Crossword Constructor's Toolkit
Build your first crossword puzzle step by step, powered by decades of puzzle data.
Got a theme idea? Enter the letter counts of your theme entries and see which published grid layouts fit. A quick way to check whether your theme is realistic before you start filling.
Stuck on a crossing? Type a pattern like E?NT?R to find entries that fit. Results show how often each word has appeared and when
it was last used, so you can pick strong, fresh fill.
Look up every clue ever used for an entry, or search across all clue text for wording inspiration. Filter by weekday to match the difficulty level you're aiming for.
Upload your finished .puz file or
pick a recent puzzle to see how it stacks up: entry freshness, grid flow, hidden
words, and more. Spot potential issues before you submit.
Data source: doshea/nyt_crosswords archive supplemented with puzzles downloaded via xword-dl.