How To Build a Cornhole Game – Let the Jr High Humor Begin

I could have called this “how to build a bean bag toss game”, but what’s the fun in that? It isn’t often that I get to use the term “cornhole” in polite company (you’re polite company, right?), so I’m taking this opportunity and running with it like the childish person I am. We have an easy and free build plan from SKIL Tools, so saddle up – because you’ll be cornholeing with the whole family before you know it!

In case this is all new to you, Cornhole is a lot like horseshoes, except instead of a horseshoe, you throw a corn or bean bag, and instead of aiming at a metal post, you try to get the bag in a hole (the cornhole) that’s been drilled into a wooden box. There’s even an American Cornhole Association where you can learn the rules of the game, and the never-endingly amusing Cornhole terminology. The sport has moves like a “hooker” which is “a bag hitting the board and hooking or curving around a blocker and going in the hole” and a “woody”, which is “a bag that lands on the surface of the board, which is worth 1 point.” And if you get enough woodies and hookers in a cornhole, and you’ll have a “gusher” (which is four cornholes by a single player in a single round).

You could see how this game could bring on a lot of laughs, right? Now that you’re convinced that this little DIY project is WELL WORTH IT, on with the instructions!

While there used to be free, downloadable plans from SKIL Tools as a PDF here, some of our eagle-eyed readers informed us the link was broken. We hunted around and unfortunately could no longer find the plans on the Skil site. Instead, we did find this video however.

Alternatively, check out our more recent post on how to make your own corn hole game with scrap material.

A few sheets of plywood, some studs, bolts, washers, nuts, nails and drywall skills cap off your materials list. As for tools, you’re looking at a circular saw, a jigsaw, a drill, a speed square, hammer and the usual suspects (sander, measuring tape, pencil, etc.).

You’re free to decorate your Cornhole box to make it more attractive – although we don’t recommend bleaching the Cornhole … that may prove damaging. With summer not too far around the corner, now is the perfect time to get your materials stockpiled and ready for action. Don’t forget the beer for actual gameplay (not recommended for the building portion).

Happy gaming! We wish you many a woody.