Crossword Generator

Free Crossword Puzzle Generator

Create custom crossword puzzles with your own words and clues. Generate, print, and share professional-looking crosswords instantly.

Give your crossword puzzle a title (optional)

Enter one word-clue pair per line, separated by a comma: WORD,Clue for the word

Across

    Down

      How to Use the Crossword Generator

      Creating a custom crossword puzzle is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps to generate a professional-looking crossword with your own words and clues.

      1

      Add a Title

      Give your crossword puzzle a descriptive title that will appear at the top of the printed page.

      2

      Enter Words & Clues

      Type your words and clues, one pair per line, separated by a comma (e.g., APPLE,A common fruit).

      3

      Generate Puzzle

      Click "Create My Puzzle" and the algorithm builds an interlocking crossword grid automatically.

      4

      Print or Share

      Print your puzzle, copy it, or toggle the answer key. Rebuild anytime for a new layout.

      What Is a Crossword Generator?

      A crossword generator is a free online tool that automatically creates crossword puzzles from your custom word and clue lists. Instead of painstakingly arranging words on graph paper, the crossword generator uses a smart placement algorithm to find optimal letter intersections and produce a clean, professional puzzle layout in seconds.

      Whether you're a teacher creating vocabulary worksheets, a parent making educational activities, a trainer designing engaging learning materials, or simply a puzzle enthusiast crafting crosswords for friends, this crossword generator handles all the complex layout work so you can focus on choosing great words and writing clever clues.

      Key Features

      Custom Words & Clues

      Enter your own words and clues to create personalized crossword puzzles on any topic.

      Instant Generation

      Smart algorithm creates optimal crossword layouts with maximum intersections in milliseconds.

      🖨

      Print Ready

      Clean, optimized print layout. Print blank puzzles for students or filled-in answer keys.

      🔑

      Answer Key

      Toggle the answer key on and off. Print puzzles with or without answers shown.

      📱

      Works Everywhere

      Fully responsive design. Create crosswords on your phone, tablet, or desktop computer.

      🔒

      100% Private

      All puzzle generation happens in your browser. No data is ever sent to a server.

      Who Uses a Crossword Generator?

      Crossword puzzles are one of the most versatile educational and entertainment tools. Here's how different groups use our crossword generator to create engaging content.

      🎓 Teachers & Educators

      Create vocabulary crosswords for any subject. Reinforce spelling, definitions, and key concepts with engaging puzzles that students love solving.

      🏠 Parents & Homeschoolers

      Make learning fun with custom crosswords for reading comprehension, science terms, history facts, and more. Great for screen-free activities.

      🏆 Corporate Trainers

      Design crossword puzzles for team training, onboarding, compliance reviews, and knowledge checks. More engaging than traditional quizzes.

      🎈 Event Organizers

      Create themed crosswords for parties, baby showers, bridal showers, holidays, and special events. A fun activity everyone can enjoy.

      📚 Students

      Build crosswords as a study aid. Creating puzzles from your notes is an effective way to review and memorize key terms and definitions.

      📰 Newsletter Editors

      Add crossword puzzles to newsletters, church bulletins, community papers, or company intranets for a fun interactive feature.

      Tips for Creating Great Crossword Puzzles

      Get the most out of the crossword generator with these expert tips for crafting puzzles that are fun, challenging, and satisfying to solve.

      Choose Words with Common Letters

      Words that share common letters (like E, A, R, S, T, N) will intersect more easily, creating a denser, more interconnected puzzle. The crossword generator works best when words have overlapping letters that allow for natural crossings.

      Mix Word Lengths

      Include a variety of short (3-5 letters) and long (7-12 letters) words. Longer words act as the backbone of the puzzle, while shorter words fill in gaps and create additional intersections.

      Write Clear, Concise Clues

      Good clues are specific enough to have one clear answer but not so obvious that they're boring. Mix difficulty levels: include some easy clues for momentum and harder ones for challenge.

      Use 10-30 Words

      For most puzzles, 10-30 words is the sweet spot. Fewer than 10 may result in a sparse puzzle, while more than 30 can make it dense but with potentially more unplaced words. The crossword generator handles up to 50 words.

      Stick to a Theme

      Themed crosswords are more engaging. Whether it's science vocabulary, holiday words, a book review, or company jargon, a consistent theme gives solvers context clues and makes the puzzle more cohesive.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      How does the crossword generator work?

      Enter your words and clues (one pair per line, separated by a comma), optionally add a title, and click "Create My Puzzle." The crossword generator uses an advanced placement algorithm that analyzes shared letters between words, tests hundreds of possible arrangements, and selects the layout with the most intersections and tightest grid. The result is a clean, numbered crossword puzzle with Across and Down clue lists.

      How many words can I include in my crossword?

      You can enter up to 50 words. For best results, 10-30 words works great. The algorithm tries to place every word but some words may not fit if they don't share letters with any placed words. The tool will tell you how many words were successfully placed.

      Why weren't all my words placed in the puzzle?

      The crossword generator connects words through shared letters. If a word has no letters in common with any already-placed word, or if placing it would create conflicts with existing words, it will be skipped. Try clicking "Rebuild Puzzle" for a different layout, or adjust your word list to include words with more common letters (E, A, R, S, T, N).

      Can I print the crossword puzzle?

      Yes! Click "Print Puzzle" to get a clean, printer-friendly version with the puzzle grid and clue lists. To print the answer key, click "Show Answer" first, then "Print Puzzle." The print layout removes all unnecessary elements and is optimized for standard paper sizes.

      What format should I use for entering words and clues?

      Enter one word-clue pair per line. Separate the word from its clue with a comma. For example: PYTHON,Programming language named after a snake. Words should be single words without spaces. If your answer is a phrase (like ICE CREAM), enter it without spaces: ICECREAM. Only letters A-Z are used in the puzzle grid.

      Is this crossword generator really free?

      Yes, 100% free with no limits. There are no sign-ups, no accounts, no watermarks, and no hidden fees. Create as many crossword puzzles as you want. The tool runs entirely in your web browser, so your words and clues are never sent to any server.

      Can I use this crossword generator for commercial purposes?

      Yes! You're free to use the crossword puzzles you create for any purpose, including commercial use. Print them in books, include them in paid worksheets, add them to newsletters, or use them in training materials. The puzzles you generate are yours to use however you wish.

      What makes this crossword generator different from others?

      This crossword generator is designed to be simple, fast, and free. It runs entirely in your browser (no server required), produces clean and printable layouts, supports up to 50 words, and offers multiple features like answer toggling, copy to clipboard, and puzzle rebuilding. There are no ads, no sign-ups, and no limitations.