New puzzle every day
Boatload Crossword — 40,000+ Free Puzzles
Play the classic 13×13 crossword free in your browser — no download, no signup, on any device.
How to play
Two tracks, just like the clue list. Read them across, then down.
Across — Getting started
- 1APick a puzzle — the daily, or any of the 40,000+ in the archive.
- 2ATap any white square. The word and its clue light up in blue.
- 3AType your answer — the cursor moves ahead on its own.
- 4AFinish the grid and it checks itself. That's the whole game.
Down — Good to know
- 1DTap a selected square again to switch between Across and Down.
- 2DStuck? Use Hint to reveal one letter, or Solve Word to move on.
- 3DYour progress saves in your browser — close the tab and come back.
- 4DA fresh daily puzzle arrives every morning.
Controls
Mouse & touch
| Action | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tap an empty square | Selects that square and highlights its word. |
| Tap it again | Switches between Across and Down. |
| Tap a clue | Jumps to the matching word in the grid. |
Keyboard
| Key | What happens |
|---|---|
| A–Z | Types that letter into the selected square. |
| Tab | Jumps to the next unfinished word. |
| ⌫ | Clears the square, or steps back if it is already empty. |
| ←↑→↓ | Moves to a neighbouring square. |
| Space | Switches between Across and Down. |
Solving tips
Start with the blanks
Fill-in-the-blank clues are the easiest wins. Grab them first to seed the grid.
Work the crossings
Every letter belongs to two words. One solved answer hands you letters for four or five more.
Skip and return
Don't grind on one clue. Move on — the crossings will make it obvious when you come back.
Guess in pencil
A wrong letter costs nothing to erase. A likely guess often unlocks the whole corner.
New to crosswords? Read the full guide: How to solve a crossword puzzle, step by step.
About Boatload Crossword
Boatload Crossword is one of the largest collections of free crossword puzzles anywhere: more than 40,000 classic 13×13 grids from Boatload Puzzles, playable instantly in your browser. There is no app to install and no account to create — open the page, tap a square, and start solving.
Every puzzle is available in easy, medium and hard versions, which makes the collection a favourite with beginners, seniors and anyone who wants a relaxed daily solve rather than a Saturday stumper. The interface keeps the classic feel: a clean grid, a clue list, and the familiar blue highlight on the word you're working.
How a Boatload puzzle plays
Each grid is 13 squares by 13 squares — small enough to finish over a coffee, big enough for real crossings. Clues are split into Across and Down, and the vocabulary stays deliberately everyday: no obscure abbreviations, no crosswordese you need a dictionary for. Solve the clues you know first, then let the shared letters pull the harder answers out of the grid.
What you get
- Over 40,000 puzzles — a fresh grid every time, with no repeats.
- Three difficulty levels — the same puzzle in easy, medium or hard.
- A new daily crossword — published every morning.
- Hints on demand — reveal a letter, a word, or check what you've filled in.
- Automatic saving — your progress stays in your browser.
- Completely free — no subscription, no paywall, no account.
Where it runs
Anything with a modern browser: Windows, macOS, Linux and Chromebooks, plus Android phones and tablets, iPhones and iPads. Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge are all supported, and the grid scales to the screen so a phone gets the same puzzle as a desktop.
Who these puzzles suit
The same 40,000-puzzle archive works for very different solvers, because every grid comes in three difficulties.
Beginners
Easy mode uses plain, everyday words and generous crossings. It is the gentlest way into crosswords — and free, so there is nothing to lose by trying one.
Adults after a real solve
Medium and hard rebuild the same grid with tighter clues and less obvious wordplay: a proper ten-minute workout without the Saturday-cryptic frustration.
Seniors
Large, high-contrast squares, no time limit and no penalty for hints. A calm daily crossword that keeps recall and vocabulary ticking over.
Families and classrooms
Clean vocabulary and no chat or accounts make these safe puzzles to hand to a child, and short enough for a break between lessons.
Clue help
Two clues send people here more than any others. Here are the answers, and the method behind them.
Across — the answers
- 1A“Boatloads” or “truckloads” — SHIPMENTS. The clue is pointing at large quantities of goods in transit, and the nine letters fit most grids that use it. “Tons”, “scads” and “loads” turn up for shorter slots.
- 2A“Deadliest Catch” catch — CRABS. The series follows crab boats in the Bering Sea, so any clue naming the show almost always wants CRABS.
Down — how to crack the rest
- 1DRead the clue's register. “Big”, “heaps” or “masses” signal a quantity word; a proper noun signals a name.
- 2DCount the squares before you commit. Answer length rules out most candidates instantly.
- 3DFill the crossings you're sure of first — three known letters usually decide the answer for you.
- 4DWatch the tense and plural. A clue ending in “-s” or “-ed” nearly always wants the same ending in the answer.
Play anywhere
In the browser, on your phone, or downloaded for the plane.
In your browser
Nothing to install. The puzzle loads on this page in Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge — which is also why it works unblocked on most school and office networks.
Android app
Boatload Daily Crosswords is on Google Play, with downloadable puzzle packs for offline solving. Get it on Google Play →
iPhone & iPad
The same daily crosswords on iOS, synced to your device rather than an account. Get it on the App Store →
Offline solving
The web version needs a connection to fetch each grid. If you want puzzles on a flight or a commute, download a pack in the app first and solve with no signal.
Watch a solve
Two and a half minutes, one full 13×13 grid, start to finish.
More word games
Browse all crossword games
Easy CrosswordGentle clues, everyday words. 
Premier CrosswordA bigger Sunday-size grid. 
Boatload CrosswordThe classic 13×13 — 40,000+ free puzzles. C Crossword GamesEvery crossword on the site. W Word GamesWord search, anagrams and more. P Puzzle GamesLogic and tile puzzles. H Hot GamesWhat everyone is playing now. N New GamesThe latest additions. FAQ
Is Boatload Crossword really free?
Yes. All 40,000+ puzzles are free to play, with no account and no download. The site is supported by advertising.
Does it work on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The game runs in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers — nothing to install, and the grid resizes to fit your screen.
How hard are the puzzles?
You choose. Every puzzle comes in easy, medium and hard versions of the same 13×13 grid, so you can settle in at your level.
Is there a new puzzle every day?
Yes — a new daily crossword every morning, plus the full archive whenever you want more.
Who makes the puzzles?
The crosswords are created by Boatload Puzzles, LLC. This site is an independent fan site where you can play them free.
What is the answer to the clue “boatloads or truckloads”?
The usual answer is SHIPMENTS. The clue points at large quantities of goods being moved, and the nine-letter answer fits most grids that use it.
What is the “Deadliest Catch” boatload crossword clue?
CRABS. The series follows crab fishing boats in the Bering Sea, so clues referring to it almost always want CRABS as the catch.
Can I play Boatload Crossword unblocked at school or work?
Yes. The puzzles load straight from boatloadcrossword.com in a normal browser tab, with nothing to install, so they work on most school and office networks.
Can I play offline?
The browser version needs a connection to load each puzzle. For offline solving, install the Boatload Daily Crosswords app on Android or iOS and download puzzles in advance.
Does my progress save if I close the tab?
Yes. Progress on the current puzzle is stored in your browser on your own device, so you can close the tab and come back to the same grid.