Free Online Bowling Score Calculator

A strike (all 10 pins on the first throw) scores 10 plus the number of pins knocked down on the next two throws. For example, if you throw a strike then knock down 7 and 2, that frame scores 19. Two consecutive strikes followed by a 5 gives the first frame 25 points.

A spare (all remaining pins on the second throw) scores 10 plus the number of pins knocked down on the next one throw. If you throw a spare and then knock down 8 on the next ball, that frame scores 18.

In the 10th frame, you get a bonus throw if you roll a strike or spare. If you get a strike on the first throw, you get two more throws. If you get a spare on the first two throws, you get one more throw. The 10th frame can score a maximum of 30 (three strikes). There is no look-ahead bonus — you simply add all throws in the 10th frame.

A perfect game is a score of 300 — 12 consecutive strikes across all frames. Frames 1 through 9 each score 30 (strike + two more strikes), and the 10th frame uses three strikes totaling 30. The running total: 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300.

The maximum score in bowling is 300, called a perfect game. It requires a strike on every throw — 12 total strikes (one per frame plus two bonus balls in the 10th frame).

Your bowling average is your total pins divided by the number of games played. For example, 10 games totaling 1,520 pins gives an average of 152. Use our Bowling Average Calculator for an easy way to track this.

A gutter ball counts as zero pins. It uses one of your allotted throws for that frame. If you throw a gutter ball on the first throw, you have one throw remaining to knock down all 10 pins for a spare.