Regulation size cornhole boards are 2 ft x 4 ft. You can find non-regulation cornhole court boards measuring 2 ft x 3 ft. They’re acceptable to use as long as you aren’t playing competitively.
This article will go over cornhole board size in detail and explore related topics like cornhole bag size and regulation accessories used in cornhole games. So keep reading.
Regulation Size Cornhole Boards
First, let’s look at regulation size cornhole boards. You can usually get one of two types of boards in game stores. They are:
- Regulation size (2 ft x 4 ft)
- Tailgate size (2 ft x 3 ft)
The American Cornhole Association and the American Cornhole Organization only permit regulation size boards in competitive games. So if you’re looking to participate in such competitions, it’s better to practice on them.
Cornhole board rules
Beyond just the size of the board, there are a couple of other regulations regarding cornhole boards, including leg size and playing surface texture.
Let’s take a look.
- Each cornhole game needs two cornhole boards
- Boards must be made of at least .5 inch thick plywood
- The hole in the board needs to have a 6-inch diameter
- The back end of the board must be 12 inches above the ground (the side with the legs and hole)
- The front end of the board must be 2 inches above the ground.
- The cornhole board playing surface must be finished using polyurethane or polycrylic finishings and be sanded down to create a smooth surface
Even when playing with a tailgate-size cornhole board, these supplementary rules remain the same. The only main difference between both is the size. Everything else, like the size of the hole, remains constant.
Regulation Size Cornhole Accessories
In addition to the board, there are a couple of other components in a cornhole game set. These are the fabric bags, placement, and pitcher’s boxes.
When it comes to tailgate size boards, none of the following regulations apply, and it’s really up to the manufacturer to decide what they want to sell with their boards.
Fabric bag regulation
Here are a couple of regulations to remember about fabric bags:
- Every team must have four cornhole bags
- Each bag must be 6 inches x 6 inches
- Each bag has 2 cups of dried corn kernels or resin pellets
- The bags are made with two pieces of duck canvas
- Each bag weighs around 15 ounces
- A quarter inch double stitched seam is used in every bag
The bags are usually made with bright-colored fabric, so they’re visible from far away. Some may even have fun designs on them.
Placement regulation
Here is everything you need to know about regulation placement in a game of cornhole:
- The playing area must be 10 ft x 45 ft
- The cornhole court must be level
- Place cornhole boards 27 ft away from each other
- Any obstacles in the playing court are removed
- The foul line extends parallel from the edge of each cornhole board
Pitcher’s box regulation
A pitcher’s box is the 3 ft wide area to the left and right of each cornhole board. This is where players stand to toss their fabric bags.
Any throws made from beyond this line are considered foul throws and can not affect the game.
You can move this line in junior play.
Benefits of playing with regulation size boards
#1: Better quality
Regulation size cornhole boards are used in professional games. Hence, they’re typically built sturdier than tailgate size boards. This isn’t true all the time, but it is a pattern.
They last longer than tailgate sized boards and are a long-term investment.
#2: Professional practice
Regulation size boards are the real thing. Playing on them prepares you for professional competitions. You can test out strategic gameplay and hone your defensive maneuvers.
Compare playing with an adjustable basketball hoop and a rim at 10 ft. One is easier to play with, while the other is a bit harder but standard size.
Learning to play on the larger standard size board will prepare you for professional competitions in case that’s something you’re interested in.
Drawbacks of playing with regulation size boards
#1: More storage space required
Regulation size boards take up more space than smaller tailgate size boards. They’re heavier and more challenging to transport.
So whether you decide to place them in your storage shed or the back of your truck, you’ll need more space.
Depending on the company you buy your boards from, they weigh between 20 and 40 pounds. That’s as much as a teenager’s weight. So it’s quite a bit.
Tailgate size boards are usually made with slim wood pieces and can fit in the front seat of a car.
#2: More difficult to play with
Sometimes you just want to play because you want to have fun. In such cases, you don’t care much about professional competitions or championships, and the size hardly matters.
A smaller board will be easier to play on and have a shorter learning curve.
Everyone will have fun on smaller boards.
Conclusion
Cornhole has a lot of rules and regulations, but they’re fairly simple to understand. You just need to go through them once. Then you’re ready to play cornhole.
Cornhole bags must be 6 inches by 6 inches, while regulation cornhole boards must be 2 ft x 4 ft.
