How Many Pieces Are in Checkers?
The quick answer, plus piece counts for a checkers set, International Draughts, and every major variant.
In standard American Checkers, each player starts with 12 pieces, for a total of 24 pieces on the board. They sit on the dark squares of each player's three nearest rows.
The Standard Starting Count: 12 Each, 24 Total
On a standard 8×8 board, each player begins with 12 pieces placed on the dark squares of their first three rows (3 rows × 4 dark squares = 12). With both players set up, there are 24 pieces in play. The two middle rows start empty. If you want to see it laid out, our checker board setup guide shows the full starting position.
These same pieces are used to make kings: when a piece reaches the far side, a second piece of the same colour is stacked on top of it to mark the crown.
How Many Pieces by Variant
The piece count depends on which version of checkers you are playing and the size of the board:
| Variant | Board | Pieces per player | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Checkers / English Draughts | 8×8 | 12 | 24 |
| International Draughts | 10×10 | 20 | 40 |
| Brazilian Checkers | 8×8 | 12 | 24 |
| Russian Checkers (Shashki) | 8×8 | 12 | 24 |
| Turkish Checkers (Dama) | 8×8 | 16 | 32 |
| Canadian Checkers | 12×12 | 30 | 60 |
The 8×8 variants nearly all use 12 pieces a side — the big exceptions are Turkish Checkers (16 each, because pieces also fill a second row differently) and the larger boards used by International and Canadian draughts.
How Many Pieces Come in a Checkers Set?
A standard retail checkers set includes 24 pieces — 12 of each colour — plus the board. Many combination chess/checkers sets reuse the same board, since a checker board and a chess board are identical. If a few pieces go missing, any 24 matching tokens (or even coins) will do, as long as you have 12 of each colour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pieces are in checkers?
24 in total — 12 per player — in standard American Checkers on an 8×8 board.
How many pieces does each player get?
12 each in American Checkers; 20 each in International Draughts on the larger 10×10 board.
How many pieces come in a checkers set?
24 playing pieces — 12 of each colour — plus an 8×8 board.
How many pieces are in International Draughts?
40 total, 20 per player, on a 10×10 board.
