NYT Letter Boxed Hints & Guide
Letter Boxed is a daily NYT word puzzle. Connect 12 letters arranged on a square — no two consecutive letters from the same side — chaining words together until every letter is used. We publish spoiler-free hints and the solution words every day.
How to play NYT Letter Boxed
12 letters are placed on the four sides of a square — three per side. You form words by connecting letters, but no two consecutive letters can come from the same side.
Each word you form must start with the last letter of your previous word, chaining them together. Letters can be reused across words.
You win when all 12 letters have been used at least once across your word chain. Aim to do it in as few words as possible — par is usually 2–3 words.
Key rules at a glance
- 112 letters arranged on 4 sides of a square (3 per side)
- 2No two consecutive letters in a word can come from the same side
- 3Each word must start with the last letter of the previous word
- 4Use all 12 letters in as few words as possible (par is usually 2–3 words)
Example board layout — today’s letters will differ
Strategy tips
Find your pivot word
Look for a longer word that ends with a letter that starts many other useful words. That connecting letter is your pivot — the word chain's hinge between your two (or three) solutions.
Target rare letters first
Letters that appear only once on the board are your biggest constraint. Build your words around those rare letters first so you don't get stranded with them at the end.
Work toward the par
The NYT solution uses 2 words — challenge yourself to match it before checking hints. If you've used all 12 letters in 3 words you've already done well.
Common endings help
Words ending in -ING, -ED, or -LY give you common starting letters (G, D, Y) for your next word. Plan the chain backward from what letter you want to start your final word.
Recent puzzles
Frequently asked questions
- What is NYT Letter Boxed?
- Letter Boxed is a daily NYT word puzzle where 12 letters are arranged on the four sides of a square. You connect letters to form words, but you cannot use two consecutive letters from the same side. Each word must start with the last letter of the previous word, and the goal is to use all 12 letters in as few words as possible.
- What is the same-side rule in Letter Boxed?
- You cannot move from one letter to another letter on the same side in a single step. Each consecutive pair of letters in your word must come from different sides of the square. You can reuse letters across multiple words.
- What does 'par' mean in Letter Boxed?
- Par is the NYT's target word count — usually 2 or 3 words. Meeting par means you used all 12 letters in that many words or fewer. There's no strict penalty for using more words, but matching par is the satisfying goal.
- What is the minimum number of words needed?
- Theoretically 2 words can cover all 12 letters if you find the right pivot. The NYT solution is typically 2–3 words. Some days a 2-word solution exists; others require 3.
- When does today's Letter Boxed reset?
- A new Letter Boxed puzzle drops each day. We publish the letters and progressive hints as soon as the puzzle is available.