How Many Bags in Cornhole? Sets, Colours and Throwing Order

The short answer before you set up

If you are asking how many bags in cornhole, the standard answer is eight bags total: four bags for one side and four bags for the other side. The two sets are usually different colours so players, scorekeepers and guests can see whose bag is whose. That is the full set for a normal game, whether you are playing in a backyard, at the cottage, at a wedding, or in a rec league.

People sometimes ask how many cornhole bags they need because the bags get talked about as bean bags, sets, or colours. In regular play, those words point back to the same idea: two sides, four throws per side, eight bags in the frame. If you are packing for a weekend or ordering a prize set, think in complete sets of eight unless you are replacing a single lost or damaged bag.

How many bags in cornhole for singles and doubles?

In singles, two players compete against each other. Each player has four bags in one colour, so the game still uses eight bags total. Both players throw from the same end during a frame, alternating one bag at a time until all eight have been thrown. After scoring that frame, the players walk to the other board, collect the bags and throw back in the next frame.

In doubles, four players compete as two teams, but the number of bags does not change. Each team still uses four bags in its colour, and partners stand at opposite boards. One player from each team throws the frame from one end, then their partners throw the next frame back. So how many bags for cornhole doubles? Still eight, not sixteen.

Throwing order and what counts as a round

A round is often called a frame. One frame is complete when all eight bags have been thrown: four by one side and four by the other. Players alternate throws, so one side does not throw all four bags at once. In many common rule sets, the player or team that scored in the previous frame throws first in the next one. If no one scored, players usually keep the same order.

For casual play, the main thing is to agree before the first throw and keep it consistent. For league nights or tournaments, use the league rule book as the final word, because details can vary. Doubles also needs clear end assignments. Partners should not switch ends in the middle of a game unless your house rules allow it, because it can affect throwing rhythm and fairness.

How the eight bags are used in scoring

Cornhole scoring usually uses cancellation. A bag that stays on the board is commonly worth one point, and a bag that goes through the hole is commonly worth three points. Bags that touch the ground before landing on the board do not count. After all eight bags are thrown, each side adds its points, then the lower score cancels out the higher score. Only the difference is added to the frame score.

For example, if blue scores five and red scores three, blue earns two points for that frame. This is why all eight bags matter. A bag thrown late in the frame can cancel an opponent’s point, push another bag in, or slide off and change the total. Many games are played to 21, but cottage games, wedding games and rec leagues may adjust rules. For formal play, check the rule book being used.

Why the bags are usually two colours

Two colours make the game easier to follow. They show which bags belong to each side, speed up scoring and help spectators understand what just happened. This matters most when bags land close together on the board or partly block the hole. If the colours are too similar, players may have to stop and check every frame, which slows the game and creates avoidable scoring arguments.

A standard custom set from Custom Cornhole Canada is eight bags, four in each of two colours, and each colour can carry a different design. That means a wedding set could use two names or monograms, while a league set could use two team marks. If you want the colours and designs to be clear, Custom Cornhole Bags are one practical way to separate the sides without adding extra bags.

Choosing colours and designs for your game

Start with contrast. Dark navy and black may both look sharp, but they can be hard to separate at dusk or under tent lighting. A light colour against a dark colour is easier for players and scorekeepers. For weddings and parties, the design can still match the event while keeping the two sides distinct. If you are planning a reception, Custom Wedding Cornhole Bags can carry names, dates or a monogram.

Custom Cornhole Canada makes Cornhole Bean Bags, Printed Your Way using full dye-sublimation, where the ink goes into the fabric so logos, photos and colours do not crack, peel or rub off. Designs can include logos, names, monograms, photos or patterns. If you are not sure how many bean bags for cornhole you need for an event, start with the number of playing stations and work in sets of eight.

Planning sets for events, leagues and replacements

For a single backyard game, one set of eight is enough. For a party, corporate picnic or rec league night, count the number of boards in use and plan one full set per game. If you want branded sets, Logo Cornhole Bags for Businesses or Team and League Cornhole Bags can help keep each station organized. Custom Cornhole Canada has no minimum order, so an order can be one bag, one set of eight, or a few hundred for an event.

Bags are made in Canada at the shop in Mississauga, Ontario, with free local pickup about twenty minutes from Toronto, and shipping across Canada. The usual timeline is about four weeks from proof approval to finished bags. Customers start with the design form at Start your design (free proof), where they can attach a logo or photo. If you have special league or event needs, tell us on the form and we will confirm what can be done.