acalculator

What do my point buy scores cost?

Pick a score from 8 to 15 for each ability to see how many of your 27 points it costs and what modifiers you end up with.

Your numbers

Bonuses
Not checked against a rule. The 2024 rules give +2 and +1, or +1 to three scores.
Not checked against a rule. The 2024 rules give +2 and +1, or +1 to three scores.
Not checked against a rule. The 2024 rules give +2 and +1, or +1 to three scores.
Not checked against a rule. The 2024 rules give +2 and +1, or +1 to three scores.
Not checked against a rule. The 2024 rules give +2 and +1, or +1 to three scores.
Not checked against a rule. The 2024 rules give +2 and +1, or +1 to three scores.
Points left
0

These six scores cost 27 points: every point of the 27-point budget spent.

Every point spent

  1. Over budget
  2. Every point spent
  3. Points left to spend
Budget
every point of the 27-point budget spent
Points spent
27
Strength
15 (+2)
Dexterity
14 (+2)
Constitution
13 (+1)
Intelligence
12 (+1)
Wisdom
10 (+0)
Charisma
8 (-1)

Points left: 0. These six scores cost 27 points: every point of the 27-point budget spent.

How to calculate

Adds up the point-buy cost of six D&D 5e ability scores from 8 to 15 against a 27-point budget, and gives each final score and modifier after bonuses.

Example with the default inputs (Strength 15, Dexterity 14, Constitution 13, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 10, Charisma 8, Points to spend 27, Strength bonus 0, Dexterity bonus 0, Constitution bonus 0, Intelligence bonus 0, Wisdom bonus 0, Charisma bonus 0): These six scores cost 27 points: every point of the 27-point budget spent.

Method: Points spent = sum of the costs (8: 0, 9: 1, 10: 2, 11: 3, 12: 4, 13: 5, 14: 7, 15: 9); points left = budget − spent; modifier = floor((final score − 10) ÷ 2).

  • Scores are bought from 8 to 15 before bonuses, as in the D&D 5e point-buy rules (27 points).
  • Bonuses are added after buying, so a final score can be above 15.

Machine-readable copies: Markdown, JSON.

Worked examples

Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.

  1. Strength 15, Dexterity 14, Constitution 13, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 10, Charisma 8, Points to spend 27 gives Points spent 27, Points left 0, Strength 15 (+2), Charisma 8 (-1).Source: SRD 5.2.1 Ability Score Point Costs: 9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0 = 27 (the standard array)
  2. Strength 8, Dexterity 15, Constitution 14, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 13, Charisma 10, Points to spend 27, Dexterity bonus 2, Constitution bonus 1 gives Points spent 23, Points left 4, Dexterity 17 (+3), Constitution 15 (+2), Wisdom 13 (+1).Source: hand calculation in content.mdx: 0 + 9 + 7 + 0 + 5 + 2 = 23
  3. Strength 15, Dexterity 15, Constitution 15, Intelligence 15, Wisdom 8, Charisma 8, Points to spend 27 gives Points spent 36, Points left -9.Source: hand calculation in content.mdx: 4 × 9 = 36, 9 over a 27 budget
  4. Strength 13, Dexterity 13, Constitution 13, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 12, Charisma 12, Points to spend 27 gives Points spent 27, Points left 0, Intelligence 12 (+1).Source: SRD 5.2.1 point cost table: 3 × 5 + 3 × 4 = 27

How it works

Each of the six scores is bought from 8 to 15. The cost of each score comes from the point cost table:

Score89101112131415
Cost01234579
  • Points spent = the six costs added up (from 0 to 54).
  • Points left = budget − points spent. Below 0 means over budget.
  • Budget text: N of the B-point budget left when points are left, every point of the B-point budget spent at 0, and N over the B-point budget when over (N is the size of the difference, B the budget).
  • Final score = bought score + bonus (bonus 0 to 3, 0 when left empty).
  • Modifier = floor((final score − 10) ÷ 2), always shown with a sign: + for 0 or more, - (a hyphen) below 0. 17 gives +3, 10 and 11 give +0, 8 gives -1. Each result reads score (modifier), such as 15 (+2) or 10 (+0).

The budget is 27 in the rules; you can set any whole number from 0 to 54.

Assumptions

  • The D&D 5e point-buy rules: scores 8 to 15 before bonuses, 27 points.
  • Bonuses are added after buying and do not cost points.
  • Bonuses are not checked against any rule: each may be 0 to 3. The 2024 rules give +2 and +1, or +1 to three scores; older rules give species bonuses.

Worked examples by hand

The standard array 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8. Costs 9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0 = 27, so 0 points are left. Strength 15 has modifier (15 − 10) ÷ 2 = 2.5, rounded down to +2; Charisma 8 has (8 − 10) ÷ 2 = −1.

8, 15, 14, 8, 13, 10 with +2 Dexterity and +1 Constitution. Costs 0 + 9 + 7 + 0 + 5 + 2 = 23, leaving 4. Dexterity 15 + 2 = 17 (+3); Constitution 14 + 1 = 15 (+2); Wisdom 13 (+1).

Four 15s and two 8s. Costs 4 × 9 = 36: 9 over budget, so points left is −9.

13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12. Costs 3 × 5 + 3 × 4 = 27, leaving 0. Intelligence 12 is 12 (+1).

Other questions people ask

How does point buy work in D&D 5e?

You have 27 points to spend. Every ability starts at 8, which costs nothing, and no score can go above 15 before bonuses. Each score has a cost: 9 costs 1 point, 10 costs 2, 11 costs 3, 12 costs 4, 13 costs 5, 14 costs 7 and 15 costs 9.

Why do 14 and 15 cost more?

The cost rises by 1 per point up to 13, then by 2. A 14 costs 7 and a 15 costs 9, so high scores use up the budget faster. The standard array 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 costs exactly 27 points.

How is an ability modifier calculated?

Subtract 10 from the score, divide by 2, and round down. 15 gives +2, 12 gives +1, 10 gives 0, and 8 gives −1. The calculator applies it to the final score after bonuses.

What are some ways to spend 27 points?

Three high and three low scores (15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8), six scores just above average (13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12), or anything between. All of these cost exactly 27.

Where do the bonuses come from?

In the 2024 rules your background raises scores (+2 and +1, or +1 to three). Older rules give bonuses from your species or race. Enter them under Bonuses; they are added after buying, so a final score can be above 15.