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These two are cousins. Both are throw-toward-a-target games, both run on a simple three-points-in, one-point-near scoring idea, and both are cookout regulars. But they ask for different things from your yard, your skill, and your trunk. Washer toss is the compact, clinky one where you pitch metal washers at a small cup. Cornhole is the bigger, more famous one where you slide bags up a slanted board toward a hole.
I keep both in the rotation, and I reach for each in different situations. If you are deciding which to buy first, the answer comes down to how much space you have, how portable you need it, and whether you want the game everyone already knows or a quieter sleeper that fits anywhere. Here is the honest head-to-head.
Side by side, point for point
| Washer Toss | Cornhole | |
|---|---|---|
| What you throw | Metal washers | Filled bags |
| Target | A cup in a small box or hole | A 6 inch hole in a slanted board |
| Space needed | Compact, boxes set about 10 to 21 ft apart | More room, boards 27 ft apart |
| Portability | Very packable, small and light | Bulkier, full boards take trunk space |
| Skill feel | Tight, precise underhand pitch | Slide and arc, easy to start, deep to master |
| Tier and price | Usually the cheaper way in | Wider range, regulation sets cost more |
| Recognition | Beloved but lower profile | The famous one, leagues and tailgates |
| Best for | Small yards, travel, quick games | Anyone who wants the classic crowd-pleaser |
Space and portability: the deciding factor
This is where the two split hardest. Washer toss is tiny. The boxes are small, you set them a short distance apart, and the whole thing tucks into a bag or a corner of the garage. That makes it the natural pick for a small yard, a patio, a campsite, or a tailgate where you are tight on room and packing light.
Cornhole needs more real estate. Regulation boards sit 27 feet apart front to front, so you want a decent stretch of open lawn or driveway to play it properly. The boards themselves are bigger and heavier, which is great for a stable, premium feel but takes up more trunk space. If your space is generous, that is no problem. If it is not, washer toss wins this round on footprint alone.
Skill, feel, and crowd appeal
The two games reward different hands. Washer toss is a precision pitch. You are flicking small, heavy washers underhand at a cup, and good players develop a tight, repeatable release. It is satisfying in a clinky, target-shooting way, and a round goes fast. Cornhole has a slide-and-arc rhythm. Beginners can land a bag on the board almost immediately, but reading the slide, sliding a blocker, and threading a bag into the hole gives it real depth over time.
On crowd appeal, cornhole has the edge most places. It is the game people recognize on sight, the one that anchors tailgates and weddings and backyard leagues. Washer toss is a quieter favorite, the kind of game people fall for once they try it but might not request by name. If you want the instantly familiar centerpiece, cornhole. If you want the underrated, packable sleeper, washer toss delivers.
Which one to buy first
Buy cornhole first if you have the yard and you want the all-around crowd-pleaser. It scales to a big group, anyone can join in, and it is the game guests expect at a cookout. A regulation wood set is the version that lasts and keeps you compatible with everyone else's boards. It is the safe, do-it-all first pick.
Buy washer toss first if space, budget, or portability is your top concern. It is usually the cheaper way in, it packs small for camping and travel, and it fits a patio or a tight yard where full cornhole boards would crowd everything out. Plenty of people end up owning both, but if you can only grab one to start, let your yard size make the call.
Cornhole if you have the space, washer toss if you do not.
For most backyards with room to spread out, I draft cornhole first. It is the recognized crowd-pleaser, it scales to a big group, and a regulation wood set carries cookouts, weddings, and league nights all season. That is my default recommendation when space is not the limiting factor.
If your yard is small, your budget is tight, or you need a game that packs into a trunk, washer toss is the smarter first buy. It costs less to get in, it stores almost anywhere, and the precise underhand pitch is its own kind of addictive. Match the game to your space and you will not regret either one.
Quick answers
Is washer toss easier than cornhole?
It depends on what you find easier. Washer toss is a precise underhand pitch at a small cup, so it rewards a steady, repeatable release. Cornhole is more forgiving to start, since beginners can land a bag on the board quickly, but it has real depth once you work on sliding and blocking. Both are simple to learn and take practice to master.
Which takes up less space, washer toss or cornhole?
Washer toss, by a wide margin. The boxes are small and sit roughly 10 to 21 feet apart depending on the version, and the whole set packs down tiny. Cornhole boards are larger and play 27 feet apart front to front, so you need a longer, wider stretch of yard or driveway to set it up properly.
Which should I buy first for my backyard?
Buy cornhole first if you have the open space and want the recognized crowd-pleaser that scales to a big group. Buy washer toss first if your yard is small, your budget is tight, or you need something portable for camping and tailgates. Many people eventually own both, so let your space decide the starting pick.
Can kids play washer toss and cornhole?
Yes to both, with one caution. Cornhole is very kid-friendly since the bags are soft and you can shorten the throwing distance. Washer toss uses heavy metal washers, so younger kids should be supervised and given a shorter pitch, since a stray washer is harder than a bag. Both are great all-ages games with a little setup tweaking.
Are washer toss and cornhole scored the same way?
They are close. Both commonly use a three points for the toughest target and one point for the easier landing, then cancel out the opposing team's points each round. Cornhole gives three for the hole and one on the board. Washer toss varies a bit by box style, but the in-the-cup-is-worth-most idea is the same.