5e point buy calculator
Every score starts at 8; you have 27 points. Scores up to 13 cost 1 point per step, 14 and 15 cost 2. Spend them below and add your background bonuses to see final scores and modifiers.
Your scores
27 of 27 points left
| Ability | Base | Cost | Bonus | Final | Mod |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StrengthSTR | 8 | 0 | +2 | 10 | +0 |
| DexterityDEX | 8 | 0 | +1 | 9 | −1 |
| ConstitutionCON | 8 | 0 | – | 8 | −1 |
| IntelligenceINT | 8 | 0 | – | 8 | −1 |
| WisdomWIS | 8 | 0 | – | 8 | −1 |
| CharismaCHA | 8 | 0 | – | 8 | −1 |
Ability bonuses
2024 Player's Handbook: the bonuses come from your background and must go to the three abilities it lists. 2014 rules: they come from your race.
Prefer to roll? Use the 4d6 drop lowest stat roller, which shows the point-buy value of every rolled set.
Point-buy cost table
| Score | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total cost | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Modifier | −1 | −1 | +0 | +0 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +2 |
Because 14 and 15 cost double, the last two points on a score are the most expensive. Going from 13 to 15 costs 4 points for one extra modifier; spreading those 4 points elsewhere can raise up to four other scores by 1.
The standard array: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8
The standard array is the fixed set in the Player's Handbook: put the 15 in your main ability, the 14 in your second, and so on. On the point-buy scale it costs exactly 27 (9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0), so it is a safe, quick choice with no maths and no luck. Choose "Standard array" above to load it and try different bonuses.
Point buy vs rolling
A rolled set from 4d6 drop lowest averages about 12.24 per score, slightly above the standard array's 12, but one player might roll 80 points of scores and another 60. Point buy trades that excitement for fairness. You can compare both directly: roll a set and read its point-buy value, or see how 3d6 and 4d6 compare on the probability calculator.
Questions people ask
How does 5e point buy work?
Every ability starts at 8 and you have 27 points to spend. Raising a score to 9–13 costs 1 point per step; 14 and 15 cost 2 points per step. So a 13 costs 5 points in total, a 14 costs 7 and a 15 costs 9. You cannot buy a score above 15 or below 8; bonuses from your background (2024 rules) or race (2014 rules) are added afterwards.
What is the standard array in 5e?
15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8, assigned in any order. It costs exactly 27 points, so it is one of the possible point-buy results, chosen to be balanced and quick.
Should I use point buy, standard array or rolling?
Point buy and the standard array give every player equal power and suit organised play (D&D Adventurers League allows both). Rolling 4d6 drop lowest averages slightly higher, about 73 total points of scores against 72 for the standard array, but swings widely, so one player can end up much stronger than another.
What are the best point-buy spreads?
Common choices are 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 (three maxed scores), 15, 15, 13, 12, 10, 8 and the standard array. With a +2/+1 bonus, two 15s become a 17 and a 16. Odd scores give no extra modifier, so many builds aim to finish on even numbers after bonuses.
How do ability bonuses work in the 2024 rules?
In the 2024 Player's Handbook your background gives the bonuses: either +2 to one score and +1 to another, or +1 to three scores, chosen from the three abilities the background lists. In the 2014 rules the bonuses came from your race. The calculator supports both patterns; check which scores your background allows.