How does curling work?
B · Beginner · The game · 1 of 5Two teams of four take turns sliding stones down a sheet of ice towards a target called the house. Each player delivers two stones per end, so a team plays eight. When all 16 stones are played, the team with the stone nearest the centre scores. Most games are 10 ends; mixed, mixed doubles and wheelchair games are 8.
How it works
- Team: four players, plus an optional alternate.
- Stones: each team has eight, with one handle colour.
- Turns: players deliver two stones each, alternating with an opponent.
- End: finished when all 16 stones are played.
- Target: the house, four rings around the tee.
- Scoring: points for stones nearer the tee than any opposition stone.
- Length: 10 ends, or 8 in mixed, mixed doubles and wheelchair games.
- Winner: the most points after the scheduled ends.
The glossary has the sheet, the stone, the house, the end, the team and the point.
Tricky cases
How heavy is a curling stone?
Between 17.24 kg and 19.96 kg, handle and bolt included.
How long is the sheet?
At least 45.72 m from back board to back board, and at most 4.75 m wide.
What happens if a stone breaks in play?
The teams use the Spirit of Curling to agree where the pieces go. If they cannot agree, the end is replayed.
A stone flips over. Is it still in play?
No. A stone that rolls over or stops on its side or top is removed at once.
Why the rule exists
Playing the end out before scoring means every stone can change the result until the last one stops. That is why the final stone of an end matters so much.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Men's and women's | Usually 10 ends | WC C5, C6 |
| Mixed, mixed doubles, wheelchair | 8 ends | WC R14 (g), R16 (e), R17 (c) |
| Mixed doubles | Two players, five stones each per end | WC R17 |
From the rule book
World Curling, The Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition (1 September 2026), rules R1 to R3 and R12. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Curling's rules, reviewed every year.