Make Your Own Cornhole Board in Time for Tailgating Season

Cornhole is a classic backyard game that can add extra fun to gatherings and tailgating for all ages. In fact, you can build a cornhole board in a weekend with tools from The Home Depot Rental. Once complete, you can take your cornhole DIY-ing to the next level by decorating your new boards with your favorite designs. 

Materials & Tools Needed to Build a Cornhole Set

Make your own cornhole set by gathering these materials and tools from your local Home Depot. You’ll need both plywood and standard 2x4s to build a cornhole set. Smooth plywood is the best choice when it comes to a cornhole DIY: 

• Two sheets of 2-feet x 4-feet x 1/2-inch plywood (or two pre-cut cornhole board tops)  
• Four 2-inch x 4-inch x 8-foot framing studs  
• Four 3/8-inch x 4-inch carriage bolts 
• Sixteen 3/8-inch washers  
• Sixteen 3/8-inch nuts  
• Sixteen 3-inch wood screws  
• Twenty-eight 1 1/2-inch wood screws  

Next, visit the rental center inside your local Home Depot to rent the following power tools to build a cornhole board: 

• Electric Jigsaw Rental (if you plan to draw and cut the 6-inch hole yourself) 
• Circular Saw Rental 
• Miter Saw Rental  
• Power Drill Rental 

DIY Cornhole Plans

It’s easy to build a cornhole set in a weekend with The Home Depot Rental. It’s also more rewarding to make a cornhole game yourself, not to mention it’s a great conversation starter.  

If you want to make your cornhole plans a little easier, The Home Depot also has predrilled board tops that you can simply attach to your base.  

The planning step ensures you have everything you need to create your cornhole boards, such as materials, tools, and the steps to complete. You’ll also want to find a relatively open space with access to power to make your cuts as well as assemble your boards.  

Be sure to review the safety and user manuals for any tools you use and outfit yourself with the proper protective gear, such as earplugs, safety goggles, and closed-toe footwear. 

Time to Build Your Own Cornhole

Once you’ve gathered your cornhole plans, materials and tools, it’s time to put the saw rentals to work. 

Step 1: Make the Necessary Cuts 

Cut four legs to 12 1/4-inches long. Place a mark at 10 5/8-inches on one narrow side and use a straightedge to draw a diagonal line from this mark to the end of the leg. This line will be approximately 25 degrees. 

Measure 12 1/4-inches from the long side of the angle and mark a straight line. Cut the board on this line. This creates one leg. Repeat the process until you have four legs. 

On the square end of each leg, mark one inch in from each side and mark one inch down each side from the end. Connect the marks to make a 45-degree angle and use your saw rental to cut. Sand any rough areas to keep the legs smooth.  

You can also measure angled cuts using a carpenter square if you have one handy, which will give you a more precise angle. Next, cut the other 2x4s to make the front, back and sides: 

• For the front and back, mark and cut four 21-inch lengths. 
• For the sides, mark and cut four 48-inch lengths. 

The official cornhole board top dimensions are 2-feet x 4-feet with a hole 6-inches wide, centered 9-inches from the top of the board. If you decide to build your own cornhole board tops, draw and cut the 6-inch hole with an electric jigsaw rental. It’s easiest to drill a hole a little wider than your blade width in the center of your outline, allowing you to start from the center of the outline and gradually work your way out to the edge of the hole.  

Step 2: Assemble the Base and Attach the Tops to Make a Cornhole Game 

Position the two 21-inch boards between two 48-inch boards in the shape of a rectangle so they’re flush.  

Drive screws into place using your power drill rental to secure the corners of the cornhole boards. 

Attach your cornhole plywood top to each frame using 1 1/2 -inch wood screws.  

Step 3: Finish and Attach the Legs 

Mark a point 1 3/4-inches from the end and 1 3/4-inches from the side on the square end of each leg. Drill a 3/8-inch hole at this point. 

Turn the boards upside down and lay the legs parallel to the interior frame with the rounded end towards the corner of the cornhole board. 

Leave a 1/2-inch gap between the end of the leg and the end board of the base and clamp the leg to the side of the frame. 

Use the 3/8-inch hole on the leg as a guide to drill through the frame. Make sure there is enough clearance for the leg to rotate. 

Attach each leg to the frame with bolts and add two washers on each side of the leg. 

Test legs to make sure they rotate freely. 

Once your cornhole boards are complete, the top corner should stand 12” tall. The final step in this cornhole board DIY project is paint and personalization. Paint your boards using your favorite team’s colors to make a cornhole game perfect for tailgating. 

How to Play Cornhole

Now that your cornhole DIY project is complete, it’s time to gather and play your first game. Follow these rules to score an official game of cornhole: 

• Pitches that land and remain on the cornhole board surface are worth 1 point.  
• Pitches that pass through the hole in the board are worth 3 points. 
• Pitched bags that touch the ground before reaching the board don’t count.  
• The first team to score 21 points wins the game.