What the board game word finder does
Type the tiles on your rack and the board game word finder shows every word you can make, just like the word unscrambler – plus a point score for each word. Scores use our own simple letter values: common letters such as E, A and S are worth little, and rarer letters such as Q, Z, J and X are worth the most. You can also add a board pattern to find words that fit a gap on the board.
About our letter points
Our points are a rough guide to how hard a word's letters are to use. They are not the scoring of any particular game: different games use different values, and nothing here counts bonus squares, multipliers or extras for using all your tiles. Use the scores to compare words with each other, then work out the real score with your own game's rules.
How to use it
- Enter your tiles. Up to 15 letters, in any order.
- Add blanks. Type a ? for each blank tile, up to three. The letters the blanks stand for are highlighted in the results.
- Add a board pattern (optional). Describe a gap on the board with a pattern such as ??a?e: a ? for each open square and a letter for each tile already in place. Only words that fit the pattern are shown.
- Set other filters (optional). As in the word unscrambler, you can set a minimum and maximum length, starts with, ends with and contains.
- Sort by points. Put the highest-scoring words at the top, or keep them grouped by length.
- Copy and play. Tap a word to copy it, or open its three-dot menu to check the definition.
Ways to use the board game word finder
Checking your rack after a turn
Wondering what you could have played? Type in your old rack after your turn and see what you missed. It's one of the fastest ways to get better at letter tile games.
Learning new words
Every search turns up words you didn't know. Open the three-dot menu to read the definition, then save the good ones for your next game.
Settling "is that a word?" debates
A quick search shows whether a word is in our dictionary of about 171,000 English words. House rules and your game's own word list still have the final say.
Solo practice
Draw random letters, find the best word you can on your own, then compare it with the list. The random letter generator can deal the letters for you.
Teaching with letter tiles
Letter tiles make spelling hands-on. Give a group of students the same tiles, let them build words, and use the finder to show every word they could have made.
Tips for your best tile plays
- Worked example. With R, A, E, T, S, Q and U, sorting by points pushes words with the Q – such as square, quart, quest and squat – toward the top, because Q is one of the rare, high-value letters.
- Short can beat long. A short word with a rare letter can score more than a longer word made of common letters, so check both views.
- Fit the board. Use the pattern to find words that build onto tiles already in place, like ??a?e for crate, grape or shake.
- Learn the oddballs. Words with Q but no U and words without vowels can rescue a rack that looks hopeless.
- Know your short words. Two-letter words help you squeeze in extra plays alongside other words.
- Play fair. Agree with the other players before using any word finder during a game.
Questions
How are the points worked out?
Each letter has a value from our own table, and rarer letters are worth more than common ones. The values are ours and don't match the scoring of any particular game.
Does it count bonus squares?
No. The finder doesn't know your board's layout, so it scores the letters only. Use the points to compare words, then add your game's bonuses yourself.
What is a board pattern?
A pattern describes a gap on the board. Type ? for an open square and a letter for a tile already in place – ??a?e matches five-letter words with A third and E fifth, such as crate, grape and shake.
How do I enter a blank tile?
Type a ? for each blank tile, up to three. The letters the blanks stand for are highlighted in the results.
Can it find the best tile plays?
It shows every word your tiles can make and sorts them by our letter points, which is a good guide to your strongest options. The best play also depends on where the word lands on the board.
Is this a letter tile score helper for any game?
It works with any game where you build words from letter tiles. Just remember that the points are a guide, not your game's official score.
Is the board game word finder free?
Yes – it's free, with no sign-up, no cookies and no tracking.
Last updated October 2, 2026