In D&D 5e point buy you have 27 points to spend, every ability starts at 8, and each score costs 0–9 points: 8 is free, 13 costs 5, 14 costs 7 and 15 costs 9. No score can go above 15 before bonuses. Then add your 2024 background bonus (+2/+1 or +1/+1/+1) or your 2014 racial bonus, and read off each modifier.
This point buy calculator checks the rules as you go: points remaining, the 8–15 range, the 2024 background limits and the 20 cap. It also does Pathfinder 1e point buy with the 10, 15, 20 and 25 point budgets.
How to use the calculator
- Pick D&D 5e or Pathfinder 1e. For 5e, choose whether bonuses come from a 2024 background or a 2014 race.
- Choose a background or race to fill in its bonuses, or pick “Other” and set the bonus column yourself.
- Set each base score. The cost column and points remaining update instantly; a warning shows if you go over budget.
- Read the final score and modifier for each ability. Copy the link to save or share the build.
5e point buy cost table
From the Ability Score Point Costs table in the SRD 5.2.1 (“a score of 14 costs 7 of your 27 points”), identical to the 2014 Basic Rules variant:
| Score | Point cost | Cost of this step | Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0 | – | −1 |
| 9 | 1 | 1 | −1 |
| 10 | 2 | 1 | +0 |
| 11 | 3 | 1 | +0 |
| 12 | 4 | 1 | +1 |
| 13 | 5 | 1 | +1 |
| 14 | 7 | 2 | +2 |
| 15 | 9 | 2 | +2 |
Scores 9–13 cost 1 point per step, and 14 and 15 cost 2 points per step. Because 13 → 14 costs 2 points for a +1 modifier jump, odd scores like 13 and 15 are only worth it when a bonus will make them even.
Ability modifiers
Modifier = (score − 10) ÷ 2, rounded down, from the Ability Scores and Modifiers table in SRD 5.1:
| Score | 3 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modifier | −4 | −2 | −1 | +0 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +5 |
2024 rules: background bonuses
SRD 5.2.1 moves ability score increases to your background. Each background lists three abilities; increase one by 2 and another by 1, or all three by 1, and none can go above 20. The four SRD backgrounds:
| Background | Abilities it can raise |
|---|---|
| Acolyte | INT, WIS, CHA |
| Criminal | DEX, CON, INT |
| Sage | CON, INT, WIS |
| Soldier | STR, DEX, CON |
Example: a Soldier fighter buys the standard array with 15 in Strength and 14 in Dexterity, then takes +2 Strength and +1 Dexterity: 17, 15, 13, 12, 10, 8 gives modifiers +3 +2 +1 +1 +0 −1. The Player's Handbook has more backgrounds; choose “Other background” and set the bonuses to match yours.
2014 rules: racial ability score increases
Under the 2014 rules the bonus comes from your race. These are the races and subraces in SRD 5.1:
| Race | Ability Score Increase |
|---|---|
| Hill dwarf | CON +2, WIS +1 |
| High elf | DEX +2, INT +1 |
| Lightfoot halfling | DEX +2, CHA +1 |
| Human | STR +1, DEX +1, CON +1, INT +1, WIS +1, CHA +1 |
| Dragonborn | STR +2, CHA +1 |
| Rock gnome | INT +2, CON +1 |
| Half-elf | CHA +2, +1 to 2 other abilities of your choice |
| Half-orc | STR +2, CON +1 |
| Tiefling | CHA +2, INT +1 |
Every 27-point array in 5e
There are exactly 65 ways to spend all 27 points (scores listed high to low, before bonuses). The standard array, 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8, is one of them; so is 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8. The full list is long, so it's collapsed; open it to compare spreads before you assign scores to abilities.
Show all 65 arrays with their modifiers
| Scores | Modifiers |
|---|---|
| 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 | +2 +2 +2 −1 −1 −1 |
| 15, 15, 14, 10, 8, 8 | +2 +2 +2 +0 −1 −1 |
| 15, 15, 14, 9, 9, 8 | +2 +2 +2 −1 −1 −1 |
| 15, 15, 13, 12, 8, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +1 −1 −1 |
| 15, 15, 13, 11, 9, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +0 −1 −1 |
| 15, 15, 13, 10, 10, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +0 +0 −1 |
| 15, 15, 13, 10, 9, 9 | +2 +2 +1 +0 −1 −1 |
| 15, 15, 12, 12, 9, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +1 −1 −1 |
| 15, 15, 12, 11, 10, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +0 +0 −1 |
| 15, 15, 12, 11, 9, 9 | +2 +2 +1 +0 −1 −1 |
| 15, 15, 12, 10, 10, 9 | +2 +2 +1 +0 +0 −1 |
| 15, 15, 11, 11, 11, 8 | +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 −1 |
| 15, 15, 11, 11, 10, 9 | +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 −1 |
| 15, 15, 11, 10, 10, 10 | +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 |
| 15, 14, 14, 12, 8, 8 | +2 +2 +2 +1 −1 −1 |
| 15, 14, 14, 11, 9, 8 | +2 +2 +2 +0 −1 −1 |
| 15, 14, 14, 10, 10, 8 | +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 −1 |
| 15, 14, 14, 10, 9, 9 | +2 +2 +2 +0 −1 −1 |
| 15, 14, 13, 13, 9, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +1 −1 −1 |
| 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +1 +0 −1 |
| 15, 14, 13, 12, 9, 9 | +2 +2 +1 +1 −1 −1 |
| 15, 14, 13, 11, 11, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +0 +0 −1 |
| 15, 14, 13, 11, 10, 9 | +2 +2 +1 +0 +0 −1 |
| 15, 14, 13, 10, 10, 10 | +2 +2 +1 +0 +0 +0 |
| 15, 14, 12, 12, 11, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +1 +0 −1 |
| 15, 14, 12, 12, 10, 9 | +2 +2 +1 +1 +0 −1 |
| 15, 14, 12, 11, 11, 9 | +2 +2 +1 +0 +0 −1 |
| 15, 14, 12, 11, 10, 10 | +2 +2 +1 +0 +0 +0 |
| 15, 14, 11, 11, 11, 10 | +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 |
| 15, 13, 13, 13, 11, 8 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +0 −1 |
| 15, 13, 13, 13, 10, 9 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +0 −1 |
| 15, 13, 13, 12, 12, 8 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 −1 |
| 15, 13, 13, 12, 11, 9 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +0 −1 |
| 15, 13, 13, 12, 10, 10 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +0 +0 |
| 15, 13, 13, 11, 11, 10 | +2 +1 +1 +0 +0 +0 |
| 15, 13, 12, 12, 12, 9 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 −1 |
| 15, 13, 12, 12, 11, 10 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +0 +0 |
| 15, 13, 12, 11, 11, 11 | +2 +1 +1 +0 +0 +0 |
| 15, 12, 12, 12, 12, 10 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 +0 |
| 15, 12, 12, 12, 11, 11 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +0 +0 |
| 14, 14, 14, 13, 9, 8 | +2 +2 +2 +1 −1 −1 |
| 14, 14, 14, 12, 10, 8 | +2 +2 +2 +1 +0 −1 |
| 14, 14, 14, 12, 9, 9 | +2 +2 +2 +1 −1 −1 |
| 14, 14, 14, 11, 11, 8 | +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 −1 |
| 14, 14, 14, 11, 10, 9 | +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 −1 |
| 14, 14, 14, 10, 10, 10 | +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 |
| 14, 14, 13, 13, 11, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +1 +0 −1 |
| 14, 14, 13, 13, 10, 9 | +2 +2 +1 +1 +0 −1 |
| 14, 14, 13, 12, 12, 8 | +2 +2 +1 +1 +1 −1 |
| 14, 14, 13, 12, 11, 9 | +2 +2 +1 +1 +0 −1 |
| 14, 14, 13, 12, 10, 10 | +2 +2 +1 +1 +0 +0 |
| 14, 14, 13, 11, 11, 10 | +2 +2 +1 +0 +0 +0 |
| 14, 14, 12, 12, 12, 9 | +2 +2 +1 +1 +1 −1 |
| 14, 14, 12, 12, 11, 10 | +2 +2 +1 +1 +0 +0 |
| 14, 14, 12, 11, 11, 11 | +2 +2 +1 +0 +0 +0 |
| 14, 13, 13, 13, 13, 8 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 −1 |
| 14, 13, 13, 13, 12, 9 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 −1 |
| 14, 13, 13, 13, 11, 10 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +0 +0 |
| 14, 13, 13, 12, 12, 10 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 +0 |
| 14, 13, 13, 12, 11, 11 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +0 +0 |
| 14, 13, 12, 12, 12, 11 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 +0 |
| 14, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12 | +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 |
| 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 10 | +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +0 |
| 13, 13, 13, 13, 12, 11 | +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +0 |
| 13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12 | +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 |
Pathfinder 1e point buy
The Paizo Pathfinder Reference Document purchase method starts every score at 10. Raising a score costs points and lowering it (to a minimum of 7) gives points back; no score can go above 18 before racial modifiers.
| Score | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | -4 | -2 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 17 |
| Campaign type | Points |
|---|---|
| Low fantasy | 10 |
| Standard fantasy | 15 |
| High fantasy | 20 |
| Epic fantasy | 25 |
With the standard 15 points you could buy 15, 14, 13, 10, 10, 10 (15 points), or dump one score to 7 for more room: 17, 14, 11, 10, 10, 7 also costs 15. Add your race's modifiers in the bonus column.
Common mistakes
- Adding bonuses before buying. The 8–15 limit applies to the base score; bonuses go on afterwards, so 15 + 2 = 17 is legal.
- Mixing 2014 and 2024 rules. Use racial increases (2014) or background increases (2024), not both — unless your DM says otherwise.
- Putting +2 on an ability the background doesn't list. 2024 increases only apply to the background's three abilities.
- Leaving an odd score without a bonus. 13 has the same +1 modifier as 12 but costs one more point.
- Using the 5e cost table for Pathfinder. Pathfinder starts at 10 and 18 costs 17 points.
Once the sheet is done, you can count down to the next session with the days from today calculator.
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast or Paizo.
Frequently asked questions
How does 5e point buy work?
You get 27 points. Every ability starts at 8, and you buy higher scores from the Ability Score Point Costs table: 9 costs 1, 13 costs 5, 14 costs 7 and 15 costs 9. You can't go above 15 or below 8 before bonuses (2014 Basic Rules; SRD 5.2.1).
How many points is point buy in 5e?
27 points, in both the 2014 Player's Handbook rules and the 2024 rules in SRD 5.2.1. A DM can allow a different budget; enter it as a custom budget.
What is the best point buy array in 5e?
There are 65 ways to spend exactly 27 points. The standard array 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 costs exactly 27, and 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 also costs 27. Most builds put a 15 in the main ability, then 14 in Constitution or the secondary ability.
Is point buy better than the standard array?
The standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) is one of the 65 point buy options — it costs 27 points. Point buy just lets you rearrange the same budget, for example into 15, 15, 13, 10, 10, 8.
How do 2024 background ability scores work?
Your background lists three abilities. Increase one by 2 and another by 1, or increase all three by 1. None of these increases can raise a score above 20 (SRD 5.2.1, Character Creation).
Do racial bonuses still apply in the 2024 rules?
No. In the 2024 rules (SRD 5.2) the ability score increases come from your background, not your species. Racial Ability Score Increases are the 2014 rule (SRD 5.1).
What does a 15 give you as a modifier?
A 15 gives +2. Modifiers are (score − 10) ÷ 2, rounded down: 8 is −1, 10–11 is +0, 14–15 is +2, 16–17 is +3 and 20 is +5.
Can you get a 17 with point buy?
Yes, with bonuses. Buy a 15 and add +2 from a 2024 background or a 2014 race to reach 17 (+3). Before bonuses the cap is 15.
How does Pathfinder point buy work?
In Pathfinder 1e every score starts at 10; you spend points to raise scores (up to 18) or gain points by lowering them (down to 7). Standard fantasy is 15 points; low fantasy 10, high fantasy 20, epic 25. An 18 costs 17 points and a 7 refunds 4 (Paizo PRD).
Sources & method
- System Reference Document 5.2.1 (2024 rules, CC-BY-4.0) — Character Creation: Point Cost, Ability Score Point Costs, backgrounds
- System Reference Document 5.1 (2014 rules, CC-BY-4.0) — Races: Ability Score Increase; Ability Scores and Modifiers
- D&D Basic Rules (2014), D&D Beyond — Variant: Customizing Ability Scores (27 points, 8–15)
- Paizo Pathfinder RPG Reference Document, Core Rulebook — Purchase method, Ability Score Costs and Points
Results are estimates for general information. Found an error? It helps everyone — see our methodology.