Gathering all you need before starting your project is key to successfully building a horseshoe pit dimensions. You can play with either a professional horseshoe set made of steel, such as the St. Pierre Horseshoe Set Professional Series, or you can opt for a cheaper rubber horseshoe game set, like that offered by Champion Sports. Those who want to play by the rules must ensure the pit has the same characteristics.

How to Build a Horseshoe Pit? 

Measure Your Space

Horseshoe pit dimensions require stakes to be exactly 40 feet apart in a “regulatory” pit. Stakes should be placed inside a box that measures at least 31 by 43 inches, but no bigger than 36 by 72 inches. For backyard horseshoe pits, 36 by 48 inches is a typical size. Horseshoes technically require two boxes, a stake box and a pitch box. You can make only one box. Therefore, a rectangular area of 48 feet by 6 feet must be set aside for the game.

Build Your Boxes

In order to cut eight pieces of lumber for a pair of 36 by 48-inch horseshoe pits, you will need four pieces measuring 36 inches and four pieces measuring 48 inches. Using fasteners appropriate for the lumber you choose, assemble the wood pieces into two rectangular boxes.

Set Your Boxes

While you can simply set your boxes on the ground, it’s preferable to dig trenches so that the boxes can sit flush with the ground. Landscape fabric can be placed at the bottom of the horseshoe pits if you so wish. The liner prevents sand from sinking into the ground and suppresses weed growth.

Set Your Stakes

Ideally, you should stake your box 21 inches from the front. Check that the stakes are standing about 14 to 15 inches off the ground. Driving stakes on a bias should result in them leaning toward the other pit at an approximately 3-inch angle.

Add Your Sand

Fill both pits with sand. The sandbox type is the most accessible in stores and the best for sandboxes. For each pit, you’ll need between five and six bags of sand, depending on the exact dimensions of the boxes you’ve built. The only thing left to do is grab a beer and start pitching.

You can upgrade your pit with pitching platforms and backboards if you wish to invest more in real estate. A no-frills design, however, is usually more than enough to captivate players of all ages and skill levels. If only “scoring a ringer” was as easy as it is to build a horseshoe pit!

Horseshoe Pit Dimensions

Horseshoe pit dimensions require stakes to be spaced 40 feet apart in a regulation horseshoe pit. The horseshoe pit shall be at least 31 by 43 inches and cannot measure more significant than 36 by 72 inches.

One of those classic backyard games that never go out of style is horseshoes. But for a good game, you need a good pit. In our step-by-step guide, we hope we could answer questions like, how do you set up one? What are the regulation horseshoe pit sizes and plans? If you want to make one that’s worthy of the name, what materials do you need? Here is a recap of the setup and the horseshoe game measurements:

• To start: mark off an area that is six feet wide and 48 feet long (should you not have this pretty much room in your yard, do your best to come as close as possible)
• Additionally, you will need to set aside a pitching box. Each box should measure six feet by six feet.
  • You’ll need to mark two more distinct areas within the pitcher’s box: the pit and the pitching platform. Pits are rectangular areas filled with a substance on which shoes are tossed. The maximum length (measured in the direction in which the shoes are pitched) is 72 inches (183 cms), and the minimum length is 43 inches (109.5 cms). 36 inches (91.5 cms) is its maximum width, and 31 inches (79 cms) is its minimum width. The pit must be centered within the pitcher’s box.
  • Parallel to each other, the pitching platforms flank the pit on its left and right sides. The platforms should be level with each other and to the top of the pit. 18 inches (46 cms) to 20.5 inches (52 cms) wide (depending on the width of the pit) and 6 feet (183 cms) long.
  • Lastly, you’ll need a pit backboard four feet from the stake.
• Next, you need to place your stakes: Each stake should be centered between the pitching platforms with a minimum of 21 inches (53.5 cms) between it and the front and back of the pit. Standard horseshoe court dimensions require stakes to be spaced 40 feet (1220 cm) apart from each other.
• The substance that makes up your pit is mainly up to you. Find something easy to obtain, like dirt, sand, or clay. We like playground sand.
• For a basic pit without the pitcher’s box and a simple blackboard, you’ll need landscape timbers. Measure and cut four 36-foot timbers and four 48-foot timbers. On the backboard there will be 36 feet of landscape timbers and on the sides 48 feet of landscape timbers.
• Drill three 1/2-foot pilot holes in the 36-foot landscape timbers. 2 pilot holes at each end, and one pilot hole in the middle.
• Use a sledgehammer to drive in 1/2′ x 2′ rebar. These will fasten the 36′ timbers together and into the ground. (Alternatively, you can dig the floor out and bind them using timber stakes.)
• For the 48″ landscape timbers, use 1/2″ X 1′ rebar.
• Fill the box with sand, pound in your stake in the center of your pit, and you’re done.
• 28′ of landscape timbers
• A drill with a 1/2″ wood drill bit
• Three 1/2′′ x 2′ rebar spikes or twenty landscape timber spikes and a shovel
• 6x 1/2″ X 1′ rebar spikes
• Sand

Learning horseshoe pit design, building and setting up your boxes are all crucial for the success of your game. Horseshoes can be played by simply sticking two stakes into the ground, but an official horseshoe pit will add a professional touch and make you the talk of the neighborhood.

After you’ve learned how to build a horseshoe pit, grab your horseshoe set, put the concepts into practice, and impress everyone with your lawn gamer skills!