How to Make an NYT-Style Crossword

An NYT-style crossword is a 15×15 grid (21×21 on Sunday) with 180° rotational symmetry, no unchecked squares, no words shorter than three letters, a full-interlock layout, and a consistent theme that appears in the longest answers. Word counts are capped near 78 for a themed 15×15, 72 for a themeless, and 140 for a 21×21. This guide covers the conventions that give those puzzles their feel, and it is separate from the general how to make a crossword puzzle walkthrough.

Rules in this guide are drawn from the New York Times's published submission guidelines and widely documented editorial conventions. The NYT calls its guidelines a living document, so as of October 2026, check the official page before you submit.

What sizes do NYT-style crosswords use?

Difficulty rises from Monday to Saturday. Monday is the easiest. Sunday is a larger puzzle that is roughly midweek in difficulty. Thursday often carries a trick, such as a rebus or an unusual grid gimmick. Gridsmith supports 15×15 and 21×21 grids, which cover the standard daily and Sunday sizes.

What are the grid rules?

These are the hard structural rules:

1. 180° rotational symmetry. The block pattern looks the same when rotated half a turn. See crossword grid rules for the variants.
2. No unchecked squares. Every white square is part of an across answer and a down answer.
3. Minimum answer length of three letters. No 2-letter answers.
4. Full interlock. All white squares form one connected region.
5. Black squares in moderation. Heavy blocking is considered a sign of weak construction.

How many words can an NYT-style crossword have?

Per the NYT's submission guidelines, the word-count maximums are:

The guidelines note these can be exceeded slightly when the theme requires it, at the editor's discretion. Lower counts mean longer words and a harder fill. Most themeless grids run well under the cap because they showcase long, lively entries.

How does an NYT-style theme work?

A weekday theme usually places a handful of long answers that share one wordplay rule, with an optional revealer.

• Theme density. A 15×15 weekday puzzle commonly carries three to five theme answers. Fewer leaves the theme thin, more crowds the fill. Sunday puzzles carry more and longer ones.
• Symmetric placement. Theme answers pair across the center, so matching lengths are required. A common layout is 15-letter central answer plus pairs of shorter answers placed symmetrically above and below.
• Consistency. The trick must apply to every theme answer, and nothing else in the grid should accidentally satisfy it.
• Revealer. A revealer is an entry, often near the bottom, that states what the theme is. Not every puzzle needs one, but it helps solvers feel the click. A revealer is generally treated as a theme answer, so it has to follow the same symmetry rules.
• Originality. Check a database such as XWord Info for earlier uses before you build around a theme. Editors reject themes that have already run.

For idea generation, see crossword theme ideas. In Gridsmith, Theme mode marks which entries are theme answers.

What counts as good fill in an NYT-style puzzle?

Good fill is mostly common, recognizable words and phrases, with as few "crosswordese" or obscure abbreviations as possible. The NYT guidelines ask that answers that appear in crosswords far more than in real life be kept to a minimum. Practical targets:

• Lively long slots. Fill the 7 to 9 letter entries with phrases, names, and fresh words.
• No Naticks. Don't cross two obscure proper nouns at a single square.
• Few abbreviations and partials. Use them sparingly, mainly to glue difficult corners together.
• No duplicate answers.
• Watch the short stuff. Three-letter entries make up much of any grid. A clean puzzle keeps them familiar.

More in crossword fill tips.

How are NYT-style clues written?

Clues are short, precise, and matched to the answer's form, and difficulty scales with the day of the week.

• Monday and Tuesday: direct definitions and fill-in-the-blanks.
• Wednesday to Friday: more misdirection and wordplay, with question marks flagging puns.
• Saturday: the most oblique clues, often with multiple plausible readings.
• Form match: tense, number, and part of speech must agree. "Ran" is clued as a past-tense verb, not a noun.
• Theme clues: the clues for the theme answers should support the trick and give the solver a way in.
• Voice: accurate, fair, and a little playful. Don't let a clue require specialized knowledge unless the crossing letters make the answer inferable.

Details in crossword clue writing.

How do you check that your puzzle is NYT-style?

Run through this checklist:

1. Grid is 15×15 (or 21×21 for a Sunday-size puzzle).
2. Blocks are rotationally symmetric.
3. No unchecked squares and no 2-letter words.
4. All white squares are connected.
5. Word count is at or below 78 (themed 15×15), 72 (themeless), or 140 (21×21).
6. Theme answers are consistent, and symmetric in length.
7. No duplicate entries; no Naticks.
8. Clues agree with their answers in form.

Gridsmith's live stats show word count, block count, empty squares, and unchecked squares, so you can see these as you work. When you're ready to send it, follow the NYT submission guide.

Frequently asked questions

What size is the NYT crossword?

Monday through Saturday puzzles are 15×15, and the Sunday puzzle is 21×21.

How many words can a NYT crossword have?

Per the NYT submission guidelines, up to 78 for a themed 15×15, 72 for a themeless 15×15, and 140 for a 21×21, with small exceptions at the editor's discretion.

Are two-letter words allowed in an NYT crossword?

No. The minimum answer length is three letters.

How many theme answers does a NYT puzzle need?

There is no fixed number. A weekday puzzle typically has three to five theme entries, often with a revealer, and Sunday puzzles have more.

Can I submit a themeless puzzle to the NYT?

Yes. Themeless 15×15 puzzles run on Friday and Saturday, and they use a lower word-count cap, so they need long, lively entries.