DIY or Buy: Custom Cornhole Wrap Boards

Cornhole is a great game because it can be as utilitarian or customized as you choose to make it. While hand-painting your boards is one way to customize your game set, a much faster, easier, and cheaper option is to get custom cornhole wrap boards.

What Are Wrap Boards?

As the name implies, custom cornhole wrap boards are cornhole boards with a wrap on them! A wrap is like a giant decal sticker that covers the entire surface of the board.

It is possible to order wraps and apply them yourself, or you can opt to buy boards with your customized wrap already applied. Not sure which option to choose? Consider the following pros and cons.

Pros of DIY

Perhaps the biggest advantage of buying cornhole decals and applying them yourself is the cost. Full-size, customized cornhole decals are not necessarily cheap. However, if you already have cornhole boards, you can save yourself some money by just ordering the wrap and not another set.

DIY is a good option if you are confident in your ability to apply what is essentially a single sticker over a large surface area.

Cons of DIY

While the DIY method is cheaper than buying fully wrapped boards, remember that this is only true if you already have boards on hand that are primed and ready for a wrap. A few other drawbacks to applying the wrap yourself include:

• There is very little forgiveness when applying a decal. The wet method lets you slide it into place, but once it grabs the board you have one chance to get it right. If you mess up and misplace the sticker, then try to peel it off, it will no longer adhere properly. If you decide to scrap the decal entirely, it is difficult to paint over the decal residue.
• It takes practice to apply cornhole decals without having too many air bubbles. The surface area of the boards is pretty significant, so you will surely want to enlist an extra pair of hands just to keep the air bubbles to a minimum. Our full wrap decals are printed on vehicle grade vinyl with air release channels, which helps a lot.
• If you order your wrap online, it is possible that your measurements will be off so that the wrap does not fit your boards perfectly. It is a bummer when you start to apply the wrap then realize too late that the hole in the wrap and the hole in your board do not line up. Prevent this problem by laying the wrap over the board and inspecting it fully before starting to apply it. Our full wrap decals are scaled to a standard 24 by 48 inch board, so check that your boards match before you order.
• Most decals are not laminated, so you must also purchase and apply a water-based poly coating to protect the wrap from being damaged by water.

Pros of Buying Wrapped Boards

To save yourself time and headache, it is a good idea to buy custom cornhole wrap boards with the wrap already applied. The pros include:

• If you don’t already have boards laying around, buying a wrapped cornhole set is not much more expensive than buying a set and the wraps separately. Even better is that if you order wrapped boards, oftentimes the bags are included as well so you can start playing as soon as it arrives. You may also consider customizing your bags to match your wraps.
• Professionally wrapped boards will look better than DIY wraps. This is important to consider if the boards are a gift or if you are a business owner purchasing boards as an advertisement for your business.
• Buying customized boards with the wrap already applied can spare you the frustration of dealing with incorrect measurements, air bubbles, crooked application, and all the other problems that arise with the DIY method.
• When buying boards, you can choose to have two different designs (one for each board) at no added cost.

Cons of Buying Wrapped Boards

On the flip side, the biggest con of buying custom cornhole boards is the expense. While not too much more expensive than buying boards, decals, poly sealer, and bags separately, the cost can be prohibitive for those who already have some of the materials needed for the DIY method.

Other Considerations

Whether you choose to apply the wrap yourself or buy customized boards, other things to consider are caring for cornhole boards with wraps. Like painted cornhole boards, wrapped boards should always be protected by a couple coats of poly sealant. This keeps your wrap from being ruined by water. Even if your wrapped board is polyed, it is a good idea to avoid using solvent-based cleaners and opt instead for soap, water, and a rag.

You’ll also want to consider tournament regulations in your area. Are wrapped boards eligible for tournament play? If your boards are the same size as other official cornhole boards, then it is unlikely to be a problem.

If you are considering custom cornhole wrap boards, take a look at some of the projects we’ve finished for other customers in our gallery. We’d be happy to put any design you want on your new set of customized boards. You can design a fully wrapped set in our online builder, or order a custom full wrap decal to apply yourself.