Looking for an easy, budget-friendly game night activity? Yahtzee is a timeless dice game that's simple to learn, endlessly re-playable - and perfect to make at home with just a few supplies.
Whether you're crafting a rainy day activity or just want to roll the dice without buying a boxed set, here's everything you need to make and play your own DIY version of Yahtzee.
What You’ll Need
To create your own version of Yahtzee, you’ll need:
- 5 standard six-sided dice (borrow from other games or buy a loose set)
- Paper and pens (for your DIY scorecards)
- Optional: A small cup or bowl (to roll your dice)
That’s it! No fancy kit required - just a table and a bit of creativity.
Make Your Own Scorecards
You can easily draw the scorecard on paper or print a blank one from an online template (we recommend adding a few extras for future game nights!).
Your scorecard should include:
Upper Section:
- Aces (Ones)
- Twos
- Threes
- Fours
- Fives
- Sixes
- Bonus (if upper section total is 63+)
Lower Section:
- Three of a Kind
- Four of a Kind
- Full House (25 pts)
- Small Straight (30 pts)
- Large Straight (40 pts)
- Yahtzee (50 pts)
- Chance
- Yahtzee Bonus (100 pts each extra Yahtzee)
Draw it as a grid, and leave space to write scores in each box.
Tip: Laminate a few scorecards or slide them into clear sleeves—then use dry-erase markers for a reusable set!
How to Play
Each player takes a turn rolling the dice. Here's how it works:
- Roll all 5 dice
- Decide which dice to keep
- Re-roll up to 2 more times, trying to improve your combo
- Pick one scoring category and write in your score
Each category can only be used once per game. After 13 rounds, the game ends and you total your scores.
How to Score
There are two main scoring areas:
Upper Section:
Score the total of each number:
- Ones = total of 1s
- Twos = total of 2s
...and so on up to Sixes.
Score 63 or more? You get a 35-point bonus.
Lower Section:
These are your special combinations:
- Three of a Kind – 3 matching dice, total all 5
- Four of a Kind – 4 matching dice, total all 5
- Full House – 3 of one number + 2 of another = 25 pts
- Small Straight – 4 numbers in a row = 30 pts
- Large Straight – 5 numbers in a row = 40 pts
- Yahtzee – all 5 dice the same = 50 pts
- Chance – any combination, total all dice
Bonus Yahtzees (after the first) are worth 100 points each!
Game Night Variations
Make it your own! Some fun twists:
- Use colourful dice from different sets
- Add a house rule (e.g. “Double Full House” = 50 pts)
- Keep a leaderboard and track high scores over time
- Get crafty with handmade scorecards, custom cups, or themed dice
- Add an extra column where you have to score the grid in order
Roll, Score, Repeat
DIY Yahtzee is quick to set up, fun to play, and easy to pack away - making it a perfect go-to for family nights, dinner parties, or rainy days in.
And if you ever want the official version, we’ve got you covered in-store and online with travel sets, vintage editions, and all the classics.
Until then, happy rolling! 🥳