Attribute Calculator

Points left (point buy) or modifier sum —

Points spent: —
Sum of modifiers: —
Total of all six scores: —
Highest ability: —
Lowest ability: —

An attribute calculator turns ability scores into modifiers and point costs. In D&D 5e the modifier is (score – 10) ÷ 2 rounded down, and point buy prices scores 8 to 15 at 0 to 9 points from a 27-point budget. The standard array 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 costs exactly 27 points and gives modifiers summing to +5.

About this tool

Character creation in fifth-edition Dungeons & Dragons, and many games built on the same rules, starts with six ability scores. Players using point buy need to know how many points a spread costs before committing; players who rolled dice want every modifier at a glance. This calculator does both. Pick point buy and it prices each score from the SRD cost table, shows how much of the budget remains, and flags a spread that overspends. Pick the rolled option and it accepts any score from 1 to 30 and lists the modifiers. The table shows score, modifier and cost for each ability. One limit: point costs apply to base scores only, so enter values before species or background bonuses, and add those afterwards yourself.

How to use it

Choose the method
Point buy limits scores to 8–15 and charges points; the rolled option takes any score from 1 to 30.
Set the budget
Leave it at 27 for the standard rules, or raise it for a house rule such as a 32-point high-power game.
Adjust the six scores
Use the − and + buttons for Strength through Charisma. The remaining points and modifiers update as you change them.
Read the table
Each row gives the ability, its score, modifier and point cost, with the working listed below.

Examples

Standard array on 27 points

Method: Point buy
Point budget: 27
Strength: 15
Dexterity: 14
Constitution: 13
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 8

Result Points left (point buy) or modifier sum: 0
Points spent: 27
Sum of modifiers: +5
Total of all six scores: 72
Highest ability: Strength 15
Lowest ability: Charisma 8

Strength: floor((15 – 10) / 2) = +2, cost 9
Dexterity: floor((14 – 10) / 2) = +2, cost 7
Constitution: floor((13 – 10) / 2) = +1, cost 5
Intelligence: floor((12 – 10) / 2) = +1, cost 4
Wisdom: floor((10 – 10) / 2) = 0, cost 2
Charisma: floor((8 – 10) / 2) = -1, cost 0

The 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 array costs 9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0 = 27 points, so it uses the budget exactly.

Three 15s, three 8s

Method: Point buy
Point budget: 27
Strength: 15
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 15
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 8
Charisma: 8

Result Points left (point buy) or modifier sum: 0
Points spent: 27
Sum of modifiers: +3
Total of all six scores: 69
Highest ability: Strength 15
Lowest ability: Intelligence 8

Strength: floor((15 – 10) / 2) = +2, cost 9
Dexterity: floor((15 – 10) / 2) = +2, cost 9
Constitution: floor((15 – 10) / 2) = +2, cost 9
Intelligence: floor((8 – 10) / 2) = -1, cost 0
Wisdom: floor((8 – 10) / 2) = -1, cost 0
Charisma: floor((8 – 10) / 2) = -1, cost 0

Maxing three abilities spends 3 × 9 = 27 points and leaves the other three at 8, each with a -1 modifier.

A rolled set from 3 to 20

Method: Rolled or array
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 3
Constitution: 17
Intelligence: 9
Wisdom: 11
Charisma: 20

Result Points left (point buy) or modifier sum: 7
Points spent: 0
Sum of modifiers: +7
Total of all six scores: 78
Highest ability: Charisma 20
Lowest ability: Dexterity 3

Strength: floor((18 – 10) / 2) = +4
Dexterity: floor((3 – 10) / 2) = -4
Constitution: floor((17 – 10) / 2) = +3
Intelligence: floor((9 – 10) / 2) = -1
Wisdom: floor((11 – 10) / 2) = 0
Charisma: floor((20 – 10) / 2) = +5

Modifiers +4, -4, +3, -1, +0 and +5 add up to +7 for this uneven rolled character.

How it is calculated

modifier = floor((score − 10) ÷ 2); points left = budget − Σ cost(score)

score: the base ability score, 1 to 30
cost(score): point-buy price: 8→0, 9→1, 10→2, 11→3, 12→4, 13→5, 14→7, 15→9
budget: points available, 27 under the standard rules

Each ability's modifier is the score minus 10, halved and rounded down, so 9 gives -1 rather than -0.5 rounded to zero. Point-buy costs rise by one per step up to 13, then by two for 14 and 15, which is why a third 15 is so expensive. The tool sums the costs of all six scores and subtracts them from the budget.

When not to use it

Systems with different modifier tables, such as Pathfinder 2e boosts or older AD&D tables, need their own rules.
It does not apply species, background or feat increases; add those after the point buy.
Variant costs used by some tables, such as allowing 7 or 16, are not priced here.

Common mistakes

Entering a score after a racial +2, which makes point buy reject a 16 or 17.
Rounding a negative modifier toward zero: a score of 7 is -2, not -1.
Treating 14 and 15 as one point each when they cost 2 extra steps.

Frequently asked questions

How many points does D&D 5e point buy give?

The standard rule gives 27 points to spend on six scores that all start at 8. The budget field lets you change this for a house rule; some tables use 30 or 32 for higher-powered campaigns.

Why does a 15 cost 9 points instead of 7?

The cost table is flat at one point per step from 8 to 13, then each of the steps to 14 and to 15 costs two points. That steepness discourages putting every point into a few abilities.

What modifier does an odd score give?

Odd scores share the modifier of the even score below them: 13 and 12 both give +1, and 9 and 8 both give -1. That is why many builds plan an odd score to pair with a later +1 increase.

Can I check the standard array with this?

Yes. Enter 15, 14, 13, 12, 10 and 8 in any order under point buy. The spread costs exactly 27 points, so the standard array and a 27-point buy are equally strong overall.

What happens if I go over the budget?

The points-left figure turns negative and a warning states how many points the spread is over. Lower one of the expensive 14s or 15s first, since each saves two points per step.

What range of scores does the rolled option allow?

Any whole score from 1 to 30, the full range in the 5e rules. A 1 gives a -5 modifier and a 30 gives +10. In this mode no points are charged and the headline figure is the sum of the six modifiers.

Cite this tool

Using this tool in an assignment, article or report? Copy a citation, or a link for your website.

APA

Tools Directory Editorial Team. (2026, October 21). Attribute Calculator. Tools Directory. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://tools.milunir.com/gaming/rankings-and-matchmaking/attribute-calculator/

MLA

Tools Directory Editorial Team. “Attribute Calculator.” Tools Directory, 21 Oct. 2026, https://tools.milunir.com/gaming/rankings-and-matchmaking/attribute-calculator/. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Tools Directory Editorial Team. “Attribute Calculator.” Tools Directory. Last modified October 21, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026. https://tools.milunir.com/gaming/rankings-and-matchmaking/attribute-calculator/.

Link

<a href="https://tools.milunir.com/gaming/rankings-and-matchmaking/attribute-calculator/">Attribute Calculator – Tools Directory</a>