Triumph cornhole boards at Amazon.
For good looks and versatility, it’s hard to beat this GoSports Classic cornhole set. The boards are available in two sizes—tailgate (3-foot-by-2-foot boards) or regulation (4-foot-by-2-foot boards)—and fun designs abound, including American Flag, Chevron, Classic, Football, Rustic, and Wood.
The boards are made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and come with eight 14-ounce all-weather beanbags (four red and four blue). Setup takes mere seconds—just fold out the legs on the board and play—though full rules are included for those new to the game. Although it is ultraviolet (UV)- and water-resistant, this set is not weatherproof. Playing in the rain or leaving it out overnight will likely cause damage, but fortunately a robust carrying case is Included.
Get the GoSports Classic cornhole boards at Amazon, Lowe’s (different graphic), or The Home Depot (different graphic).
The GoSports portable cornhole set’s compact 2-foot-by-1-foot size and light weight make it easy to stow in the car and bring along at a tailgate. Although small, this set is about 66 percent larger than “micro” sets, which can be great for playing in small or slightly crowded areas.
The tailgate-size set includes six sand-filled beanbags that conveniently pack between the boards, attached with hook-and-loop strips for transport. This is a good size for regular backyard play as well and manageable for kids to set up without adult supervision.
Get the GoSports portable cornhole boards at Amazon or Lowe’s.
The EastPoint Sports Go! Gater corn hole set features a wide 24-inch-by-18-inch playing surface that kids of all skill levels will enjoy. The smooth plastic boards are weatherproof and allow the bags to slide effortlessly after tossing.
A built-in bag return makes for convenient, fast-paced play. The kit includes eight 16-ounce regulation-size beanbags in red and yellow. The game is totally portable: Use the bag’s inner storage compartments, fold the boards together, and pack it up.
Get the EastPoint Sports cornhole boards at Amazon.
If gamers ever get tired of cornhole, this combo offers a fun alternative. It’s a two-in-one cornhole and ladder toss game, so players can switch to another test of skill without any extra gear to carry around.
The board is made from MDF with a laminate top that is smooth and easy to clean. Eight beanbags are included. Using a simple hinge system, it’s a breeze to swap to the metal ladder toss part of the game, and six bolas are provided for this. When play is finished, the loose pieces stow within the two halves, which slot into the convenient carry cases provided.
Get the Sport Squad cornhole boards at Amazon or Wayfair.
This portable all-weather cornhole set is built for maximum portability, weatherproof durability, and solid-feeling gameplay. Lightweight travel cornhole boards snap together to form a suitcase with built-in beanbag storage and a handle for easy transportation.
With the whole set weighing just 22 pounds, it’s light enough to bring to picnics and parties. The cornhole boards can be filled with water to increase each board’s weight to 21 pounds for a solid regulation gameplay feel.
This kit includes two 2-foot-by-3-foot waterproof polyethylene cornhole boards that won’t warp in humidity or rain the way MDF and wooden boards can. Use in damp weather, at the beach, or poolside without worrying about splashing water or sudden rain showers.
This set contains eight 6-inch-by-6 inch 14-ounce cornhole beanbags (four red and four blue). The waterproof premium bags feature heavy all-weather canvas filled with moisture-/pestproof plastic pellets and are double-stitched.
Get the Driveway Games cornhole boards at Amazon or Target.
Play anywhere—at any time, even at night—with the GoSports Light-Up cornhole set. In addition to the sturdy foldable construction and all-weather bags, each board has a built-in LED light ring with 38 bulbs encircling the hole. Each light ring is powered for up to 24 hours of runtime by three AA batteries included with the kit.
The GoSports set comes with two 4-foot-by-2-foot cornhole boards, eight all-weather beanbags, and a rule book. The composite MDF surface and high-strength aluminum frame are durable and lightweight for excellent portability. These cornhole sets fold out for play and fold up for storage. The small folded size and lightweight materials make it easy for one person to carry the whole kit at once.
Get the GoSports light-up cornhole boards at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Target.
It’s not difficult to find an ACA-approved cornhole board that meets the rules set out by that organization. Indeed, the professional American Cornhole League (ACL) uses those same rules themselves. However, the Allcornhole official ACL-approved cornhole board is made to a higher standard than just about any other playing surface in the sport.
It is handcrafted in the U.S. using ¾-inch cabinet-grade Baltic birch plywood. Where many good cornhole boards have a cross beam to prevent bag bounce, the Allcornhole model boasts two. It is hand sanded, and then numerous coats of proprietary finish are applied to produce arguably the ultimate cornhole board. However, the price makes it a board for serious players only, and bags are extra.
Get the Allcornhole cornhole boards at Amazon.
Anyone with modest DIY skills, a basic tool set, and a few bolts and screws can make their own cornhole board from a single 8×4 sheet of plywood. Marine-grade or Baltic birch is best for its stability and durability. Standard 2×4 can be used for a solid wood frame and legs, with a sheet of plywood for the playing surface, though cheap softwoods are inclined to warp. Enthusiastic home woodworkers might already have the necessary scraps lying around the garage or shed.
Using plans and videos widely available online, it’s possible to build a basic regulation-size cornhole board in under a day. Those with slightly more advanced skills and a few more tools can build a portable outdoor cornhole board with folding legs and space to store bags.
These are straightforward projects, and it’s relatively easy to achieve results as good as or better than many store-bought boards. It can also be great fun for the kids to decorate the board using safe environmentally friendly water-based paints.
Like most backyard games, cornhole is all about fun, but shopping for a set takes a bit of research. The best cornhole boards are those that accommodate your style of play and have features that make you want to use it often. Read on for factors and features to keep in mind as you shop.
Players just starting out, or those who only play occasional pickup games, can focus on which cornhole board looks or feels best, or is easiest to transport. League players or those who wish to increase their skill level will want to shop for league-standard cornhole boards that better highlight player improvement over time. These boards do not flex or bounce on impact and allow the bags to slide without being slippery.
Official cornhole boards are 4 feet long from front to back and 2 feet wide, with a 6-inch hole centered 9 inches from the top end. The front of the board rises about 4 inches off the ground, and the back rises 12 inches. The surface has a smooth finish that allows bags to slide on impact while not being slippery enough to let them slide backward with the force of gravity.
Smaller boards are just as fun but are lightweight and store more efficiently. These smaller boards are perfect for picnics and pickup games and are more comfortable for kids to use.
Official cornhole boards feature ½-inch plywood, which provides a stable landing platform with just a bit of slide. Plastics are more durable in wet weather, but the bags may bounce a bit more on impact.
Other boards are made with melamine or smooth laminate material, sometimes with a metal framework. These materials can make the boards more slippery or bouncier than standard wood designs. Fabric cornhole boards are bouncy, more or less slippery depending on specific material, and prone to sagging.
The surface of a cornhole board is the place to make it personal. Some buyers may find a design, such as a patriotic theme or favorite sports team logo, that they wish to purchase ready-made or custom-made. Crafters may prefer a bare or unfinished set to decorate with their own paint or vinyl decals.
Cornhole boards use thin siding strips on the lower edges to keep errant bags from landing under the board. These are especially helpful with heavier regulation cornhole boards because they eliminate having to reach under or lift the board for retrieval. Some boards include score-keeping devices conveniently fastened to the siding on the top end.
The beanbags used to play cornhole are typically made of preshrunk 10-ounce cotton canvas duck fabric, filled with either dried corn kernels or resin beads. They weigh between 14 and 16 ounces each and can be used for a variety of DIY lawn games other than cornhole.
Natural corn filling is traditional and works well in dry environments. Where dampness may be a concern, all-weather plastic resin filling is better. The bags must hold up to repeated throws without wearing through the fabric or breaking at the seams. Reinforced double- or triple-stitched seams add durability.
Traditional plywood cornhole boards are built to pick up and store, but at 40 pounds and 12-square-feet, they are a bit too heavy and bulky to transport regularly. Smaller boards made of lightweight materials and those with fold-up designs make it much easier to take the game with you.
The basic cornhole game only requires a set of boards and beanbags. Some boards feature a convenient bag-return chute beneath the hole that funnels bags to the rear so you don’t need to reach underneath to retrieve them.
A built-in scoreboard makes it easy to keep track of the game, and lighted boards allow you to play into the evening. More portable boards come with a carrying case to keep everything together for easy transport.
You may still have questions about playing cornhole. Read on to learn more about the equipment and how to play.
The best kind of wood for cornhole boards is one that offers a stable landing surface that does not cause bounce when the bag lands on it. It should also be light enough to carry around relatively easily (regulation ACA boards should weigh between 35 and 40 pounds).
Baltic birch plywood is used by the best board makers, providing a playing surface between ½- and ¾-inch thick that is flat and stiff for good gameplay. With a couple of coats of paint or varnish to protect it, it should also prove durable.
Cornhole is played either by two opposing players (singles) or two teams of two players each (doubles). Opposing players or teams stay in their lanes for the duration of the game. In singles, both players play from the same end at the same time. In doubles, opposing teams station a player at each end.
Players begin at the headboard and alternate tossing bags at the footboard until both players have tossed all four of their bags. This is called an inning, and the score is taken at the end of each inning. Play continues until a winner or winning team is determined.
Scoring is counted by cancellation, meaning that only one player/team scores per inning. Each bag that comes to rest on the surface of the board is worth 1 point. Each bag that is either thrown or knocked through the hole is worth 3 points. The first player or team to reach or exceed 21 points is the winner.
For those who want to play following the regulations set out by the ACA, the hole should be 6 inches in diameter. It must be centered on the board, with the middle of the hole 9 inches from the top edge. The board itself should be 48 inches long by 24 inches wide. When ready to play, the bottom edge of the board should be 4 inches from the ground and the top edge 12 inches. Cornhole bags must be 6 inches square, and each should weigh between 14 and 16 ounces. Smaller boards may be more convenient, and can be just as much fun!
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