How To Build a Cornhole Board

Building your own cornhole game set is a fun and rewarding DIY project that can provide hours of family entertainment, and all you need is a few basic woodworking skills and tools. This Old House‘s Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor demonstrate the build process for a regulation-size board, complete with folding legs for easy storage.

Materials and Tools Needed to Build a Cornhole Board

You’ll need the following materials and tools for the project.

Materials

• (4) 48-inch 2x4s
• (4) 21-inch 2x4s
• (2) 24×48-inch sheets of 1/2-inch interior plywood
• (4) 11 1/2-inch 2x4s for the legs
• 3-inch deck screws
• 1 5/8-inch deck screws
• 1/2-inch carriage bolts, washers, and wing nuts
• Water-based polyurethane
• Custom decals (optional)

Tools

• Clamps
• Drill and drill bits
• Impact driver
• Jigsaw
• Miter saw
• Paint roller or foam brushes
• Pencil
• Sandpaper
• Tape measure
• 6-inch hole saw

Building the Cornhole Board Frame

A sturdy frame makes for a durable base. Tom recommends using straight, kiln-dried 2x4s for the frame to prevent warping, uneven spots, and dead spots.

1. Cut two 2x4x8s in half to create four 48-inch pieces for the sides of your frames.
2. Cut four 21-inch pieces from another 2x4x8 for the front and back of each frame.
3. On each 48-inch board, measure ¾ inch from the end and ¾ inch from each side. Once you’ve verified the measurements, pre-drill holes for screws.
4. Assemble the frames by attaching the 21-inch pieces between the 48-inch sides using 3-inch deck screws.

Pro Tip: Apply a thin bead of exterior wood glue to each joint before driving the screws. The glue adds rigidity and helps prevent the frame from loosening over time, especially if the boards get tossed around during transport or take repeated impacts from bean bags.

After assembling each frame, check for square by measuring diagonally from corner to corner. Both diagonal measurements should be equal. If they’re off, gently rack the frame until the diagonals match, then reinforce each corner with a second screw to lock it in place. A frame that’s even slightly out of square will cause the plywood top to overhang unevenly and can affect bag trajectory during play.

Adding the Plywood Top to the Cornhole Frame

When placing the plywood on the frame, make sure the smoother, factory-sanded face is oriented upward—this is the playing surface, and any roughness will affect how bags slide. Run your hand across both sides of the sheet before fastening to confirm you’ve got the better face on top.

With frames constructed, the next step is to add the plywood top. Tom’s choice is birch interior plywood for its smooth, flat surface, essential for a good game of cornhole.

1. Place a sheet of 1/2-inch interior plywood on top of each frame.
2. Pre-drill holes for screws. You’ll need to drill one hole per corner, three more along each side, and one in the middle of each end. 
3. Secure the plywood to the frame using 1 ⅝-inch deck screws in the holes you pre-drilled.

Pro Tip: When driving the 1 5/8-inch deck screws, sink them just slightly below the plywood surface so the heads won’t snag cornhole bags during play. A countersink bit makes quick work of this—just be careful not to go too deep and break through the thin 1/2-inch plywood.

Cutting the Hole for the Cornhole Bags

Regulation cornhole boards will have a 6-inch hole, according to the American Cornhole Association (ACA). The regulations also prescribe precisely where the hole needs to be, so measure carefully in these next steps.

1. Measure 9 inches down from the top edge of the board and make a mark.
2. Measure 12 inches in from each side to find the center point.
3. Use a 6-inch hole saw to cut out the hole where these measurements intersect.

If you don’t have a hole saw, use a compass to draw a 6-inch circle, then cut it out with a jigsaw.

Creating Folding Legs for the Cornhole Boards

Folding legs make it easy to store and move your cornhole boards. The ACA requires a cornhole board’s rear standing height to be 12 inches. With the ½-inch thickness of the boards Tom used for this project, he made 11 ½-inch long legs to get the board at regulation height.

1. Cut four 11 1/2-inch pieces from a 2×4 for the legs.
2. Round one end of each leg using a jigsaw to create a 3 1/2-inch radius. Rounding will make the legs fold flat against the board.
3. Drill a hole in the center of the rounded end of each leg.
4. Position each leg in a corner of the frame and mark where to drill corresponding holes.
5. Attach the legs using 1/2-inch carriage bolts, washers, and wing nuts. Keep the carriage bolts snug, but not too tight such that the legs can’t freely move.

Cornhole Board Finishing Touches

To protect and personalize your cornhole boards, follow these final steps.

1. Sand the entire board, including the legs and frame, for a smooth finish.
2. Apply a coat of water-based polyurethane using a roller or foam brush. This protects the wood from wear and the elements. Let the first coat dry thoroughly, lightly sand the surface again, and apply a second coat.
3. If desired, add a few custom decals to give some personalized flair to the boards.