Gear check
What you need
- Two matching targets: boxes with a center cup, or boards with three scoring holes.
- Your set's matching washers in two distinguishable groups. Some sets supply six; others supply eight.
- A tape measure or the manufacturer's connecting rope, level ground and clear space around the throwing lane.
- The instructions for your model and a way to record the agreed rules and score.
Still choosing a set? Check target formats and included washers before buying. Keep your existing set if it already matches the game you want to play.
The playbook
How to play washer toss
- 01 Choose one playbookUse your set's instructions or agree on house rules. The two maker examples above have different scoring and winning conditions; do not mix them accidentally.
- 02 Measure and markSet out both targets, agree which points you measure between, and mark a foul line. The examples here use the front of the target as the foul line.
- 03 Take complete turnsIn both examples, one player throws all three washers, then the opponent throws three at the same target. Keep everyone out of the throwing lane. Follow your own manual if it supplies four washers per side.
- 04 Count before collectingIdentify whose washers scored, apply only your chosen cancellation method, and write down the score. In singles, move to the other target after both turns; partners play from opposite ends.
- 05 Use the agreed finishThe last scorer starts the next turn. Apply the winning and bust rules you chose before play, especially if your group requires exactly 21.
Keeping score
Scoring
- Single-cup box example, Triumph item 35-7069: a washer in the cup earns 3; elsewhere inside the box earns 1. Its manual adds each player's points separately.
- Three-hole example, WashersGame: holes score 1, 3 and 5 from nearest to farthest. A washer must pass fully through a hole. Opposing washers in the same hole cancel each other.
- Net-total cancellation is a separate house rule: subtract the lower turn total from the higher total and award only the difference. Write that choice down; neither example above uses that method.
- For a three-hole bust under WashersGame's rules, subtract the turn's points from the score you had before it. Our example: starting at 18 and earning 5 leaves 13, not 23 or 18. Finish the round before declaring an exact-21 winner.
Keeping score on paper? Print the free washer toss score sheet. No signup needed.
Set it up right
Distance & setup
the short versionThere is no distance shared by all washer sets. WashersGame uses its 10 ft connecting rope; the Triumph 35-7069 manual says 15 ft apart without specifying cup centers or box edges. For that manual, agree on the measurement points before starting. Leave additional room for targets and players. A shorter family distance is a house rule.
House rules
Fun variations
- For a short backyard game, agree on 11 or 15 points and whether you may go over. This changes the maker examples.
- If you choose net-total cancellation for cup boxes, write it on the card and use it for the whole game.
- Move targets closer for beginners only by agreement, with both sides throwing from the same distance.
The rulebook desk
Washer Toss rules FAQ
How far apart do washer toss boards go?
Use the instructions for your set. WashersGame's three-hole boards use a 10 ft connecting rope. The Triumph 35-7069 cup-box manual says 15 ft apart but does not specify the measurement endpoints. Agree on those before playing; 21 ft is not a universal washer-toss distance.
How do you score three-hole washer toss?
In WashersGame's rules, the near, middle and far holes score 1, 3 and 5. Washers must pass fully through. Opponents cancel matching washers in the same hole, and the winner must finish the round at exactly 21.
Do points cancel in washer toss?
It depends on the playbook. The Triumph 35-7069 manual adds each player's cup-box points separately. WashersGame cancels opposing washers in the same hole. Subtracting one player's whole turn total from the other's is another method, so agree before play.
How many washers does each player throw?
Both published rules examples on this page use three per player. GoSports' Premium Birch Wood set supplies eight washers, four in each color. Keep the count and throwing order from your own model's instructions.
What happens if you go over 21?
Agree on the finish before playing. Exact 21 is optional in the cited Triumph manual. WashersGame requires exactly 21 and subtracts a bust turn's points from the previous score: 18 plus 5 becomes 13. A return to your old score is a different house rule.
Can I print these washer toss rules?
Yes. The free washer toss rules card compares the two maker examples and includes blanks for your distance, measurement points, washer count, cancellation and winning rules. No email is needed.
grab a set
Ready to play?
Print your agreed rules and keep them with the washers. If you need equipment, match the target format and washer count before you shop.
