Point buy calculator
This point buy calculator adds up the cost of your six ability scores: in D&D 5e you have 27 points, a 14 costs 7 and a 15 costs 9, so the standard array 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 uses exactly 27. Pathfinder 1e is included with scores from 7 to 18 and budgets of 10, 15, 20 or 25 points.
Source: System Reference Document 5.2.1 (CC-BY-4.0), p. 21: Point Cost (27 points, Ability Score Point Costs table), Standard Array, ability modifiers (read 15.10.2026). Updated: .
How it is calculated
How point buy works
With point buy every character gets the same budget and pays for each ability score. In D&D 5e you have 27 points, every score starts at 8 and may go up to 15 before bonuses. Costs rise faster at the top: 13 costs 5, 14 costs 7 and 15 costs 9. In Pathfinder 1e scores start at 10, can be lowered to 7 to gain points and raised to 18; the budget depends on the campaign, 15 points being the standard.
Example arrays
| System | Base scores | Cost | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| D&D 5e | 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 | 27 | 27 |
| D&D 5e | 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 | 27 | 27 |
| D&D 5e | 13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12 | 27 | 27 |
| Pathfinder 1e | 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 | 15 | 15 |
| Pathfinder 1e | 18, 12, 10, 10, 10, 7 | 15 | 15 |
The first row is the standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8). It costs exactly 27 points, so both methods spend the same budget; point buy only lets you distribute it differently.
Bonuses and modifiers
After buying, add the bonuses: in the 2024 rules your background raises one score by 2 and another by 1, or three scores by 1 each, but none above 20; with the 2014 rules the bonus comes from your race. The modifier is (score − 10) ÷ 2, rounded down:
| Score | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 8 | −1 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 13 | +1 |
| 15 | +2 |
| 16 | +3 |
| 17 | +3 |
| 20 | +5 |
Odd scores give the same modifier as the even score below them, which is why many players buy a 15 and add +1 to reach 16. Prefer rolling? The dice roller rolls 4d6 for you, and the random name generator helps with a name.
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 (“SRD 5.2.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you get for point buy in 5e?
27 points. Every score starts at 8 and can be bought up to 15 before bonuses.
How much does a 15 cost in point buy?
9 points in D&D 5e; 14 costs 7 and 13 costs 5. In Pathfinder a 15 costs 7.
Is the standard array the same as point buy?
It costs the same: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10 and 8 use exactly 27 points in 5e (and 15 points in Pathfinder).
Can I get an 18 with 5e point buy?
Not before bonuses – the maximum base score is 15. With a +2 bonus you reach 17; higher scores come with level-ups.
How many points does Pathfinder point buy use?
Low fantasy 10, standard fantasy 15, high fantasy 20 and epic fantasy 25 points. Scores range from 7 to 18 and start at 10.
Sources and legal basis
- System Reference Document 5.2.1 (CC-BY-4.0), p. 21: Point Cost (27 points, Ability Score Point Costs table), Standard Array, ability modifiers (read 15.10.2026)
- Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook via d20pfsrd.com, Ability Scores: Purchase method, Table: Ability Score Costs and Ability Score Points (read 15.10.2026)
As of: · Editorial policy
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