DIY washer toss is one of those saw-and-scrap-wood projects that turns into the loudest game at every cookout for the next ten summers. We built our first pair of boxes in 2008 out of leftover 1x4 and a piece of PVC pipe from the garage. The set is still in the shed. The 2026 version of the plan is basically the same, cleaner cut list, better hardware, and a comparison of the store-bought sets that are worth buying if you would rather skip the saw. Two 16 inch boxes, one 4.5 inch PVC cup in the middle of each, six flat washers, 21 feet of grass. That is the whole game.
What Do You Need to Build a Washer Toss Set?
Here is the shopping list for two boxes and six washers, which is a full regulation set.
Wood and hardware (per box, so double everything):
- Four 1x4 boards cut to 16 inches (the sides)
- One 16x16 inch square of 3/4 inch plywood (the base)
- One 4.5 inch diameter PVC pipe, cut into two 5 inch tall pieces (one per box, per the Yellawood washer toss plans)
- Wood glue and 1.5 inch decking screws or finish nails
- One 21 foot length of light rope, cable, or paracord to mark the distance between boxes
Washers (six total, three per side):
- Six 2.5 inch flat steel washers, two colors so you can tell whose is whose
- Spray paint in two contrasting colors, or buy pre-painted washer sets
Total cost at a big-box hardware store runs about $25 to $35 for the lumber, PVC, and screws, plus another $10 for washers if you do not have any lying around. A pre-built name-brand set runs $60 to $130, per Amazon’s washer toss best sellers page, so the DIY version genuinely saves money, but only if you already own a saw and a drill. If you have to buy tools too, just buy the set.
What Are the Official Washer Toss Box Dimensions?
Regulation numbers are boring but they matter. A 20 inch box makes the throw too easy and a 12 inch box makes it insulting.
A standard washer toss box is 16 inches wide by 16 inches deep by 4 inches tall, with a 4 to 4.5 inch PVC cup mounted in the exact center. That matches the MyCarpentry washer game plans and every league ruleset we have read. Boxes sit 21 feet apart, measured front edge to front edge, per the Washer Toss Federation and confirmed in our own washer toss rules guide. Six washers total, 2.5 inches in diameter, three per side.
Here is the cut list per box:
- 4 pieces of 1x4 cut to 16 inches (the four side walls)
- 1 piece of 3/4 inch plywood cut to 16x16 inches (the base)
- 1 piece of 4.5 inch PVC pipe cut to 5 inches long (the cup)
Double all of that for the second box.
How Do You Assemble a Washer Toss Box?
Dry-fit everything before you drive a single screw. This is the mistake we made in 2008 and one of our two boxes ended up trapezoidal instead of square. Nobody noticed until we tried to stack them for storage.
- Lay the plywood base flat, good side up.
- Stand two of the 1x4 side pieces on their long edges, one on each side of the plywood. Screw them in from the bottom through the plywood into the edge of the 1x4.
- Fit the other two 1x4 sides between the first two so the outside dimension is exactly 16 by 16 inches. Screw them in the same way.
- Flip the box over, run a bead of wood glue around the seam where the 1x4s meet the plywood, and wipe the squeeze-out.
- Mark the exact center of the plywood inside the box. Set the 5 inch length of PVC pipe on that mark and trace around it.
- Attach the PVC cup to the plywood with construction adhesive or a heavy bead of exterior silicone caulk. If you want a bomber attachment, drive three finish nails up through the bottom of the plywood into the PVC wall.
- Let it cure overnight. Do not rush this step and then wonder why your cup ripped out on the third throw.
The whole build takes about an hour per box once you have the wood cut, per the Home Depot washer toss build guide. Add another hour if you paint or stain them.
How Do You Set Up and Space the Boxes?
Set the two finished boxes 21 feet apart on a flat patch of lawn or driveway, measured from the front edge of one box to the front edge of the other. Run your 21 foot rope, chain, or paracord between them so nobody has to relitigate the distance every round. Kids or a short patio, shorten it to 15 feet. Showoffs, back it up to 25 feet and watch washers vanish into the flower bed.
The front edge of the box is the foul line. Your feet can be anywhere behind that plane, but stepping over it during the pitch means the throw does not count. This is the one rule most casual groups forget and then remember loudly during a close round.
Do You Want to Buy One Instead?
If the whole cut-and-glue routine sounds like too much sawdust, several brands dominate the pre-built washer toss market. Here is how the popular sets compare.
| Set | Frame | Portable | Approx price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY box (this guide) | Wood and PVC | Only with a hand truck | $30 to $45 | Anyone with basic tools |
| Franklin Sports Starter Washer Toss Check price | Collapsible fabric | Yes, folds flat | $30 to $45 | Casual backyards, kids |
| GoSports Premium Birch Wood Washer Toss Check price | Birch plywood, tournament spec | Yes, with carry handles | $80 to $110 | Regular players who want a real set |
| Franklin Sports Professional Washer Toss Check price | Solid wood, tournament size | Yes, easy carry handles | $70 to $100 | Tailgates and league play |
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How Do You Play Once It Is Built?
Two boxes, 21 feet apart. Two teams of two, partners standing at opposite boxes. Each player pitches three washers underhand at the far box. When all six washers are thrown, you score only the ones that landed in or on the box. In the cup is 3 points, on top of the box is 1 point, cancellation scoring applies. First to exactly 21 wins, going over means the round does not count. We cover the full ruleset, house variations, and the doubles-versus-singles debate in our washer toss rules guide.
If lawn games are becoming a full afternoon at your place, the same weekend-build energy also works for horseshoe pits and ladder golf. We tend to set up all three across the yard and let people rotate. Beer pong stays inside on the beer pong table.
Responsible Drinking Note
Washer toss is a lawn game first. If drinks come along, keep them on a side table, not in the throwing hand, and put a pitcher of water next to the cooler so everyone stays hydrated in the sun. All content on this site assumes readers of legal drinking age. Play the game, not the buzz.
Quick Answers
What size is a regulation washer toss box? 16 inches wide by 16 inches deep by 4 inches tall, with a 4 to 4.5 inch PVC cup in the center.
How far apart do washer toss boxes go? 21 feet from front edge to front edge, per most leagues. Some backyards play 20 feet or 25 feet.
What size washers do you use? 2.5 inch flat steel washers, six total, three per side, in two colors.
How much does it cost to build a DIY washer toss set? About $30 to $45 in lumber, PVC, screws, and washers. Store-bought sets start around $30 for a fabric collapsible and run to $130 for solid wood tournament sets.
How long does the build take? About one hour per box once the wood is cut, plus overnight for the adhesive to cure on the PVC cup.
What kind of PVC do I use for the cup? 4.5 inch schedule 40 PVC pipe is the classic. 4 inch pipe also works and is easier to find.
The Short Version
If you own a saw, a drill, and a Saturday, a DIY washer toss set costs about $30 in materials and will outlast most store-bought sets we have owned. If you would rather spend the hour on the grill, the GoSports birch set is the safe buy and the Franklin starter set is the budget pick. Either way, keep the boxes 21 feet apart, keep the cup in the middle, and keep the water pitcher next to the cooler. Then argue about scoring for the rest of the summer.