Best Crossword Puzzle Books (2026 Picks for Every Level)
Crossword puzzle books range from "first crossword ever" beginner editions to brutal Sunday-paper-difficulty compilations. We organize this guide by difficulty level so you can find the right entry point — gifting a Sunday-level book to a beginner is the most common crossword-purchase mistake. Note on this site: we publish kids activity books, including a kids crossword printable pack. The adult crossword picks here are what we recommend personally.
How we chose
Named editor
The editor matters more than the publisher. Will Shortz, Mike Shenk, Stanley Newman — the editor's name is the quality signal. Unnamed editions are auto-generated.
Difficulty labeling
Good crossword books label every puzzle's difficulty. Lazy ones lump everything as "crossword puzzles for adults."
Grid size
Most adult crosswords are 15×15 (daily) or 21×21 (Sunday). Kids and beginner books use 11×11 or 13×13. Don't buy 21×21 grids as your first crossword book.
Themed vs. themeless
Themed crosswords (Sunday-style) are more fun to solve. Themeless (daily-style) are more puzzley. Beginners should start themed.
Our top picks by level
- #1
Will Shortz / NYT Light & Easy crosswords
Best beginner crossword book. NYT-quality editing, but every puzzle is Monday-or-Tuesday difficulty. You can finish puzzles and feel good doing it. Weakness: experienced solvers blast through these in 5–10 minutes.
- #2
Will Shortz / NYT daily crossword compilations
The middle-of-the-road pick. Monday-through-Saturday puzzles graduated from easy to hard within the same book. Best long-term solver investment. Weakness: pricey relative to budget compilations.
- #3
Will Shortz / NYT Sunday Crosswords
Sunday-only compilations — bigger grids (21×21), themed, harder. The gift book for crossword fans. Worth waiting until you're solving Friday-level NYT crosswords reliably before buying. Weakness: hard. Don't start here.
- #4
Newsday / Stan Newman crossword books
Stan Newman edits the Newsday Saturday Stumper, the hardest crossword in regular circulation. Underrated alternative to the NYT — different cluing style, slightly more wordplay-focused. Weakness: niche audience and harder to find in big-box stores.
- #5
Themed crossword books (Crosswords for Cat Lovers, etc.)
Themed novelty crossword books — TV shows, hobbies, pets. Cluing tends to be easier. Best as gifts for non-crossword people. Quality varies by editor. Weakness: shallow puzzle inventory. Most themed books are one-and-done.
What to look for in a crossword book
Editor's name on the cover
Will Shortz, Stan Newman, Mike Shenk, Patti Varol. If an editor is named, the puzzles are hand-built. If not, they're software-generated.
Difficulty match
Match the book's level to the solver. Beginners should start with Light & Easy or Monday-style editions. Don't gift Sunday-difficulty to a beginner.
Pocket vs. large format
Pocket editions for travel, large format for the couch. Crossword grids are smaller than puzzle grids generally, so pocket editions actually work for crosswords.
Pencil-friendly paper
Crossword solvers erase. Cheap printings have paper that smears or tears with an eraser. The named publishers all use erasable stock.
DIY vs buy
Free crossword printables online are mostly low-quality. The Times's daily online crossword (and its app) is the best free-ish option, and the paid digital subscription is cheap. For physical books, paid is the only way to get hand-edited quality.
Have kids who want their own crossword?
Ages 2–5 · 4–7 · 7+ · Adults
Frequently asked questions
- What's the easiest crossword book for beginners?
- Will Shortz Light & Easy is the standard answer. Every puzzle is Monday-level NYT difficulty. After ~50 puzzles you'll be ready for the daily compilations.
- How do NYT crosswords work — Monday to Saturday?
- The NYT crossword gets harder through the week. Monday is easiest, Saturday is hardest, Sunday is large (21×21) and roughly Thursday-difficulty. Beginners should start Monday and work forward as they get faster.
- Are paper crosswords or app crosswords better?
- App crosswords are more convenient and have built-in solver tools. Paper crosswords are better for sustained focus and screen-fatigue reasons. Most regular solvers use both.
- What's the best crossword book for a beginner gift?
- Will Shortz Light & Easy Crosswords. It's beginner-difficulty with NYT quality, costs $10–12, and looks gift-worthy.
- Are these affiliate links?
- Yes. Amazon purchases through these links help fund the free printables on this site.
Sunlight Kids activity books — for every age.
Ages 2–5 · 4–7 · 7+ · Adults