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CalcChef

Point Buy Calculator

Build D&D 5e ability scores with the standard 27-point buy. Raise each score from 8 to 15 and see its cost, modifier and the points you have left. How it works

Use the Point Buy Calculator

Remaining Points

27 / 27
Strength
Cost: 0 pts
8
-1
Final score: 8 (modifier -1)
Dexterity
Cost: 0 pts
8
-1
Final score: 8 (modifier -1)
Constitution
Cost: 0 pts
8
-1
Final score: 8 (modifier -1)
Intelligence
Cost: 0 pts
8
-1
Final score: 8 (modifier -1)
Wisdom
Cost: 0 pts
8
-1
Final score: 8 (modifier -1)
Charisma
Cost: 0 pts
8
-1
Final score: 8 (modifier -1)

Standard 5e Point Buy: Min 8, Max 15. Total Budget 27 points. The big number is the score you buy; the final score adds your race or background bonus (capped at 20).

About the Point Buy Calculator

D&D 5e point buy gives you 27 points to raise six ability scores that each start at 8. Each step from 8 up to 13 costs 1 point, and the steps to 14 and 15 cost 2 each, so a 15 costs 9 points in all. No score can go below 8 or above 15 before your race or background increases. The same costs are used in the 2014 and 2024 rules.

Point buy cost and modifier by score

ScoreTotal point costCost of this stepModifier
800-1
911-1
1021+0
1131+0
1241+1
1351+1
1472+2
1592+2

Modifier = floor((score − 10) ÷ 2), shown before any increase.

Spreads that spend exactly 27 points

ScoresCostsModifiers
15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 89 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0+2, +2, +1, +1, +0, -1
15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 89 + 9 + 9 + 0 + 0 + 0+2, +2, +2, -1, -1, -1
15, 15, 14, 10, 8, 89 + 9 + 7 + 2 + 0 + 0+2, +2, +2, +0, -1, -1
15, 15, 13, 10, 10, 89 + 9 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 0+2, +2, +1, +0, +0, -1
13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 125 + 5 + 5 + 4 + 4 + 4+1, +1, +1, +1, +1, +1

The first row is the standard array. Scores before race or background increases.

How to use this tool

  1. Press + or - on each ability to set its score from 8 to 15.
  2. Watch Remaining Points: it starts at 27 and turns red below 0.
  3. Read each card’s point cost and modifier.
  4. Set Race or background bonus to +1 or +2 on the abilities your race (2014) or background (2024) raises, and read the final score and modifier.

Frequently asked questions

Why do 14 and 15 cost 2 points each?
That is how the cost table in the rules is written: 13 costs 5, 14 costs 7 and 15 costs 9. Going from 13 to 15 costs 4 points, the same as going from 8 to 12, so a 15 in one ability is paid for with lower scores elsewhere.
Is point buy the same in the 2024 rules?
The costs, the 27-point budget and the 8 to 15 range are the same. The difference comes after: in the 2024 rules your background raises three listed abilities, +2 to one and +1 to another or +1 to all three, and none of those increases can take a score above 20.
Does the calculator add racial or background bonuses?
Yes. Each ability has a Race or background bonus of None, +1 or +2, and the card shows the final score and modifier: a 15 with +2 becomes 17 and its modifier goes from +2 to +3, while an 8 with +2 becomes 10 (+0). It does not check which abilities your race or background may raise, and feat increases are not included.
Can you start with a 16 with point buy?
Not from the points: 15 is the highest score you can buy. You reach 16 or 17 only by putting a +1 or +2 increase on a 15.
Should I use point buy or the standard array?
The standard array, 15, 14, 13, 12, 10 and 8, costs exactly 27 points, so point buy can give the same scores and other spreads too, such as three 15s and three 8s.

Spending 27 points on ability scores

Each of the six abilities starts at 8. Press + or − to move a score between 8 and 15; the card shows its point cost and modifier, and Remaining Points shows what is left of 27. The standard array 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 costs exactly 27 (9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0), so point buy can give any spread the array gives.

Overspend and the count goes negative and turns red, but the + buttons still work, so you can try a spread and then trim it. Race or background bonus adds +1 or +2 to an ability and shows the final score and modifier: a bought 15 with +2 is 17 (+3), and an 8 with +2 is 10 (+0). Scores and bonuses stay in this browser until Clear Saved Values sets all six back to 8 with no bonus.

Costs and modifiers

Costs follow the Ability Score Point Cost table in the 2014 Basic Rules (Variant: Customizing Ability Scores), and the 2024 free rules use the same numbers:

  • 8 costs 0 points, 9 costs 1, 10 costs 2, 11 costs 3, 12 costs 4, 13 costs 5

  • 14 costs 7 and 15 costs 9

points left = 27 − sum of the six costs

modifier = floor((score − 10) ÷ 2)

final = bought score + bonus

The last two steps cost two points each, so going from 13 to 15 costs 4 points, as much as going from 8 to 12. The 2024 rules let no background increase take a score above 20; the tool caps at 20 too, though 17 is the most it can reach. It does not check which bonus pattern your rules allow (2024: +2 and +1, or +1 to three abilities) and adds no feat increases. A table with another budget or range needs its own sums.

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