Point Buy Calculator
The point buy system in D&D 5e gives you 27 points to distribute across your six ability scores. Each score starts at 8, and raising a score costs points on a sliding scale (14 and 15 cost extra). This calculator tracks your spending in real time so you can build the perfect character.
Here's how the point buy cost table works:
| Score | Total Cost | Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0 pts | -1 |
| 9 | 1 pt | -1 |
| 10 | 2 pts | +0 |
| 11 | 3 pts | +0 |
| 12 | 4 pts | +1 |
| 13 | 5 pts | +1 |
| 14 | 7 pts | +2 |
| 15 | 9 pts | +2 |
Notice the jump: going from 13 to 14 costs 2 points instead of 1, and the same for 14 to 15. The maximum score before racial bonuses is 15.
Popular Point Buy Builds
- MAD build (15/15/15/8/8/8): Three maxed stats, 27 points exactly. Great for paladins and monks who need multiple high scores.
- Standard hero (15/14/13/10/10/8): Two strong stats, one good one, and balanced lows. Works for most classes.
- Well-rounded (13/13/13/12/12/10): No dump stats, nothing exceptional. Good for skill-focused characters.
Ability Modifiers
Your ability modifier is calculated as: (Score - 10) / 2, rounded down. A score of 14-15 gives you +2, 12-13 gives +1, 10-11 gives +0, and 8-9 gives -1. Racial bonuses can push your starting score above 15.