What is a good gift for someone who loves crosswords?

Choose something that fits how they solve: a personalized crossword for a personal gift, a digital subscription for a daily app solver, a well-made puzzle collection for paper solving, or a clipboard, pencils or another word game that improves the habit.

What can I get a crossword lover besides a crossword book?

Good alternatives include a crossword made from their interests, a digital puzzle subscription, a hardwood solving clipboard, a social word game such as BANANAGRAMS, a mechanical word puzzle or tickets to a crossword event.

What's a good personalized gift for a crossword lover?

Crossworded, our own product, creates a 15×15 crossword from the recipient's interests rather than asking you to write personal trivia. They can solve it online or print it on one page.

What is a good inexpensive gift for a crossword solver?

A small set of crossword pencils is useful and costs about $6 from this seller. Classic BANANAGRAMS has a $15.99 USD manufacturer suggested price; a favorite pen, a precision eraser or a puzzle-book gift card are other low-cost options.

Can you give a New York Times crossword subscription as a gift?

Yes. The New York Times offers a one-year Games gift subscription. The recipient cannot redeem it if they already have an overlapping Games or All Access subscription, so check their subscription status before buying.

A researched gift guide

8 gifts for crossword lovers they'll actually use

By Ben Yoskovitz · Updated September 2026 · US prices

Crossword fans can be strangely difficult to shop for. They probably don't need another generic crossword mug or a random book of easy puzzles. The better gifts give them genuinely good new puzzles, improve the way they solve, offer another clever form of wordplay or make the puzzle personal.

Crossworded itself started because of one serious crossword solver, so we've tried to make this list useful rather than exhaustive. Here are the gifts we'd actually consider.

How we picked these gifts

We prioritized useful puzzles, better ways to solve, interesting wordplay and gifts that feel personal. We checked current US product pages, prices and key facts in September 2026. We haven't personally tested every item; recommendations are based on features, suitability for crossword solvers, availability and customer feedback where available. Prices can change, so confirm the final amount with the retailer.

Quick picks

Start with how they solve. Product names link to a US retailer or official manufacturer page; check the current price and availability before ordering.

Best for

A gift that feels genuinely personal

Crossworded personalized crossword

A real 15×15 crossword built from the recipient's music, teams, hobbies, movies and other interests.

$1.49 USD for one crossword

Crossworded

Best for

Someone who solves digitally every day

New York Times Games — 1-Year Gift Subscription

A year of The Crossword, The Mini, Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Strands, Sudoku and the puzzle archive.

About $50 USD for one year

The New York Times

Best for

A crossword lover who prefers paper

Puzzmo Crossword Puzzles: Vol. 1

Two matching books with 40 crosswords, paper versions of other Puzzmo games, hints and constructor notes.

$24.99 USD for two identical books

Puzzmo

Best for

An NYT Games fan who wants time away from a screen

New York Times Games Premium Puzzle Book

A 224-page hardcover with paper versions of NYT games and two fold-out mega crosswords.

$38 USD

Uncommon Goods

Best for

Game night with a word lover

Classic BANANAGRAMS

A fast word-building game with 144 letter tiles in a portable banana-shaped pouch.

$15.99 USD MSRP

Bananagrams at Moose Toys

Best for

A newspaper or printed-puzzle solver

WinWoodDesigns Crossword Puzzle Clipboard

A hardwood board sized for folded newspaper and printed crossword pages, handcrafted in North Carolina.

$45 USD on Etsy

WinWoodDesigns on Etsy

Best for

A stocking stuffer or inexpensive add-on

Crossword Puzzle Engraved Pencil Set

Six crossword-themed laser-engraved No. 2 pencils from a Virginia seller.

About $6 USD; check Etsy for the current price

GriffonCoGifts on Etsy (Virginia)

Best for

Someone who likes words more than merchandise

Word Wheel Puzzle

A compact wooden brainteaser with rotating alphabet wheels and 17,576 possible positions.

$32 USD

Uncommon Goods

The eight gifts, with the useful details

1
A gift that feels genuinely personal
Crossworded personalized crossword
Typical price
$1.49 USD for one crossword
Where to buy
Crossworded
Most custom-crossword gifts ask you to supply the answers, write the clues or turn private memories into trivia. Crossworded works differently: you choose broad interests and favorite topics, then it builds the grid and writes the clues.
The recipient gets a private link to solve online and a clean one-page version to print. You can choose Easy, Medium or Hard, and star favorite topics to make sure they appear.
Crossworded is our product. We built it because we wanted a better way to give someone a crossword that actually feels personal, without asking the giver to become a crossword constructor.
Worth knowing: Skip it if the recipient would rather have an established publication's puzzle archive than something made around their interests.
Make them a crossword
2
Someone who solves digitally every day
New York Times Games — 1-Year Gift Subscription
Typical price
About $50 USD for one year
Where to buy
The New York Times
This is the safest choice for a person whose morning already starts with a phone or tablet. The Games subscription combines the daily Crossword and Mini with the rest of the New York Times puzzle lineup, plus an archive of more than 10,000 crosswords and Minis.
It is easy to deliver and gives them something new to solve every day for a full year. Unlike a random puzzle book, there is no risk of choosing the wrong difficulty for every single puzzle.
Worth knowing: Important: the gift cannot be redeemed by someone who already has an overlapping Games or All Access subscription. Check before buying. The checkout page shows the current final price.
See the gift subscription
3
A crossword lover who prefers paper
Puzzmo Crossword Puzzles: Vol. 1
Typical price
$24.99 USD for two identical books
Where to buy
Puzzmo
This is the strongest pure crossword book on the list. Each pack contains two identical copies, 30 crosswords previously published by Puzzmo and 10 that are exclusive to the book. QR codes lead to hints, and the answer section includes notes from the constructors.
The duplicate-book format sounds unusual, but it makes the gift more social: give one and keep one, split the pack between two solvers, or work through the same puzzles together from different places.
Worth knowing: Because the two books are identical, do not buy this for someone who simply wants the largest possible number of different puzzles.
See it at Puzzmo
4
An NYT Games fan who wants time away from a screen
New York Times Games Premium Puzzle Book
Typical price
$38 USD
Where to buy
Uncommon Goods
This substantial hardcover goes wider than crosswords. Its 224 pages adapt games including Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections for paper, then add logic puzzles, trivia and other challenges.
The best feature for a crossword household is the pair of fold-out mega crosswords, with easy and hard clue options. It works well on a coffee table or during a group holiday where several people may pick it up.
Worth knowing: This is a mixed puzzle collection, not a crossword-only book. Choose the Puzzmo set instead if crosswords are the only games they want.
See it at Uncommon Goods
5
Game night with a word lover
Classic BANANAGRAMS
Typical price
$15.99 USD MSRP
Where to buy
Bananagrams at Moose Toys
This is intentionally not another crossword. Players race to connect their letter tiles into their own changing word grids, so it rewards quick vocabulary and the pleasure of making words cross.
The classic edition needs no board, travels easily and works best for someone who enjoys a little friendly competition. The Signature Edition was not listed on the manufacturer's current site when we checked, so this is the official Classic edition instead.
Worth knowing: Crossword solving is quiet and solitary; BANANAGRAMS is quick and social. A solver who dislikes timed or competitive games may prefer one of the books above. The manufacturer lists an MSRP, not a checkout price.
See the official game lineup
6
A newspaper or printed-puzzle solver
WinWoodDesigns Crossword Puzzle Clipboard
Typical price
$45 USD on Etsy
Where to buy
WinWoodDesigns on Etsy
A good clipboard fixes a real annoyance: trying to solve on a folded newspaper, a soft couch cushion or an airplane tray. This one is made specifically around newspaper-sized crossword pages rather than general office paper.
WinWoodDesigns makes it in North Carolina from Appalachian hardwood, with a writing surface of roughly 13 by 9.5 inches. It is a handsome upgrade for someone who regularly prints puzzles or solves the paper away from a desk.
Worth knowing: It is intentionally simple and costs more than a basic office clipboard. Buy it for a committed paper solver who will appreciate the woodwork, not an app-only solver.
See it on Etsy
7
A stocking stuffer or inexpensive add-on
Crossword Puzzle Engraved Pencil Set
Typical price
About $6 USD; check Etsy for the current price
Where to buy
GriffonCoGifts on Etsy (Virginia)
Pencils are not a grand present, but they make a good companion to a puzzle book or subscription announcement. GriffonCoGifts offers a set of six laser-engraved crossword pencils, a more deliberate touch than grabbing office supplies.
The seller is based in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area. The familiar No. 2 lead works well for paper grids; at this price, the set also suits a coworker exchange or a small thank-you.
Worth knowing: The seller's own shop lists this set at $6 USD and offers it for sale. We couldn't independently confirm Etsy's current price or availability, so check the listing before ordering; this is an add-on, not the main gift.
See it on Etsy
8
Someone who likes words more than merchandise
Word Wheel Puzzle
Typical price
$32 USD
Where to buy
Uncommon Goods
Created by David Janelle, this made-in-USA wooden puzzle asks the player to rotate four alphabet wheels until multiple valid four-letter words line up. It sits somewhere between a word search, a mechanical puzzle and a vocabulary challenge.
It is a good change of pace for a solver who already owns stacks of crossword books. The object is handsome enough to leave out, but the real appeal is the repeated word-finding challenge rather than crossword branding.
Worth knowing: It is a compact tabletop puzzle, and some buyers expected it to be larger. Check the dimensions on the product page before ordering.
See it at Uncommon Goods

What a personalized crossword looks like

For the first pick on this list, these interests could become the highlighted answers and clues in a full 15×15 puzzle. The rest of the grid uses ordinary crossword fill.

What was picked

Motown & soul
Hockey
Woodworking
60s & 70s rock

Difficulty: Medium. Starred favorites are guaranteed at least one clue.

A close-up of one corner of the 15×15 grid. Highlighted squares came straight from the interests above.

Motown & soul
Detroit label of the Supremes and the Temptations
MOTOWN
Hockey
NHL city of the Senators
OTTAWA
Hockey
Detroit's Red ___
WINGS
Woodworking
Where the workbench lives
GARAGE
60s & 70s rock
Vinyl release, in full
ALBUM

How to choose a gift for a crossword lover

They solve every day on their phone

Choose the NYT Games subscription — but first make sure they do not already subscribe.

They print puzzles or solve the newspaper

Pair the hardwood clipboard with the pencil set for a practical paper-solving kit.

They settle in with puzzle books

Choose Puzzmo for crosswords only, or the NYT Premium Puzzle Book for a wider mix.

They like word games with other people

BANANAGRAMS turns overlapping words into a quick, social game.

You want it to feel personal

Choose Crossworded and build the puzzle around their actual interests.

They already own the obvious crossword gifts

Try the Word Wheel or plan an American Crossword Puzzle Tournament trip.

For an occasion-specific version, see our guides to a birthday crossword, a retirement crossword or a Father's Day crossword.

Crossword gifts by budget

Under $20

The GriffonCoGifts crossword pencil set, Classic BANANAGRAMS or a one-off personalized crossword.

$20–$50

Puzzmo Vol. 1, the Word Wheel, NYT Premium Puzzle Book or the hardwood clipboard.

Subscriptions & experiences

A NYT Games gift, regular personalized crossword deliveries or a future crossword-tournament trip.

For the serious crossword obsessive: ACPT

The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament calls itself the oldest and largest crossword competition in the United States. The 2027 event is planned for Philadelphia from April 30 to May 2, with registration scheduled to open January 1. Solvers compete on original puzzles under the direction of Will Shortz.

This is a niche, higher-cost gift once travel is included, so it does not belong in the quick picks until registration opens and pricing is published. For the right person, though, a tournament weekend could beat another object entirely.

Check the ACPT schedule

Questions

What is a good gift for someone who loves crosswords?: Choose something that fits how they solve: a personalized crossword for a personal gift, a digital subscription for a daily app solver, a well-made puzzle collection for paper solving, or a clipboard, pencils or another word game that improves the habit.
What can I get a crossword lover besides a crossword book?: Good alternatives include a crossword made from their interests, a digital puzzle subscription, a hardwood solving clipboard, a social word game such as BANANAGRAMS, a mechanical word puzzle or tickets to a crossword event.
What's a good personalized gift for a crossword lover?: Crossworded, our own product, creates a 15×15 crossword from the recipient's interests rather than asking you to write personal trivia. They can solve it online or print it on one page.
What is a good inexpensive gift for a crossword solver?: A small set of crossword pencils is useful and costs about $6 from this seller. Classic BANANAGRAMS has a $15.99 USD manufacturer suggested price; a favorite pen, a precision eraser or a puzzle-book gift card are other low-cost options.
Can you give a New York Times crossword subscription as a gift?: Yes. The New York Times offers a one-year Games gift subscription. The recipient cannot redeem it if they already have an overlapping Games or All Access subscription, so check their subscription status before buying.

Or make the gift itself a crossword

Choose their interests and Crossworded will turn them into a 15×15 puzzle they can solve online or print. Your first crossword is free.

Make one free