Monopoly Rules

Game Setup and Starting Money

Before the first turn, each player chooses a token and receives the starting money specified by the version of the game being played.

Property cards, money and other components are prepared before play begins. The board is placed where everyone can reach it, and one player or the game system handles the bank.

Players then decide who goes first according to the rules of their version.

Different editions can change starting money, board spaces or other details, so the instructions included with a particular edition should take priority when they differ.

Turn Order and Rolling the Dice

On a normal turn, a player rolls the dice and moves their token the corresponding number of spaces.

The space where the player lands determines what happens next. It may be an unowned property, another player's property, a special board space or another event.

After resolving the space, the turn normally passes to the next player.

What Happens When You Roll Doubles?

When the two dice show the same number, the roll is a double.

In the standard rules, rolling doubles normally allows the player to take another turn after completing the current one.

There is an important exception: rolling doubles three times in succession sends the player directly to Jail.

Specific editions or house rules may handle this differently, so check the rules for the version being played.

Buying Property

When a player lands on an unowned property, they can normally purchase it for the price shown on the board or property card.

Once purchased, the property belongs to that player. Other players may then have to pay rent when they land there.

If a player chooses not to buy an available property, the standard rules require the property to be auctioned to the players. This is one rule that is often skipped in casual games.

Rent Rules

When you land on property owned by another player, you pay rent.

The amount depends on the property and its current development. A property with buildings can generally produce much more rent than an undeveloped property, and owning every property of one color group raises the rent further under the standard rules.

Players should check the relevant property card when calculating rent rather than relying on memory.

Tip: under the standard rules, the owner should ask for rent before the next player rolls the dice. Casual games sometimes handle missed rent differently.

Building Houses and Hotels

Owning a complete color group gives a player additional options for developing those properties.

Houses can be purchased according to the prices shown on the property cards. Buildings must normally be distributed evenly across the properties in the same color group.

After reaching the required number of houses, a property can be upgraded to a hotel according to the rules of the edition being played.

Developing properties increases the rent that other players have to pay when they land there.

Mortgage Rules

A player who needs cash can mortgage an eligible property to the bank.

A mortgaged property does not collect rent while it remains mortgaged. The player can later repay the mortgage, usually with interest, and return the property to normal use.

Mortgaging provides short-term cash, but it also takes the property's rent out of play until the mortgage is lifted.

Mortgage decisions are often about liquidity: keeping enough cash to survive the next few turns versus keeping properties active for future rent.

Trading Properties

Players can negotiate trades with each other while the game is in progress.

A trade may involve property, cash or other permitted assets. Players use trades to complete property groups, raise money or improve their position on the board.

A good trade is not necessarily the one with the highest immediate value. Completing a color group can change the earning potential of several properties at once.

Auctions

Auctions are part of the standard rules but are often forgotten in casual games.

When a player lands on an unowned property and does not buy it, the property is put up for auction. Players take turns bidding, and the property goes to the winning bidder.

This means a player can sometimes acquire a property for less than its printed purchase price.

Jail Rules

A player can be sent to Jail by landing on the appropriate space, drawing a relevant card or rolling doubles three times in succession.

While in Jail, the player can normally leave by paying the required amount, using a Get Out of Jail Free card or attempting to roll doubles, according to the rules of the version being played.

Being in Jail does not mean a player is out of the game. Players in Jail can usually still collect rent and take part in trades while waiting to leave.

Bankruptcy and How the Game Ends

The game continues as players buy, develop, trade and mortgage properties.

When a player cannot pay what they owe and cannot raise enough money through the actions allowed by the rules, they are bankrupt.

A bankrupt player leaves the game, and their assets are settled according to the rules. The remaining players continue until only one player remains financially viable.

The winner is therefore not simply the player who owns the most property. The objective is to survive financially while putting your assets to work.

Monopoly Rules at a Glance

Rules can vary between editions, digital versions and house rules. When there is a conflict, follow the instructions provided with the specific version you are playing.