You’ve constructed accurately-sized boards and invested in some good quality cornhole bags.
Now all you’ve got to do is set up the cornhole court.
But how far apart are cornhole boards supposed to be?
Cornhole is a fun game that can provide light entertainment during a family gathering.
However, certain people take court dimensions very seriously.
By certain people, we mean members and supporters of the American Cornhole Association (ACA).
This governing body has set very strict rules about how the game should be played.
So, how far apart should you set cornhole boards? Let’s find out!
Cornhole Board Distance
The ACA state that cornhole boards should be set 27 feet apart.
This is the distance between the front edge of one board and the other.
These 27 feet can also be measured between the two foul lines positioned at the front of each pitcher’s box.
Alternatively, you could also measure the distance between the holes on each board.
The front of the hole on one board should be 33 feet away from the front of the hole on the other board.
This distance gives experienced cornhole players a bit of a challenge when it comes to throwing the cornhole bag while also making it achievable.
How far apart should cornhole boards be for casual play?
Of course, if you’re just setting up cornhole for some casual rounds with the family, it’s ok to shorten or widen this distance (as long as none of your family members are ACA members!).
For beginners, reducing the distance by a few feet is recommended.
This will still keep the game interesting for experienced players while also giving the inexperienced a chance to learn the cornhole rules.
How far apart should cornhole boards be for kids?
When playing with children who are new to the game, we’d recommend putting your cornhole boards 15 feet apart to start with.
This will give them a chance to get comfortable throwing alternate pitching bags.
Once they master 15 feet, you can start to widen the court.
If you want to train your child for the junior play league, then you should set the cornhole boards 21 feet apart.
A 21 feet distance tends to be stated in the official rules for most junior cornhole leagues.
How far apart should mini cornhole boards be?
Unlike the official longboard-sized playing boards, there is no ACA-approved distance that mini cornhole boards should be.
This goes for any other type of cornhole board, for that matter, including tailgates and camper-sized boards.
These smaller board sizes are designed for fun only.
You can put them somewhere in the region of 21-27 feet.
Although, this may be difficult to throw a bag to the opposite board.
For optimum play, we’ve found that setting mini boards 15 feet apart provides the most fun for all.
Measuring the Cornhole Court
How does this ACA-approved board distance fit in with the wider court measurements?
As much as you’ve got to ensure that the boards are 27 feet apart, you’ve also got to double-check that every other element of the court is positioned correctly.
Overall, a cornhole court should be 8 X 45 feet.
This equates to 480 inches long and 96 inches wide.
The 45-foot length will be enough for two full-sized cornhole boards and the 27-foot distance between.
Full-sized cornhole boards measure 48 x 24 inches (or 4 x 2 feet).
Pitcher’s box
In a traditional game of cornhole, there is a total of 4 pitcher’s boxes.
These appear on either side of the cornhole boards.
A pitcher’s box should measure 4 x 3 feet.
As the name implies, this is where the pitchers stand.
The tip of the pitcher’s box acts as the foul line – a bag pitched over this line is considered a foul bag.
Ceiling distance
If you’re playing indoors, you’ll also have to consider the indoor court ceiling distance.
The ACA state that indoor games should have a ceiling clearance of 12 feet.
Final Thoughts
The distance between boards depends on who you’re playing against and how seriously you’re taking the game.
If you want your gameplay to meet ACA regulations, then the distance between boards needs to be 27 feet.
The rest of the court must also be measured precisely – i.e., the pitching box, the size of the boards themselves, etc. – so that the first pitched bag to the final forward swing is fair.