CalcKitD&D 5e Point Buy Calculator
Your ability scores
Standard point buy gives you 27 points. Scores must stay between 8 and 15 before racial bonuses.
Example: scores of 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 spend 27 points (9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0) with 0 points left; modifiers +2, +2, +1, +1, 0, −1.
Behind the numbers
How point buy is calculated
Point buy is the standard method for setting ability scores in Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition. You start with all six abilities at 8, which costs nothing, and spend points to raise them. Higher scores cost more per point: raising a score from 13 to 14 costs 2 points, and from 14 to 15 costs 2 points as well, while the early steps cost 1 point each. Your total spend cannot pass 27 points. After point buy, racial bonuses and other features can raise a score above 15, but they cost no points.
Each score has a fixed cost: 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. Add the six costs to get your total spend, then subtract from 27 to find your points left. The modifier for a score is floor((score − 10) ÷ 2). Worked example: 15 + 14 + 13 + 12 + 10 + 8 costs 9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0 = 27 points, so 0 points remain. The modifiers are floor((15 − 10) ÷ 2) = +2, floor((14 − 10) ÷ 2) = +2, floor((13 − 10) ÷ 2) = +1, floor((12 − 10) ÷ 2) = +1, floor((10 − 10) ÷ 2) = 0, and floor((8 − 10) ÷ 2) = −1.
Reference
Point buy cost table
| Ability score | Point cost | Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0 | −1 |
| 9 | 1 | −1 |
| 10 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | 4 | +1 |
| 13 | 5 | +1 |
| 14 | 7 | +2 |
| 15 | 9 | +2 |
Worked examples
Common point buy arrays
| Scores | Points spent | Points left | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 | 27 | 0 | Three strong abilities, three weak ones |
| 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 | 27 | 0 | Balanced hero with one clear strength |
| 14, 14, 13, 12, 10, 10 | 27 | 0 | Even spread, no weak spot |
| 15, 14, 12, 11, 10, 10 | 27 | 0 | Two strong abilities, solid base |
| 13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 11 | 26 | 1 | Very even, one point unspent |
Tips for spending your 27 points
Put a 15 in your class main ability first, then add your racial bonus to reach 16 or 17 at level 1.
A 14 costs 7 points while a 15 costs 9, so two 14s are often better value than one 15 and one 12.
Do not drop a score to 8 unless you are happy to fail checks with that ability all campaign.
Constitution helps every character, since it sets hit points and a common saving throw.
Check with your game master first: some tables use 27 points, others allow rolling or a standard array instead.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many points do I get in D&D 5e point buy?
You get 27 points to spend on six ability scores, each starting at 8. Scores from 8 to 13 cost 1 point per step, while 14 costs 7 points total and 15 costs 9 points total.
Can I buy a score above 15?
No. Point buy caps each score at 15 before racial bonuses. You can only reach 16 or higher by adding a racial bonus, an ability score improvement, or a feat after point buy.
Can I lower a score below 8 to gain extra points?
No. The lowest score in standard point buy is 8, and it costs 0 points. You cannot trade a lower score for more points.
Do racial bonuses cost points?
No. Racial bonuses are applied after point buy and cost nothing. For example, a 15 in Strength plus a +2 racial bonus gives you 17 Strength.
How do I work out the modifier for a score?
Use floor((score − 10) ÷ 2). A score of 15 gives +2, a score of 10 gives 0, and a score of 8 gives −1. Odd scores below the next even number share the same modifier, so 13 and 12 both give +1.