Tools and Materials
Tools
Materials
- 1/2-in x 2-ft x 4-ft Birch Plywood Sheets (Actual: .47-in x 1.98-ft x 3.98-ft) (2)
- 1-in x 3-in by 8-ft Boards (Actual: .75-in x 2.5-in x 8-ft) (5)
- 1-1/4-in Deck Screws
- 2-in Deck Screws
- 1/4-in x 2-in Hex-Head Bolts (4)
- 1/4-in Flat Washers (12)
- 1/4-in Lock Nuts (4)
- Waterproof Wood Glue
- Shims
- Exterior Sealer/Stain
- Exterior Paint
- Sandpaper
- Painter's Tape
Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.
How to Build Your Own Cornhole Boards
Before you begin, refer to the Project Diagram for the cutting list, cutting diagram and illustrated cornhole board plans. If you don’t have all the tools you need, check your local store to see if you can rent them from Lowe’s.
Regulation cornhole boards are typically 24 inches wide and 48 inches long, but official rules allow for half-inch variances, like the 23-1/2 by 47-1/2 dimensions of these boards. There are plenty of opportunities to personalize your boards:
- Paint or stain them to complement outdoor décor.
- Paint them with glow-in-the-dark paint.
- Add the logo of your favorite team.
- Outline them with LED lights.
Watch the construction a two other cornhole board designs from Third Coast Craftsman, including a set with integrated LEDs.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the tools you use.
• Clamp workpieces to a stable surface and wear safety glasses, hearing protection and a respirator when cutting the lumber.
• Wear safety glasses and a respirator when sanding.
Build the Cornhole Board Frames and Tops
Countersunk pilot holes prevent splitting when driving screws near the ends of the components and allow the screw heads to lie flush with the wood surface.
Step 2: Cut the Board Tops
- Measure the length and width of each frame (A, B).
- Cut the tops (C) from 1/2-inch plywood.
- Measure and mark center points for the holes, 9 inches from the top of each board, and 11-3/4 inches from the sides.
- Use the center points to draw 6-inch-diameter circles on each top.
- Use a drill with a 3/8-inch bit to drill starter holes for a jigsaw just inside each circle.
- Cut out the beanbag holes with the jigsaw.
Step 3: Attach the Tops
- Drill countersunk pilot holes around the perimeter of each top (C), 3/8 of an inch from the edges (Project Diagram: Drawing 1).
- Apply wood glue to the top edges of the frames and position the tops on the frames.
- Drive 1-1/4-inch deck screws to secure the boards.
Assemble the Cornhole Board Legs
Step 1: Cut the Leg Pieces
- Cut the legs (D), stretchers (E) and braces (F) to length (Project Diagram: Cutting List).
- Cut an 11-degree angle on one end of each leg and mark a center point on the other end 1-1/4 inches from the edges and the end.
- Drill a 1/4-inch hole at the center point on each leg and draw a 1-1/4-inch radius from this point (Project Diagram: Drawing 2).
- Cut along the radius with a jigsaw to round off the tops of the legs.
Cutting the legs of your DIY cornhole boards to the right length is critical to ensuring the boards sit at the correct angle.
Step 2: Build the Folding Leg Assemblies
- Drill two countersunk pilot holes through each leg (Project Diagram: Drawing 2).
- Screw the pairs of legs to the stretchers (E) with 2-inch deck screws.
- Drill countersunk screw holes in the braces (F).
- Use glue and 2-inch deck screws to fasten each brace to a legs/stretcher assembly so the top edge of each brace is flush with the top face of the stretcher (Project Diagram: Drawing 2).
Assemble and Finish the Cornhole Boards
Step 1: Position the Legs
- With the game boards upside-down, position a leg assembly inside the upper end of each frame (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.
Step 2: Decorate and Attach the Legs
- Sand the board tops, frames and edges, as well as the beanbag hole edges.
- Decorate your boards before attaching the legs.
- We finished the frame and legs with an exterior stain and sealer and used painter’s tape and exterior paint to create decorative stripes on the tops.
- When the finish is dry and cured, attach the leg assemblies to the sides with 2-inch hex-head bolts, flat washers and lock nuts (Project Diagram: Drawing 3).
Avoid overtightening the lock nuts so that the legs swing open and closed freely.
Make a Set of Cornhole Beanbags
While you can buy premade cornhole beanbags, it’s fun to make two sets of four beanbags to complement the design of your DIY cornhole boards.
- Use a durable fabric — such as duck canvas — in the color of your choice.
- Cut four pieces of 6-inch-by-6-inch fabric and sew three sides shut.
- Repeat with fabric in contrasting colors.
- Fill each bag with 15 to 16 ounces of hard corn kernels or a synthetic substitute of the same density and sew the open seams closed.
Build Family Fun With a DIY Cornhole Set
Making cornhole boards puts your carpentry skills to work creating outdoor fun with friends and family. From the lumber you need to build the boards to paint for a custom finish, find what you need on Lowes.com or at your local Lowe’s. Plus, you can pick up any tools you need to do the job right.