DIY | Make a Colorful Cornhole Yard Game

Summertime is the perfect time for BBQs, beach trips, and backyard get-togethers. I love having a good yard game at these events,  that can be played while enjoying a summer drink and catching up with friends and family. Cornhole is a great, easy-to-play yard game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages.

The purpose of the game is to toss bean bags back and forth with the aim of having your bag land on the board across from you or, for maximum points, through the hole in the board. Cornhole is so much fun to play and it’s always a big hit at gatherings.

I built this board so that it would be compact enough for easy storage or to throw in the car for your summer beach or camping trips. There is no assembly or setup involved so all you have to do is grab and go. Instant party!

Here’s how to make your own cornhole yard game

What You’ll Need:

Wood (see the Cut list below)
A saw (this miter saw is my go-to favorite, but a jigsaw will also work)
Brad nailer
Drill
Hole saw drill attachment
Sandpaper
3/8″ carriage bolts, washers, and wing nuts (you need 4 of each)
Measuring tape
Painters tape
Three to four different colors of paint
Paintbrush

Cut List:

Two 1/2″ thick plywood boards cut to 24″x12″
Four 1×2 wood pieces cut to 10 1/2″
Four 1×2 wood pieces cut to 24″
Four 1×2 wood pieces cut to 5 1/2″ ( cut the corners of one end of each of these pieces to allow the legs to fold up and down.)

Building Your Base | Cornhole Yard Game

Build a rectangular frame with your two 24″ pieces and your two 10 1/2″ pieces of 1×2. The 10″ pieces should be sandwiched in between the 24″ pieces. Use your brad nailer to secure this frame at the corners.

Line your 24″ x 12″ plywood top up to the frame so that all four edges are even. Attach the plywood to the top of the frame using your brad nailer.

Drill the Hole | Cornhole Yard Game

Use your circular saw drill bit (5 inches in diameter) to make a hole in the center of your plywood. The top of the hole should be two and a half inches down from the top of your wood..

Add The Legs | Cornhole Yard Game

Next, you will attach the legs to the bottom of the board. On each side of your 24″ piece of wood. drill a hole that is slightly larger than the width of your bolt. The hole should be about 3 and 3/4″ down from the top of each side. Then, drill that same sized hole about 1″ down from the topmost part of each of your 5″ legs.

Line up the hole on the leg with the hole on the frame so that the legs are on the inside of the frame. Insert the long metal bolt through both holes. The head of the bolt should be on the outside of the frame. Secure the bolt with your washer then your wing nut. It should be tight enough so that it feels sturdy, but loose enough so that the legs can fold up and down. Repeat with all four legs.

Finally, use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges on the board.

Paint Your Board | Cornhole Yard Game

The cornhole board is now complete and it’s time for the fun part: painting it! I opted for a simple geometric design.

To paint the design on the top of the cornhole boards, I used 1-inch painter’s tape to section off my design into five different triangles and used 3 colors to paint the design. Make sure your painter’s tape is flat on the board and that you have smoothed down the edges really well so that you get clean lines.

For the bean bags, you can either sew your own or buy pre-made bags. Cornhole matches are played with two sets of bags. There are four bags to a set and each set should be a different color so that you can differentiate between teams while playing.

I love that the game of cornhole and so easy to play that people of any age can get involved in the fun.

The game is so easy to store and travel with which I also love. On a recent beach trip to Florida, our car was pretty packed but we were still able to throw in the cornhole set at the last minute. I’m glad that we did because it got a lot of use!

If you’re feeling inspired to host a backyard party once your cornhole set is complete and need a little outdoor space refresh, check out these planter ideas. They will add a fun touch to any backyard space.