Every regulation board is built to the same handful of numbers. Here they are, with what each one is for and where backyard boards differ.
A regulation cornhole board is 2 feet by 4 feet (24 by 48 inches) with a 6-inch hole centered side to side and 9 inches down from the top edge. The front edge sits 3 to 4 inches off the ground and the back edge 12 inches, giving the surface its tilt. Smaller 2 ft by 3 ft tailgate boards are common for casual play but are not tournament legal.
| Playing surface | 24 in × 48 in (2 ft × 4 ft) |
| Hole diameter | 6 in |
| Hole placement | Centered, 9 in from the top edge |
| Front height | 3–4 in |
| Back height | 12 in |
| Surface material | ½ in plywood, sanded smooth |
Two feet by four feet is the number that matters. It's big enough that a decent throw stays on, small enough that a sloppy one slides off, and it sets every other measurement on the board.
Half-inch plywood is the standard surface. Thinner sheets flex and deaden the slide; thicker ones add weight without helping play. The surface wants to be sanded smooth and sealed so bags glide predictably — a grabby surface turns the game into luck.
The hole is 6 inches across, centered between the side edges, with its center 9 inches down from the top edge of the board. That leaves 39 inches of surface between the front edge and the center of the hole — the runway a bag slides up.
Nine inches from the top is deliberate: it puts the hole close enough to the back that a bag sliding too hard drops off rather than sinking, so a controlled throw beats a hard one.
The front edge sits 3 to 4 inches off the ground and the back edge 12 inches. That roughly 8-inch rise over 4 feet is what makes bags settle instead of skating straight off the back.
The tilt also shapes strategy: a bag landing low on the board tends to creep upward toward the hole, which is why players aim just below the hole rather than at it.
Plenty of sets sold as cornhole boards are 2 ft by 3 ft. These are usually called tailgate or travel boards. They pack smaller and are easier to carry, and they're perfectly fine for a casual game.
They are not tournament legal, and they play differently: the shorter runway means less slide and a smaller margin for error. If you're practicing for league play, practice on a full-size board.
Two feet by four feet — 24 by 48 inches — with a 6-inch hole centered 9 inches from the top edge. The front edge sits 3 to 4 inches off the ground and the back edge 12 inches.
Six inches in diameter, which is exactly the width of a regulation 6-by-6-inch bag. The hole is centered between the side edges with its center 9 inches down from the top of the board.
No. Two-by-three-foot boards are tailgate or travel boards. They're fine for backyard games but are not tournament legal, and the shorter surface gives bags less room to slide.
This page answers one question. The setup & equipment guide covers the whole subject end to end.