D&D 5e Point Buy Calculator
Free D&D 5e point buy calculator with 2014 racial ASI, 2024 species & backgrounds, Tasha’s custom origins, house rules, shareable builds, and class suggestions.
Buy scores from 8–15 before bonuses. 15 costs 9 points (RAW).
Ability scores
Race & ASI
Suggested classes
Based on your final scores (not a rules mandate).
- Barbarian
- Bard
- Cleric
- Druid
Final sheet
| Score | Buy | Bonus | Total | Mod |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STR | 8 | — | 8 | -1 |
| DEX | 8 | — | 8 | -1 |
| CON | 8 | — | 8 | -1 |
| INT | 8 | — | 8 | -1 |
| WIS | 8 | — | 8 | -1 |
| CHA | 8 | — | 8 | -1 |
Build fair, readable ability arrays in seconds. Dice Cove’s point buy calculator supports classic2014 racial ASI, 2024 species + background increases,Tasha’s custom origins, custom races, and full house-rule cost tables — then gives you a shareable link and a sheet-ready summary.
How to use this calculator
- Pick 2014 races or 2024 origins at the top.
- Raise ability scores with + / − until your budget hits 27 (or your table’s total).
- Apply racial bonuses, Tasha’s picks, or a 2024 background ASI.
- Use a preset if you want a known-good array shape.
- Copy link or Copy summary for your VTT, Discord, or character sheet.
Standard point costs (RAW)
Scores below 8 refund points (useful for house rules that allow dumps). RAW play usually stays in the 8–15 band with a 27-point budget.
- 8: 0 · 9: 1 · 10: 2 · 11: 3
- 12: 4 · 13: 5 · 14: 7 · 15: 9
2014 vs 2024 ability increases
Legacy fifth edition ties ability bumps to race and subrace (Mountain Dwarf +2 Strength/+2 Constitution, High Elf +2 Dexterity/+1 Intelligence, and so on). The 2024 Player’s Handbook moves those increases to backgrounds so species flavor stays while mechanical optimization becomes more flexible.
Popular point-buy arrays
- 15 / 15 / 13 / 10 / 8 / 8 — two primaries before bonuses
- 15 / 14 / 13 / 12 / 10 / 8 — strong primary with fewer dumps
- 14 / 14 / 14 / 10 / 10 / 10 — even spread after rounding preferences
- 13 / 13 / 13 / 12 / 12 / 12 — balanced multiclass base
Preset chips in the tool apply legal 27-point arrays instantly so you can focus on race/background placement instead of arithmetic.
Frequently asked questions
How does point buy work in D&D 5e?
You start with 27 points. Each ability score begins at 8 (free). Raising a score costs points on a progressive scale — 14 costs 7 points total, 15 costs 9. Scores cannot go below 8 or above 15 before racial or background bonuses.
What is the difference between 2014 and 2024 mode?
In 2014 (legacy) mode, your race or subrace grants fixed ability score increases, sometimes with player choices (Half-Elf, Changeling, Warforged, etc.). In 2024 mode, species do not grant ASI — your background provides +2/+1 or +1/+1/+1 to its listed abilities.
What are Tasha’s custom origins?
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything lets you move racial ability score increases. Turn on Custom +2/+1 or +1/+1/+1 to assign bonuses to any abilities while still noting your race for flavor and traits.
Can I use house rules?
Yes. Open House rules to change the point budget, minimum and maximum purchasable scores, and the cost of each score. Use Restore RAW costs to snap back to the Player’s Handbook defaults.
How do I share a build?
Your build is stored in the page URL hash and in local browser storage. Click Copy link to share with a friend or DM, or Copy summary for a plain-text character-sheet paste.
Does this replace the official books?
No. Dice Cove calculates point costs and ability totals for convenience. Always follow your DM’s table rules and consult official source books for racial traits, backgrounds, and feats.
Looking for more table tools? Try the D&D dice roller or browse fantasy name generators.