DIY Cornhole Boards- free building plans

These DIY cornhole boards were so fun to build. I’m excited to share the free building plans with you, and answer a few questions about cornhole.

Building a DIY cornhole set has been on our list for years, and I knew our upcoming family camping trip would be a great time to break them in, so I whipped a couple of cornhole boards up really quick, and I am so glad I did!

It was really important to us that our DIY cornhole boards were official regulation size, because a lot that you find on the internet aren’t. So once we did all the research and built these cornhole boards, I knew I wanted to share the building plans with you.

I am happy to partner with BuildSomething.com to bring you the free building plans for these DIY cornhole boards.

Where do I find DIY cornhole building plans?

I am happy to share the complete building plans for these cornhole boards. I have posted them on the BuildSomething.com website. You can download them for free, and build your own DIY cornhole boards.

What dimensions are a cornhole board?

The official dimensions of a cornhole board are 48 inches by 24 inches. The tops should be made of smooth plywood that is at least 1/2 inch in thickness.

How tall are cornhole boards?

The front of the cornhole board should be 3-4 inches from the ground to the top of the deck. The back of the cornhole board should be 12 inches from the ground to the highest point of the deck.

What wood should I use to make DIY cornhole boards?

For the base (frame) portion of the cornhole boards, you can use whatever wood you prefer. The base is build completely from 1×4 nominal lumber. Pine is favored because it is inexpensive and easily accessible. If you prefer a sturdier wood than pine, I would suggest using poplar 1×4 boards.
The cornhole deck should be very smooth and there should not be any blemishes in the surface that would disrupt or distort play. I recommend a premium 3/4″ plywood that is sanded smooth.

How to paint cornhole boards?

Cornhole boards can be painted however you’d like. Many people paint different logos or designs on their cornhole boards. However, be careful not to create any ridges or bumps while painting. To prevent disruption in play, you should strive for the smoothest surface possible. For my boards, I used painter’s tape and the Kreg Multimark tool to layout my design

What paint should be used on a cornhole board?

Cornhole boards should be painted with a semi-gloss exterior latex paint. This makes it so the bags can slide, but not so slippery so they will slide back down the board. I suggest finishing the cornhole boards with a clear spray sealant to protect the boards from wear and tear. (tip: you need so little paint, I used a sample size paint for my boards.)

What tools do I need to build cornhole boards?

Building cornhole boards is pretty simple and straightforward. You will need a Kreg Jig pocket hole jig (from Home Depot or Amazon), a miter saw, a drill, measuring tape, sandpaper or orbital sander, and eye and ear protection.

How far apart are cornhole boards?

PlayCornhole.org states that cornhole boards should be 27 feet apart from the inside edges of the cornhole boards, for adults, and 12-15 feet for juniors. See the graphic below.

What equipment do I need for cornhole?

You need two cornhole boards, and 8 cornhole bags (4 for each team). You can build cornhole boards by using my complete cornhole building plans.

How to make cornhole bags?

Cornhole bags should be 6 inches square, filled with approximately 2 cups of feed corn, and weigh 14-16 ounces. You can use plastic pellets in place of corn. Cornhole bags are available to purchase if you do not sew.

Who can play cornhole?

Since cornhole is so easy to play and quick to learn, it is a game that the youngest of kids and the oldest of adults can enjoy and play together. We have loved playing cornhole in teams, with one kid and one adult together on a team. As long as you can toss a beanbag, you can play cornhole.

Where do you play cornhole?

Cornhole is such a fun game to play with family and friends. We have loved playing this game at family reunions, on camping trips, or just in the backyard with friends.

If you used this DIY cornhole tutorial in your own home, I would love to see photos and share them here on my blog! Please email completed photos to Nat@thecreativemom.com

I would also love if you would share this project, or save it to your Pinterest board for later! You can hover your mouse over the image above and click the â€œsaveâ€ button, or share this on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.