Cornhole vs. bean bag toss: what is the difference?

Introduction: do cornhole and bean bag toss resemble each other?

At first sight, cornhole and bean bag toss look very similar: you throw bags at a board with a hole and try to score points. However, there are important differences in rules, dimensions, and material quality. In this guide we clearly explain what those differences are, and which variant suits you best.

What is cornhole?

Cornhole is the more standardized and competitive version of the bag-to-board game. There are fixed dimensions for boards and bags, and clear rules for scoring and setup.

• Official board dimensions (approx. 120 × 60 cm);
• Regulation bags (approx. 15 × 15 cm, 450 g, often dual-sided);
• Standard distance of 8.23 meters between the boards;
• Cancellation scoring (points of both players are offset against each other).

Cornhole is played in tournaments and competitions, and is the variant you often see on television or in official leagues.

What is bean bag toss?

Bean bag toss is an umbrella term for loose, often toy-like variants of the game. The boards are smaller or made of plastic, the distance is shorter and there are usually no fixed rules.

• Often smaller or irregular boards;
• Plastic or lightweight boards that slide more easily;
• Bags filled with beans or sand, sometimes much lighter;
• Simpler scoring (e.g. everything that hits the board = 1 point).

Bean bag toss is perfectly fine for small children or as simple camping or beach toys, but less suitable if you really want to improve your throw and game.

Main differences between cornhole and bean bag toss

1. Dimensions and materials of the boards

Cornhole boards have fixed dimensions and are usually made of wood. This provides a stable and predictable playing surface: bags bounce less and slide consistently. With bean bag toss you often see smaller boards, different shapes or plastic variants that move easily.

2. Quality and filling of the bags

Cornhole bags are designed for durability and control. They are generally filled with plastic pellets and have a sturdy fabric. With bean bag toss, bags are often lighter, more cheaply made, and filled with beans or sand, which does not last as long and is sensitive to moisture.

3. Scoring and rules

In cornhole there are clear cornhole rules:

• 3 points for a bag in the hole;
• 1 point for a bag on the board;
• cancellation scoring (points of both players are offset against each other).

Bean bag toss often uses simple or self-invented rules, such as “everything that lands on or in the board is 1 point” and no offsetting of points. That is easy, but makes the game less strategic.

4. Distance and difficulty

For cornhole, a fixed distance of 8.23 meters is used for adults. This makes the game challenging and provides a good balance between power, technique and precision. Bean bag toss is usually played at much shorter distances, for example 2–4 meters, which means the game mainly remains a children’s game.

5. Competitive level

Cornhole is now played worldwide in tournaments and official leagues. There are rankings, championships and professional players. Bean bag toss, on the other hand, remains in practice a casual form of the game without organizations or fixed competitions.

Which variant should you choose: cornhole or bean bag toss?

Still doubting between cornhole and bean bag toss? Then ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you want a game that you can play for years and in which you can really improve?
• Do you like the idea of maybe playing tournaments or competitively one day?
• Do you often play with adults or a mix of ages?

If the answer is yes, then cornhole is almost always the better choice. With a solid cornhole set you immediately have a professional foundation. If, on the other hand, you just want something simple for small children in the garden, then a cheap bean bag toss set may be sufficient.

From bean bag toss to cornhole: a logical step

Many players start with a toy set and then switch to real cornhole boards and bags. The game immediately becomes more fun and more challenging:

• your throws feel more consistent;
• bags react predictably on the board;
• the challenge and tension of the scoring increase;
• you can use the same rules as in official matches.

In this way, cornhole becomes more than just a casual little game: it becomes a skill in which you really notice progress.

Frequently asked questions about cornhole vs bean bag toss