word finder
Letter Box Solver
Enter your letters and find words that match your length, pattern, and letter filters. Use the controls below and get usable answers without leaving the page.
Use ? for wildcards Not sure what to enter? Use the Sample button to load a realistic puzzle.
Enter letters or a pattern, or click Sample to see how this tool narrows a real puzzle.
You’re playing Letter Boxed (the NYT puzzle) and you’re stuck. You have the letters arranged in boxes, and you need to find words that use letters from different sides. This page helps you look for candidate words from the available letters. You still need to check side-to-side movement against the puzzle board.
How Letter Boxed works
The puzzle gives you 12 letters arranged in a square, three per side. You need to form words by connecting letters from different sides – you usually cannot use two letters from the same side in a row. The goal is to use all 12 letters in as few words as possible, so treat this tool as a candidate finder rather than a complete board solver.
Enter your letters by side
Type the letters for each side in the input fields. The solver will find all words that can be formed while respecting the side-switching rule. It prioritizes words that use letters from multiple sides, which is exactly what you need.
Find the shortest solution
The solver can show you the minimal number of words needed to use all letters. Often, two words are enough. The tool will suggest word pairs that cover every letter without repeating a side consecutively.
Use wildcards for tricky spots
If you’re not sure about a letter, use ? or . as a wildcard. The solver will try all possibilities and show matching words. This is helpful when the puzzle’s font makes a letter ambiguous.
Pattern search example
If the answer looks like ?ra?e, put that in the pattern field first, then add required letters only after the pattern returns too many candidates. Pattern first, contains second, exclude last is the fastest order.
Choose the right word tool
Use this page when you have letters or constraints and need to narrow possible words quickly. If the constraint changes, switch tools: pattern pages for fixed blanks, Wordle pages for colored clues, crossword pages for crossings, and anagram pages when every letter must be used.
Common Questions
What words can I make with these letters?
Enter the letters from each side of the box. The solver will list candidate words that follow the Letter Boxed rules.
Do I have to use every letter?
Not necessarily. The solver shows words that use any subset, but you can filter to see only words that use all letters.
Can I use wildcards or blank tiles?
Yes. Use ? or . for any single unknown letter.
Can I filter by word length?
Yes. Set an exact length to narrow results.
Can I exclude letters from results?
Yes. Type letters to exclude, and words containing them will be removed.
Before you use the word list
Before you use a result, check the constraint that matters most for your puzzle: exact length, required letters, excluded letters, or whether every tile must be used. Tighten only one filter at a time so you can see which rule removed the right candidates.