How to keep cornhole score here
- Tap a name to rename a side. Pick Singles or Doubles in Game and rules, and type the players if you want them on the board.
- Throw one inning: each side throws 4 bags. Count the bags that went in the hole (3 points each) and the bags that stayed on the board (1 point each) and tap the + buttons. A side can’t enter more than 4 bags.
- Read the line under the counters, for example “Red 7, Blue 4: Red scores 3”. Only the difference scores.
- Press Score inning. The score updates, the inning goes into the history table, and the Throws first tag moves to the side that scored.
- The game ends when a side reaches or passes the target (21 by default). Press Undo last inning to fix a miscount.
- Press Full screen to put the score on a tablet or TV at the cornhole boards, or Announce score to hear it read aloud.
The scoring this page uses
By default this page follows the official cancellation rules:
- Bag in the hole: 3 points. Bag on the board: 1 point.
- Four bags per side in each inning,
- Cancellation: subtract the lower inning total from the higher one. Only that difference is scored, by one side.
- Winning: the first side to reach or pass 21 at the end of an inning wins. No win-by-two.
- First throw: the side that scored last throws first in the next inning. After an inning that scores nothing, the order stays the same.
House rules are in Game and rules, each one labeled: bust back to 15 or 11, no cancellation, and a skunk rule at 11-0 or 7-0. They stay off unless you choose them.
Where these rules come from
The American Cornhole League’s official rules and regulations give a bag in the hole 3 points and a bag on the board 1 point, require cancellation scoring, play to at least 21 at the end of a round with no win-by-two, and give first pitch to the side that scored last. The American Cornhole Organization’s rules sheet states the same 3-point cornhole and 1-point woody, four bags per player, cancellation scoring, and the 21-point game. ACL rounds and ACO frames are called innings here. Neither page lists a bust or skunk rule, so those are the house rules they are labeled as. Local leagues vary, so check yours.
Deciding who throws first in game one? Use Who Goes First or the Scoreboard for other lawn games.
Frequently asked questions
How does cancellation scoring work in cornhole?
Each side adds up its bags for the inning: 3 for each bag in the hole and 1 for each bag on the board. The lower total cancels out the same number of points from the higher total, and only the side with more points scores the difference. If Red has 7 and Blue has 4, Red scores 3 and Blue scores nothing. Equal totals score nothing.
How many points is a game of cornhole?
The American Cornhole Organization plays to 21 points, and the American Cornhole League plays until a side reaches at least 21 at the end of a round. The ACL rules say a side does not have to win by two points and is not penalized for going over 21. You can play to 15 or 11 for a shorter game.
Who throws first after each inning?
The side that scored in the previous inning throws first in the next one. If neither side scored because the innings canceled out, the side that threw first last time keeps the first throw.
What is the bust rule?
Some backyard games require you to land on exactly 21 and send a side back to 15 (or 11) if it goes over. That is a house rule, not part of the ACL or ACO rules. Turn it on under Going over the target. The default is the official rule: reach or exceed 21 and you win.
What is a skunk in cornhole?
A skunk, or mercy rule, ends the game early when one side leads by a set score with the other at zero, such as 11-0. It is a house or league rule and the official ACL and ACO rules pages do not list one, so it is off by default. You can switch on 11-0 or 7-0.
Can I turn off cancellation?
Yes. Choose No cancellation and both sides keep everything they score each inning. That is a house rule used in casual games. Cancellation stays the default because both major organizations call it the official method.
Can other people follow the score live?
Yes, when a Share live button shows above the tool. It gives you a viewer link and a QR code that follow the game and update every few seconds, and a separate scorekeeper link so a helper can enter scores. Viewers cannot change anything. The scores and names on screen are stored on our server until the link expires 14 days after the last change, or until you press Stop sharing. If you don’t see the button, live sharing isn’t switched on and everything else works as before in your browser.