D&D Point Buy Calculator
Spend 27 points on scores from 8 to 15, then add 2024 background or 2014 species increases (+2/+1 or +1/+1/+1). Shows final scores and modifiers.
How the D&D Point Buy Calculator works
Build a D&D 5e character's ability scores with point buy: spend 27 points on six scores from 8 to 15, then add the ability increases from your background (2024 rules) or your species (2014 rules). The calculator shows each final score and modifier and won't let you overspend.
- Choose 2024 rules or 2014 rules.
- Set each base score with the − and + buttons or the score menu. Scores you can't afford are greyed out, and Points remaining updates as you go. A quick array button fills in a common 27-point spread.
- For 2024 rules, pick a Background (Acolyte, Criminal, Sage, Soldier, or any background) and choose +2 / +1 or +1 / +1 / +1, then the abilities that get them.
- For 2014 rules, choose +2 / +1 or +1 / +1 / +1 to place your species' increases anywhere, Custom to enter fixed species bonuses, or None.
- Read the final scores and modifiers, then use Copy scores for a text summary or Copy share link for a link that reopens this build.
The point costs
Every score starts at 8, which is free. Raising a score costs 1 point per step up to 13, then 2 points per step for 14 and 15, so the totals are: 8 = 0, 9 = 1, 10 = 2, 11 = 3, 12 = 4, 13 = 5, 14 = 7 and 15 = 9. You have 27 points, and 15 is the highest you can buy before increases. These numbers are the same in the 2014 and 2024 rules.
The + button is disabled when the next step costs more than you have left, and the score menu greys out any value you can't afford, so the build can never go over 27.
2024 background increases vs 2014 species increases
In the 2024 rules, your background names three abilities. You add 2 to one of them and 1 to another, or 1 to all three, and an increase can't take a score above 20. Picking one of the four backgrounds in the free System Reference Document 5.2 limits the choices to its three abilities. For any other background, choose "Any background" and pick the abilities it lists in your book.
In the 2014 rules, the increases come from your race (called species in the 2024 books). Tasha's Cauldron of Everything lets you move them to any abilities as +2 and +1, or as three +1s, which the first two options cover. Use Custom for races whose bonuses you keep as written, such as +1 to every ability or +2 to two abilities.
Modifiers and sharing
Each modifier is the final score minus 10, divided by 2 and rounded down, so 15 gives +2, 16 and 17 give +3, and 8 gives −1.
Copy share link puts the rules version, scores and increases in the page address, so opening the link restores the build. Nothing is saved on a server.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you get for point buy in 5e?
27. Every ability starts at 8, and you spend points to raise scores up to 15. A 15 costs 9 points and a 14 costs 7, so you can afford at most three 15s (with the other three scores left at 8).
What is the best point buy array?
It depends on your class, but 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 is a common choice because it spends exactly 27 points and matches the standard array. Many players use 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 to max three scores, or 13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12 for a well-rounded character. All three are quick-fill buttons in the calculator.
How does point buy work in D&D 2024?
Same costs and the same 27 points as 2014. What changed is where the ability increases come from: your background, not your species. You put +2 and +1, or +1, +1 and +1, on the three abilities your background lists, and no score can go above 20 this way.
Can you get an 18 with point buy?
Not at level 1. The highest you can buy is 15, and the largest single increase at character creation is +2, so the best starting score is 17. You can reach 18 or higher later with Ability Score Improvement feats.
Can I still use 2014 racial bonuses?
Yes. Switch to 2014 rules and choose Custom to enter your race's fixed bonuses, or +2 / +1 and +1 / +1 / +1 if you use the Tasha's Cauldron of Everything option to place them yourself.
Is there a way to roll stats instead?
Yes. The D&D Stat Roller on UtilWiz rolls six scores with 4d6 drop lowest, 3d6, or seven rolls with the lowest dropped. There's a link to it below the calculator.
More D&D & tabletop tools
- Dice Roller
Roll one die type per roll, like 4d6 or d20+5, from d2 to d100 with a modifier. Shows every die and your last 15 rolls.
- Chess board move log
Click squares to move pieces and log simplified notation with White/Black full-move numbers. Not legal-move validation or PGN/SAN export.
- D&D Character Stat Roller
Generate D&D ability scores with 4d6 drop lowest, 3d6, or seven-roll drop-lowest-total. Scores map STR → CHA in fixed order.
- D&D Advantage Math
Exact chances to roll at least a value on a d20—normal, advantage, or disadvantage. For planning checks, not every table rule.
- D&D Initiative Tracker
Roll d20 + initiative mod for each combatant and get a sorted turn order—quick encounter helper in the browser.
- D&D Encounter Difficulty Calculator
Rate a D&D 5e combat for a party at any mix of levels: 2024 Low/Moderate/High XP budgets, or 2014 Easy to Deadly thresholds with group multipliers.
- D&D Spell Slot Calculator
Spell slots for any class or multiclass in D&D 5e: full, half and third casters on the multiclass table, Warlock Pact Magic kept separate, 2014 vs 2024 compared.
- D&D Loot Generator
Random D&D 5e loot by party level: official magic items with their real rarities, plus coins, gems and art objects with gp values.
- Battle Map Generator
Generate a dungeon battle map in seconds: pick a theme, size and layout, then download a gridded PNG or JPEG, a print-ready PDF, or a Foundry VTT / Universal VTT file with walls and lights.
Browse everything in Gaming tools.
Similar Gaming tools
Darts Scorekeeper
Score 301 and 501 for any number of players, with double-out busts and checkouts or straight out. Impossible turn totals are caught.
Dice Roller
Roll one die type per roll, like 4d6 or d20+5, from d2 to d100 with a modifier. Shows every die and your last 15 rolls.
Chess board move log
Click squares to move pieces and log simplified notation with White/Black full-move numbers. Not legal-move validation or PGN/SAN export.