Printable Crossword Puzzles
Free PDF crosswords. Daily, weekly, mini, and Sunday formats. Tested sources with answer keys.
Best free crossword sources
We do not host crosswords on this site yet. Below are the free PDF sources we have tested. Each one prints cleanly and includes the answer key on page two.
USA Today Daily Crossword
A new themed crossword every day. Free PDF. Grid plus clue list on one sheet, answer key on the second sheet. Difficulty ranges from easy on Monday to harder on Saturday.
Boston Globe Free Friday Crossword
One free PDF crossword every Friday. Published by the Boston Globe puzzles section. Clean layout, no ads, prints to letter paper at 100% scale.
AARP Free Crosswords
AARP hosts a rotating set of free printable crosswords aimed at older solvers. Larger print, gentle themes, and a clear answer key on the back.
Penny Dell Sample Pack
Penny Dell publishes free sample crosswords from their print magazines. Format is standard 15 by 15 with classic clue style. Good for solvers who like newspaper-style cluing.
Printable crossword formats explained
- Mini (5 by 5): Solves in under five minutes. Great for a coffee break. The NYT Mini is the most famous format.
- Daily (15 by 15): The standard newspaper size. Around 70 clues. Takes 15 to 40 minutes depending on theme difficulty.
- Sunday (21 by 21): About 140 clues with a themed concept. Sunday grids are bigger but the clue style is friendlier than a Saturday daily.
- Cryptic: British-style clues where each clue contains a wordplay layer plus a definition. Harder to learn but very satisfying once you crack the code.
- Themed: Holiday, sports, music, or movie themes. Easier than standard because clues cluster around one topic.
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Tips for cleaner crossword printing
- Set the PDF reader to fit-to-page so the 15 by 15 grid does not overflow.
- Use draft mode or grayscale to save ink. Crosswords are black and white only.
- Print double-sided if your printer supports it. Front side is the puzzle, back side is the answer key.
- If letters look thin on screen, set the print quality to normal or high. Draft mode is fine for the grid but can break clue text.
- Save trees by printing two crosswords per page. Most PDF readers have a multiple pages per sheet option.
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Frequently asked questions
Are printable crosswords really free?
Yes. Many newspapers and puzzle sites give away PDF crosswords. The Washington Post posts a free daily mini. The Boston Globe runs a weekly free crossword in PDF form. Most public libraries also host crossword printouts on their websites. No signup or paywall to print.
Where do I find printable crosswords with answers?
Look for puzzles that come as two-page PDFs. Page one is the grid and clue list. Page two is the answer key. The New York Times Mini, the LA Times Daily, and the USA Today crossword all post downloadable two-page packets each day.
What size paper fits a standard crossword grid?
A 15 by 15 grid (the standard daily size) fits on letter paper at 100% scale. A 21 by 21 Sunday crossword needs legal paper or a 75% scale on letter paper. Always check the PDF page size before you print so the grid does not get cut off.
How do I print a crossword without using too much ink?
Set your printer to draft or grayscale mode. The grid is just black lines. Skip color printing. If your PDF has a colored title bar, use a PDF reader's print dialog to select the page range and crop the header out.
Why are printable crosswords better than online ones?
Paper does not run out of battery. You can solve in the car, on a plane, or at the breakfast table. Older solvers often prefer paper because the grid is easier to scan than a phone screen. Some doctors recommend paper puzzles as part of screen-free wind-down before bed.
Do you have crosswords on this site?
Not yet. We are focused on sudoku, word search, kakuro, and cryptograms right now. While we work on a crossword section, this page points you to the best free crossword sources we have tested.