Point buy calculator
Scores run 8 to 15 before racial bonuses. Costs jump above 13, which is the whole design of the system.
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| Ability | Purchased (8–15) | Racial bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | ||
| Dexterity | ||
| Constitution | ||
| Intelligence | ||
| Wisdom | ||
| Charisma |
Cost table
How does point buy work in D&D 5e?
You start with 27 points and buy each of six ability scores between 8 and 15. Scores from 8 to 13 cost one point per step, but 14 costs 7 and 15 costs 9 — the last two steps cost double. Racial and background bonuses are applied afterwards, on top of what you purchased.
The cost curve is the whole point
If every step cost the same, everyone would build the same character: maximum in one stat, minimum everywhere else. The non-linear curve exists to make that expensive.
Going from 8 to 13 costs one point per step, which is cheap. Going from 13 to 14 costs two, and 14 to 15 costs two more. So the final two points of a 15 cost as much as taking a completely different ability from 8 to 12.
That is the trade the system is asking you to make, and it is why a spread like 15/14/13/12/10/8 is the most common starting array — it takes the cheap points everywhere before paying premium for the top.
The official cost table
27 points, scores 8 to 15, before any racial bonus.
score cost modifier8 0 −19 1 −110 2 011 3 012 4 +113 5 +114 7 +215 9 +2modifier = (score − 10) ÷ 2, rounded down
Note that 14 and 15 share a +2 modifier, and 12 and 13 share a +1. That makes the odd scores look wasteful — until you plan for a racial +1 or a later ability score improvement, which turns an odd score into the next modifier for a single point.
Racial bonuses land after purchase. A purchased 15 with a racial +2 becomes the 17 that most builds are aiming for, at a cost of 9 points rather than the 12 or more a 17 would cost if it were purchasable directly.
Worked example: the standard 15/14/13/12/10/8 spread
The most common point buy array, checked against the 27-point budget.
- 159 points
- 147 points
- 135 points
- 124 points
- 102 points
- 80 points
Exactly 27 points — the array is a perfect spend, which is why it is so common.
An alternative spread of 15/15/15/8/8/8 also costs 27 and gives three +2 modifiers instead of a spread. Both are legal; the second is far more fragile in saving throws.
Common spreads at 27 points
- 15/14/13/12/10/8 — the standard array equivalent, balanced and flexible
- 15/15/15/8/8/8 — three strong stats, three glaring weaknesses
- 14/14/14/12/10/8 — three solid +2s without paying the premium for a 15
- 15/14/14/10/10/8 — one priority, two supports, one dump stat
- 13/13/13/12/12/12 — completely flat, no dump stat, no peak
- 16 and above cannot be purchased — those come from racial bonuses or later improvements
Every spread above costs exactly 27 points. It is worth checking any array you find online against the cost table rather than trusting it — plenty of widely shared “27-point” spreads quietly cost 29 or 31.
Assumptions and limits
- Uses the standard 27-point budget; some tables run 25 or 32
- Purchasable range is 8 to 15 before racial bonuses
- Racial and background bonuses are entered separately and applied after purchase
- Ability score improvements at higher levels are not modelled
- Your DM may allow a variant array or rolling instead
Common questions
How many points do you get in D&D 5e point buy?
27 points by default. Each ability starts at 8, which costs nothing, and you spend points to raise it as far as 15. Some tables use a different budget, so the tool lets you change it.
Why does 15 cost so much?
The cost curve is deliberately non-linear so that maxing one stat is expensive. Scores from 8 to 13 cost one point per step, but 14 and 15 cost two each. The last two points of a 15 cost as much as raising another ability from 8 to 12.
Can I buy a 16 or 17?
Not with point buy. The purchasable range stops at 15. Higher scores come from racial bonuses applied after purchase, or from ability score improvements gained at later levels.
Are odd scores wasted?
Only if nothing raises them later. A 13 and a 12 share the same +1 modifier, so a 13 looks wasteful — unless a racial +1 or a later improvement takes it to 14, at which point that single point bought you a whole modifier.
Is point buy better than rolling?
It is more predictable, which is why most tables prefer it for fairness — nobody ends up with a character mechanically far behind the rest of the party through luck alone. Rolling produces more variance in both directions.
Where these numbers come from
- D&D Beyond — Basic Rules, customising ability scores The official point buy cost table and 27-point budget.
Last verified 2026-08-01 The method on this page is checked against the sources above at least once a year. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
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