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A regulation-size cornhole set built with 1x3 frames and 1/2" plywood instead of 2x4s and 3/4" — half the weight, so it actually gets carried to the yard and used.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame sides | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 48" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Frame ends and center brace | 6 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 22 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Legs One end cut at 10° off square (long point measurement), top corners rounded for the fold. | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 11 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Decks A 48x48 sheet cut exactly in half. | 2 | 1/2" × 24" × 48" | 1/2" exterior plywood | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1x3, 8 ft Frames and legs. Furring strips are the budget option — pick the straight ones. | 4 each | ☐ |
| Exterior plywood, 1/2", 48" x 48", one smooth face AC or sanded grade. Two 24" x 48" project panels also work. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Exterior deck screws, 1-5/8", star drive, flat head Flat heads sit flush in the deck. | 50 each | ☐ |
| Exterior bolts, 1/4" x 2" Leg pivots. | 4 each | ☐ |
| Nylon lock nuts, 1/4" Lock nuts, specifically — they hold the pivot friction where you set it. | 4 each | ☐ |
| Fender washers, 1/4" One each side of every pivot. | 8 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 4 oz | ☐ |
| Bean bags, set of 8 Four per color, two colors. Regulation is 6", ~1 lb. | 1 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, Exterior deck screws, 1-5/8", star drive, flat head
Lay out each frame on a flat surface — two 48" sides, an end at each end, and a brace across the middle — and screw the sides into the crosspieces, two screws per joint.
1x3 is thin stock near an end: if a screw starts to split it, stop and pre-drill the rest. A split frame member now is a wobbly board forever.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Drill Bit Set, Pencil. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft
Mark the pivot centers near the top corners of each frame and drill through with the 1/4" bit.
Press a screw tip into the mark first to make a small dent — it keeps the bit from walking, and a pivot hole that wanders even 1/8" gives you a board that sits crooked on its legs.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Jigsaw, Random Orbit Sander, Tape Measure. Materials: Exterior plywood, 1/2", 48" x 48", one smooth face, Exterior deck screws, 1-5/8", star drive, flat head, Wood glue
Glue and screw each plywood deck to its frame — about a dozen screws around the perimeter, heads pulled flush.
Mark the bag hole: 6" diameter, centered side-to-side, 9" from the top edge to the hole's center. Drill a 1/4" starter hole just inside the line, then cut the circle with the jigsaw, staying on the waste side. Sand the hole edge smooth and round it slightly — bags catch on square edges.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Drill Bit Set, Jigsaw, Miter Saw. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft
Cut the legs with a 10° angle at the foot end — that's what makes the board sit at regulation height with the foot flat on the grass. No miter saw? Mark 1/2" up from one end, draw the triangle back to the long edge, and cut it with a jigsaw or circular saw.
Round the top corners off each leg so it can rotate inside the frame, and drill the 1/4" pivot hole through the rounded end.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Exterior bolts, 1/4" x 2", Nylon lock nuts, 1/4", Fender washers, 1/4", Bean bags, set of 8
Stack the hardware in this order: bolt head | fender washer | frame side | leg | fender washer | lock nut. Snug the lock nut until the leg swings smoothly but holds its position.
Fold and unfold each leg a few times, then stand both boards 27 feet apart, front edge to front edge, and confirm they sit level. Sand the decks, paint if you like — and topcoat with poly so the bags slide the same on both boards.