TTRPG Financial Strategist & Level 20 Developer
Use this **D&D 5e Point Buy Calculator** to quickly determine the total point cost of your character’s ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma). Ensure all scores are between 8 (minimum) and 15 (maximum). The standard budget is 27 points.
D&D 5e Point Buy Calculator
Calculation Details
D&D 5e Point Buy Cost Table: Formula
P = C(STR) + C(DEX) + C(CON) + C(INT) + C(WIS) + C(CHA)
Score (S) | Cost (C)
----------|---------
8 | 0
9 | 1
10 | 2
11 | 3
12 | 4
13 | 5
14 | 7
15 | 9
Formula Source: Roll20 D&D 5e Compendium
Variables
The calculator uses the following six variables, corresponding to your character’s base ability scores:
- Strength (STR): Used for physical power, carrying capacity, and melee attacks.
- Dexterity (DEX): Used for agility, reflexes, Balance, and stealth.
- Constitution (CON): Used for health, endurance, and resisting poisons or disease.
- Intelligence (INT): Used for reasoning, memory, knowledge, and investigation.
- Wisdom (WIS): Used for perception, insight, willpower, and common sense.
- Charisma (CHA): Used for force of personality, persuasion, and leadership.
Related Calculators
You may also be interested in these essential D&D 5e tools:
- D&D 5e Armor Class (AC) Calculator
- D&D 5e Hit Points (HP) Calculator
- D&D 5e Proficiency Bonus Table
- D&D 5e Initiative Tracker
What is D&D 5e Point Buy?
The Point Buy system is one of three official methods (alongside rolling and the standard array) for determining a character’s starting ability scores in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. It is favored by players and Dungeon Masters who prioritize balance and fairness, as it ensures all characters begin with the same total pool of resources.
Under this system, every character is allotted a specific number of points (typically 27) that they can spend to increase their six ability scores from a base of 8. The cost to raise a score is not linear; it becomes exponentially more expensive to purchase high scores (e.g., going from 14 to 15 costs 2 points more than going from 13 to 14).
The Point Buy system limits scores to a range of 8 (the lowest possible starting score, which is free) to 15 (the highest score purchasable with points). This method prevents the extreme outcomes possible with dice rolling, ensuring no character starts with overly weak or overly powerful statistics.
How to Calculate D&D 5e Point Buy (Example)
- Define the Target Scores: Choose the six scores you want your character to start with (between 8 and 15). For this example, let’s use the scores: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8.
- Find Individual Costs: Look up the Point Buy cost for each score in the table (or use the calculator):
- Score 15 = 9 points
- Score 14 = 7 points
- Score 13 = 5 points
- Score 12 = 4 points
- Score 10 = 2 points
- Score 8 = 0 points
- Sum the Costs: Add all the individual costs together: $9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0 = 27$ points.
- Check Budget: Compare the total cost to the standard 27-point budget. Since $27 \le 27$, this ability score array is valid.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the D&D 5e Point Buy cost linear?
No, the cost is not linear. Scores from 8 to 13 cost 1 point per increase. However, the jump from 13 to 14 costs 2 points (5 to 7), and the jump from 14 to 15 also costs 2 points (7 to 9), making higher scores much more expensive.
What is the maximum Point Buy cost?
The theoretical maximum cost is 54 points (if you were allowed to purchase six scores of 15, $6 \times 9 = 54$). However, the standard budget is 27 points, meaning you cannot exceed a total cost of 27.
Can I start with an ability score lower than 8?
Under the standard D&D 5e Point Buy rules, 8 is the lowest score you can purchase, and it costs 0 points. Scores below 8 can only typically be achieved through racial penalties or negative in-game effects.
Is Point Buy better than Rolling for scores?
It depends on preference. Point Buy ensures balance and consistency, preventing characters from being statistically weak or overpowered. Rolling (4d6 drop the lowest) offers the chance for much higher scores but introduces significant random variation.