Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Note

Items may be Special Order in some stores. Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market. Paint colors may vary slightly from those shown. Availability varies by market for lumber species and sizes.

How to Design and Build Your Own Cornhole Boards

These DIY cornhole board instructions are for building regulation-size cornhole boards. But when it comes to decorating your boards, there are plenty of opportunities to personalize them. Once you learn how to make your DIY cornhole boards, you can paint or stain the boards to complement your outdoor décor or show your spirit by adding the logo of your favorite sports team.

For the ultimate upgrade, consider painting your cornhole boards with glow-in-the-dark paint or wrapping them in LED lights so the game can continue even after sunset.

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Tip

Before you begin building your DIY cornhole game, refer to the Project Diagram for the instructions, Cutting List, Cutting Diagram and materials required to build two boards.

Good to Know

If you don’t have all the tools you need, you can rent them from Lowe’s.

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Build the Decks

A person screwing together the frame for a cornhole board.

To ensure your cornhole boards are the correct size, cut sides (A) and rails (B) as shown (see Project Diagram for illustrated cornhole board plans). Drill countersunk pilot holes in the sides and then glue and screw together the two frames (see Project Diagram: Drawing 1).

Good to Know

Where the screw holes are very close to the ends of the parts, drill countersunk pilot holes to prevent splitting when driving the screws.

Make the Leg Assemblies

A person using a pencil and compass to mark cutting lines on a leg.

Cutting the legs of your DIY cornhole boards to the right length is critical to ensuring the boards sit at the correct angle. Cut the legs (D), stretchers (E) and braces (F) to length (see Project Diagram: Cutting List). Cut an 11-degree angle on one end of each leg. Mark the center point on the width of each board 1-1/4 inches from the end and draw the 1-1/4-inch radius on the other end of each leg (see Project Diagram: Drawing 2). Round off the ends of the legs with a jigsaw.

Assemble the Game Boards

A person assembling cornhole game boards.

With the game boards upside-down, position a leg assembly inside each target frame at the upper end (see Project Diagram: Drawing 3). Place 1/8-inch-thick shims between the edges of the legs (D) and the bottom face of each top (C). With the rounded ends of the legs barely touching the rails (B), clamp one leg to one side (A) of each frame. Using the hole in the leg as a guide, drill a 1/4-inch hole through the side. Unclamp the leg and clamp the other leg to the opposite side of each frame. Drill the second hole.

Don’t Forget the Bean Bags

While you can buy premade cornhole bean bags, it’s more fun to make your own set to complement the design of your DIY cornhole boards. Here’s how.

Now that you’ve created your boards and bean bags, you can learn how to play cornhole and have fun with family and friends.

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Outdoor Living

How to Build Cornhole Boards