Letter Boxed looks simple: twelve letters around a square, and you have to use all of them. The catch is in how words are allowed to connect. This guide explains the rules and the strategy for solving in as few words as possible. For today’s solution, see today’s NYT Letter Boxed answer.
What is NYT Letter Boxed?
Letter Boxed is a daily word puzzle from NYT Games, created by Sam Ezersky. Twelve letters sit around a square, three on each side. You chain words together until every letter has been used at least once. Each puzzle shows a target, such as solving it in five words, but the real challenge is to do it in two.
How to play NYT Letter Boxed
- Make a word by connecting letters around the box. Words must be at least three letters long.
- Consecutive letters cannot come from the same side of the box.
- Each new word must start with the last letter of the word before it.
- Letters can be used more than once.
- You win when every one of the twelve letters has been used. Try to do it within the target number of words.
Proper nouns and hyphenated words are not accepted. A new puzzle arrives every day at 3 a.m. Eastern Time.
Why Letter Boxed rejects your word
- Two letters in a row are on the same side. This is the most common reason. Double letters, as in LETTER, are never possible.
- The word does not start with the last letter of your previous word.
- The word is not in the game’s dictionary. Names, places and very obscure words are left out.
Letter Boxed tips and strategy
- Start with the awkward letters. Find a word that uses letters such as Q, X, J, Z, K or V first. Common letters are easy to pick up later.
- Go long on the first word. A first word that covers seven or eight different letters leaves a much smaller job for the second.
- Plan the link letter. End a word on a letter that starts many words, such as S, T, C or P. Avoid ending on a letter that starts few words.
- Use endings that zigzag. Endings such as -ING, -ED, -ER and -TION are useful when their letters sit on different sides.
- Work backwards. List the letters your first word misses, then look for one word that contains all of them and starts with the right letter.
- Settle for three. If the two-word solve will not come, two medium words and a short clean-up word still beats the target on most days.
Is there always a two-word solution?
The New York Times publishes its own solution the next day, and it uses two words. Many boxes have several other two-word answers as well, some of them built from unusual words. Our daily page lists the official answer along with other two-word solutions.
More NYT puzzle help
- Today’s nyt letter boxed answer, updated every day
- How to play NYT Pips
- How to play the NYT Mini Crossword
- How to play NYT Spelling Bee
- How to play NYT Connections
- How to play Wordle
- How to play NYT Strands
- All of today’s NYT puzzle hints and answers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you reuse letters in Letter Boxed?
Yes. Letters can be used as many times as you like, but two letters in a row cannot come from the same side of the box.
What time does Letter Boxed reset?
A new Letter Boxed puzzle arrives every day at 3 a.m. Eastern Time.
How many letters does a Letter Boxed word need?
Each word must be at least three letters long.
