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Letter Boxed is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times, created by puzzle editor Sam Ezersky and launched in 2019 as part of the NYT Games lineup, alongside Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections. The board is a square with twelve letters arranged three to a side. Your goal is to connect those letters into a chain of words that uses every letter on the board at least once.
Two rules make the puzzle work. First, you cannot use two letters from the same side back to back within a single word, so every letter forces you to jump to a different edge of the square. Second, each new word must start with the last letter of the word before it, which is what turns a list of separate words into one continuous chain.
1. Look at today's twelve letters and the side they sit on before trying anything.
2. Read the hint first if you want a nudge toward a working word without seeing the full chain.
3. If you are still stuck, check the full answer chain listed for today's puzzle.
4. Compare the chain to your own board to confirm the letters and word order match.
5. Try to beat today's answer with a shorter chain of your own next time.
• Word length: Every word must be at least three letters long.
• Side rule: You cannot use two letters in a row from the same side of the square.
• Chain rule: Each new word must begin with the last letter of the previous word.
• Coverage: Every one of the twelve letters must appear at least once across your full chain.
• Valid words: Only standard dictionary words count. Proper nouns, abbreviations, and acronyms are not accepted.
• Letter reuse: A letter can appear in more than one word. Only the side rule limits back to back use.
Most solvers finish Letter Boxed in four or five words. Getting down to three words takes a stronger vocabulary and some planning ahead. The rarest and most satisfying result is the two-word solution, where a single pair of words covers all twelve letters in one clean chain. Reaching two words consistently usually takes real practice, since it depends on finding a word that ends on exactly the right letter to unlock a second word covering everything left over.
• Scan the board before you start. Note which letters share a side, since those letters can never sit next to each other in a word.
• Think about your ending letter before you commit to a word. Since your next word must start there, a flexible ending letter such as E, R, S, or T keeps more options open.
• Target rare letters like Q, X, Z, or J early. They fit far fewer words, so building around them first avoids getting stuck with them unused at the end.
• Look for common letter pairs such as ST, ER, IN, and ON that show up across many English words, since they help you cover more of the board per word.
• Aim for a two-word finish by picturing your second word before you submit your first one. If you cannot see a clean follow-up, try a different opening word.
Looking for hints on a different NYT game and daily puzzles? These pages get the same daily treatment as this one.
Prefer to solve with a tool instead of reading hints? Try the Letter Boxed Solver. Enter today's twelve letters, and it returns valid word chains for you to try.
NYT Letter Boxed Hints and Answers page is built to answer one question as directly as possible: what is the answer to today's NYT Letter Boxed puzzle? It combines a daily hint, the full answer chain, and a plain explanation of the rules and scoring, so solvers who are new to the game and solvers chasing a two-word finish can both find exactly the help they need.
A new Letter Boxed puzzle is published daily at 3 a.m. Eastern Time. Hints and answers on this page are updated shortly after.
Access has changed over time, and full daily play may require an NYT Games subscription. Check the official NYT Games page for current access details.
Yes. A letter can appear in multiple words across your chain. The only restriction is that you cannot use two letters from the same side back to back inside one word.
A two-word solution is one in which exactly two words, chained together, use all twelve letters on the board. It is the most efficient result possible and is considered the mark of a strong solve.
No. Letter Boxed only accepts standard dictionary words. Names, acronyms, and abbreviations are rejected even if they technically fit the letters.
Check back shortly. The board and its hints are added as soon as each day's puzzle is confirmed.