A gift guide
Gift Ideas for Crossword Lovers
The best gifts for crossword lovers either give them more good puzzles, make solving more comfortable, or make it social. Below are ten ideas across all three, with who each suits. If you want something personal, a crossword built around their own interests is the one gift they can't already own.
1.A crossword made about them
- Who it suits
- Anyone with strong interests — a music fan, a sports fan, a history buff.
- Why it works
- It's the only puzzle in their life where the answers come from things they love, and it still solves like a normal newspaper crossword.
- What to get
- Crossworded (this site) builds a 15×15 puzzle from the interests you pick, with a link to solve online and a one-page printable copy.
- Good for
- Birthdays, Father's or Mother's Day, retirements, or a regular treat.
2.A crossword collection at the right level
- Who it suits
- Daily solvers who want more of what they already enjoy.
- Why it works
- A good book lasts weeks. Difficulty is the whole game: a Monday solver and a Saturday solver want very different books.
- What to get
- For gentler solving, the New York Times "Easy" and "Monday" collections or Simon & Schuster's Mega Crossword series. For strong solvers, Will Shortz's tougher volumes or a Saturday-level collection.
- Good for
- Holidays, stocking stuffers, travel.
3.A digital puzzle subscription
- Who it suits
- Solvers who play on a phone or tablet.
- Why it works
- A daily puzzle plus decades of archive, so they never run out. Cheaper than a news subscription because it's puzzles only.
- What to get
- New York Times Games, The New Yorker's crossword, The Washington Post crossword, or The Atlantic's mini.
- Good for
- A year-long gift that renews the habit every morning.
4.A pen, pencil or eraser they'll actually notice
- Who it suits
- The ink-only purist, or the pencil-and-eraser type.
- Why it works
- Small, cheap, used every single day. Smooth ink that doesn't bleed through newsprint is a genuine upgrade.
- What to get
- Pilot G2 or Uni-ball Signo gel pens; Blackwing or Palomino pencils; a Tombow Mono Zero precision eraser for tight squares.
- Good for
- An add-on to a bigger gift.
5.A lap desk or clipboard
- Who it suits
- Anyone who solves in an armchair, in bed or on the porch.
- Why it works
- A firm surface makes printed puzzles far nicer to fill in, and keeps the coffee off the grid.
- What to get
- A padded lap desk (LapGear and similar), or a simple hardboard clipboard with a pen loop.
- Good for
- Retirements, housewarmings.
6.A crossword dictionary or word reference
- Who it suits
- Solvers moving up a level who like to check their work.
- Why it works
- Word lists organized by length and letter pattern are the classic solver's tool for a stubborn corner.
- What to get
- Merriam-Webster's Crossword Puzzle Dictionary, or The New York Times Crossword Puzzle Dictionary.
- Good for
- For someone tackling harder puzzles.
7.Word and letter games for the table
- Who it suits
- Crossword fans who like playing with other people.
- Why it works
- Same itch, but social — grid-building and word-spotting with family instead of alone with the paper.
- What to get
- Scrabble (the deluxe turntable edition is a real upgrade), Bananagrams, Codenames, or Wordle: The Party Game.
- Good for
- Family holidays, game nights.
8.A framed puzzle
- Who it suits
- The sentimental solver.
- Why it works
- A finished puzzle from a meaningful date — or one made about them — is a quirky, personal piece of wall art.
- What to get
- Print the puzzle (or the completed grid) and frame it; The New York Times store also sells reprints of the crossword from a chosen date.
- Good for
- Anniversaries, milestone birthdays.
9.A puzzle event or tournament
- Who it suits
- Competitive or social solvers.
- Why it works
- A whole day among people who love the same thing, which no object can match.
- What to get
- The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (Stamford, CT), Boswords, Lollapuzzoola, or the online Crosswords Contest events.
- Good for
- Experience gifts for keen solvers.
10.Crossword-themed mug or shirt
- Who it suits
- Someone whose crossword habit is part of their identity.
- Why it works
- Fun and low-cost — best paired with something they can actually solve.
- What to get
- Crossword-grid mugs and tees from the New York Times store, or independent makers on Etsy.
- Good for
- Secret Santa, small thank-yous.
For something truly personal: make them their own crossword
Crossworded builds a real 15×15 crossword around one person's interests. You pick the topics — their music, teams, shows, hobbies, favorite eras — and star the ones that must appear. It fills the grid, writes newspaper-style clues with a hint for each, and gives you a link to solve online plus a one-page printable version.
For a keen solver, choose Hard for longer answers and more wordplay. For a regular habit, a plan sends a fresh one by email on the days you pick.
Picking the right one
Match the gift to how they solve. A daily paper solver probably doesn't need another book of easy puzzles, but may love a harder collection or one that's about them. Someone who solves on a phone will get more from a subscription than from print. And a retiree with more time might enjoy a regular puzzle delivery — see our retirement crossword gift page — while a birthday crossword or a Father's Day crossword works as a one-off.
Questions
What do you get someone who already does the crossword every day?
- Something that fits the habit: a harder puzzle collection, a better pen or clipboard, a subscription to another publication's puzzles, or a crossword built around their own interests.
Are crossword books a good gift?
- Yes, if you match the difficulty. Many collections are labeled by day or level; a regular Monday solver and a Saturday solver want very different books.
What's a thoughtful crossword gift that isn't more stuff?
- A personalized crossword, a puzzle subscription or a ticket to a puzzle event. All three are experiences rather than objects.
Can I make a crossword for someone without writing the clues?
- Yes. With Crossworded you choose their interests and it builds the grid and writes every clue.
Make them a crossword of their own
Pick their interests and see it built in a couple of minutes. The first one is free.