Yard Yahtzee: Giant Yahtzee Rules and DIY Dice
Quick answer
Yard Yahtzee, also called giant Yahtzee, is regular Yahtzee played outside with five big dice and a bucket. The rules do not change: up to three rolls a turn, 13 boxes on the score card, highest total wins.
You can make the dice from a wooden 4x4 post and print the large score card below.
The rules are exactly the same as Yahtzee
- 5 dice, up to 3 rolls. Keep any dice between rolls by setting them aside on the grass.
- 13 boxes. Fill one box each turn, or write a 0.
- Bonuses. 35 points if Ones to Sixes reach 63. 50 for a Yahtzee, and 100 for each extra one.
New to the boxes? The Yahtzee rules explain each one with real dice.
A few outdoor habits keep the game moving
- Roll onto a flat spot. Short grass, a patio or an old tarp. Tall grass hides the top face.
- Agree on tilted dice. Most tables reroll a die that is not flat.
- Pick one scorekeeper with a clipboard, or keep score on a phone with our online Yahtzee score card.
- Mind your back. Big dice in a bucket get heavy. Let players tip them out rather than throw them.
Make your own giant dice from a 4x4 post
A 4x4 post is not really 4 inches. It measures about 3.5 by 3.5 inches. So if you cut it every 3.5 inches, each piece is a cube.
- Get one post at least 17.5 inches long for five dice, plus a little extra for the saw cuts.
- Cut five 3.5-inch pieces. Wear safety glasses. Ask the store to cut them if you have no saw.
- Sand the edges and corners so the dice roll and do not splinter.
- Mark the pips with paint, a paint pen or round stickers. Paint first, then seal if they will stay outside.
- Put opposite faces in pairs that add up to 7: 1 opposite 6, 2 opposite 5, 3 opposite 4. That is how normal dice are made, and the pattern below shows it.
Any bucket that holds all five dice works as a cup.
Print a large Yard Yahtzee score card
Yard Yahtzee Score Card
| Box | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper section | |||
| Ones | |||
| Twos | |||
| Threes | |||
| Fours | |||
| Fives | |||
| Sixes | |||
| Total score | |||
| Bonus (63+: 35) | |||
| Total of upper section | |||
| Lower section | |||
| 3 of a kind | |||
| 4 of a kind | |||
| Full house (25) | |||
| Sm. straight (30) | |||
| Lg. straight (40) | |||
| Yahtzee (50) | |||
| Chance | |||
| Yahtzee bonus | ☐☐☐ | ☐☐☐ | ☐☐☐ |
| Bonus (100 per ✓) | |||
| Total of lower section | |||
| Total of upper section | |||
| Grand total | |||
One box per turn, or a 0. Upper bonus 35 at 63+. Extra Yahtzee: 100 per ✓ if the Yahtzee box has 50.
Yahtzee is a trademark of Hasbro. This site is not affiliated with Hasbro; our free game is called Yacht Dice.
If you like Yacht Dice, try
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Canasta’s big-family cousin: play your hand, then pick up your foot.
Phase 10 rules
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Rules, the list of all 10 phases and free score sheets.
Questions people ask
What are the rules for yard Yahtzee?
The same as regular Yahtzee. Roll 5 dice up to 3 times a turn, keeping the ones you like, and fill one of 13 boxes on the score card. Only the dice are bigger.
Is giant Yahtzee the same as yard Yahtzee?
Yes. Yard Yahtzee, giant Yahtzee and lawn Yahtzee are names people use for the same idea: Yahtzee with big dice, played outdoors. The scoring does not change.
How big are yard Yahtzee dice?
There is no official size. Homemade dice cut from a 4x4 post come out about 3.5 inches on each side, which is easy to throw from a bucket and easy to read from a lawn chair.
What do you shake yard dice in?
Most people use a bucket. Shake the dice inside, then tip them out onto the grass or a tarp.
What if a big die lands tilted?
On grass a die can lean against another or a bump. A common house rule is to reroll just that die. Agree on it before you start.