# What do my point buy scores cost?

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.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/game/point-buy-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/game/point-buy-calculator.json
- Version: a3776d9633ec

## Default answer

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.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| str | Strength | The Strength score you buy, from 8 to 15, before bonuses. |
| dex | Dexterity | The Dexterity score you buy, from 8 to 15, before bonuses. |
| con | Constitution | The Constitution score you buy, from 8 to 15, before bonuses. |
| int | Intelligence | The Intelligence score you buy, from 8 to 15, before bonuses. |
| wis | Wisdom | The Wisdom score you buy, from 8 to 15, before bonuses. |
| cha | Charisma | The Charisma score you buy, from 8 to 15, before bonuses. |
| budget | Points to spend | The point budget: 27 in the rules; some tables use another number. |
| strBonus | Strength bonus | Any increase to Strength from your background, species or other rules (0 if none). |
| dexBonus | Dexterity bonus | Any increase to Dexterity from your background, species or other rules (0 if none). |
| conBonus | Constitution bonus | Any increase to Constitution from your background, species or other rules (0 if none). |
| intBonus | Intelligence bonus | Any increase to Intelligence from your background, species or other rules (0 if none). |
| wisBonus | Wisdom bonus | Any increase to Wisdom from your background, species or other rules (0 if none). |
| chaBonus | Charisma bonus | Any increase to Charisma from your background, species or other rules (0 if none). |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| remaining | Points left | The budget minus the points spent; below 0 means over budget. |
| budgetText | Budget | Points left, every point spent, or how far over the budget the scores are. |
| spent | Points spent | The point cost of the six bought scores added up. |
| strFinal | Strength | The final Strength score (bought score + bonus) and its modifier, floor((score − 10) ÷ 2). |
| dexFinal | Dexterity | The final Dexterity score (bought score + bonus) and its modifier, floor((score − 10) ÷ 2). |
| conFinal | Constitution | The final Constitution score (bought score + bonus) and its modifier, floor((score − 10) ÷ 2). |
| intFinal | Intelligence | The final Intelligence score (bought score + bonus) and its modifier, floor((score − 10) ÷ 2). |
| wisFinal | Wisdom | The final Wisdom score (bought score + bonus) and its modifier, floor((score − 10) ÷ 2). |
| chaFinal | Charisma | The final Charisma score (bought score + bonus) and its modifier, floor((score − 10) ÷ 2). |

## 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).

## Assumptions

- 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.

## Worked examples

1. str = 15, dex = 14, con = 13, int = 12, wis = 10, cha = 8, budget = 27 gives spent = 27, remaining = 0, strFinal = 15 (+2), chaFinal = 8 (-1). Source: SRD 5.2.1 Ability Score Point Costs: 9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0 = 27 (the standard array).
2. str = 8, dex = 15, con = 14, int = 8, wis = 13, cha = 10, budget = 27, dexBonus = 2, conBonus = 1 gives spent = 23, remaining = 4, dexFinal = 17 (+3), conFinal = 15 (+2), wisFinal = 13 (+1). Source: hand calculation in content.mdx: 0 + 9 + 7 + 0 + 5 + 2 = 23.
3. str = 15, dex = 15, con = 15, int = 15, wis = 8, cha = 8, budget = 27 gives spent = 36, remaining = -9. Source: hand calculation in content.mdx: 4 × 9 = 36, 9 over a 27 budget.
4. str = 13, dex = 13, con = 13, int = 12, wis = 12, cha = 12, budget = 27 gives spent = 27, remaining = 0, intFinal = 12 (+1). Source: SRD 5.2.1 point cost table: 3 × 5 + 3 × 4 = 27.

## FAQ

### 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.

## Sources

- Wizards of the Coast, System Reference Document 5.2.1 (CC BY 4.0), Character Creation, Ability Score Point Costs and Ability Scores and Modifiers: https://media.dndbeyond.com/compendium-images/srd/5.2/SRD_CC_v5.2.1.pdf
- 5e 2024 SRD mirror, Character Creation step by step (point cost table): https://5e24srd.com/character-creation/step-by-step.html