About the D&D Point Buy Calculator
This D&D point buy calculator helps you build a Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition character with the point-buy method. Every ability starts at 8, you have 27 points to spend, and each score from 9 to 15 has a set cost — 13 costs 5 points, 14 costs 7 and 15 costs 9. Set each base score and the calculator shows how many points you have spent and how many are left.
Add ability score increases on top: under the 2024 Player’s Handbook these come from your background (+2 to one score and +1 to another, or +1 to three), and under the 2014 rules from your race or species. The final score and its modifier are shown for every ability, so you can see at a glance whether your spellcasting or attack stat lands on an even number.
Point buy keeps a party balanced because everyone spends the same budget. Some tables use a different budget for higher- or lower-powered games, so the total is adjustable.
With the default inputs, the points remaining is 0. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the d&d point buy calculator
- 1Set each ability’s base score between 8 and 15.
- 2Watch points remaining and keep it at zero or above.
- 3Add your background or racial bonuses to the right abilities.
- 4Check the final scores and modifiers for your class’s key abilities.
- 5Adjust the budget only if your table uses a non-standard point total.
Formula and method
In 5e point buy every ability starts at 8 and you buy increases from a 27-point pool. Each point raises a score by one up to 13; going from 13 to 14 and from 14 to 15 costs two points each, which is why 15 costs 9 in total. Scores cannot be bought below 8 or above 15 before bonuses.
Background (2024 rules) or racial (2014 rules) increases are added after buying, and the final score can reach 17 at level 1. The ability modifier is the score minus 10, halved and rounded down, so 8–9 gives −1, 10–11 gives +0, 16–17 gives +3.
- cost(base)
- Point cost of a base score from 8 to 15
- Modifier
- Ability modifier added to checks, saves and attacks
Worked examples
Fighter: 15/14/13/12/10/8 with +2 STR, +1 CON
The standard-array spread costs 9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0 = 27 points. Adding +2 to Strength and +1 to Constitution gives 17 (+3) and 14 (+2); the modifiers sum to 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 0 − 1 = 7.
Wizard: three 15s
Three 15s cost 3 × 9 = 27 points, leaving the other abilities at 8. With +2 Intelligence and +1 Constitution the wizard starts with 17 INT (+3) and 16 CON (+3).
Balanced build: all 13s
Six 13s cost 6 × 5 = 30 points, three over the 27-point budget, so one score must drop.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you get in D&D 5e point buy?+
The standard point-buy budget is 27 points. All six abilities start at 8, and you can buy each up to 15 before applying background or racial bonuses.
How much does each ability score cost in point buy?+
A score of 8 costs 0, 9 costs 1, 10 costs 2, 11 costs 3, 12 costs 4, 13 costs 5, 14 costs 7 and 15 costs 9 points.
How do you calculate an ability modifier?+
Subtract 10 from the ability score, divide by 2 and round down. A score of 15 gives +2, 16 gives +3, and 7 gives −2.
Is point buy better than rolling for stats?+
Point buy is fairer and predictable — every player has the same budget — while rolling can produce higher or lower totals. The standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) costs exactly 27 points.
What changed with ability bonuses in the 2024 rules?+
In the 2024 Player’s Handbook, ability score increases come from your background rather than your species: +2 to one score and +1 to another, or +1 to three different scores, with no score above 20.