High-Scoring Words and How to Play Them

Big scores rarely come from long words. They come from putting a few valuable letters in the right place. This guide shows which words score the most and how to use them.

The letters that matter

Most tiles are worth 1 or 2 points. These are the ones worth playing for:

A standard Scrabble set has only one J, Q, X and Z, so plan to use each one well when you draw it.

The best word at every length

Scores below add up letter values before any bonus squares.

Many of the top words, like JAZZ and ZYZZYVA, need more Zs than a standard set has. The extra letters must come from blank tiles, which score nothing, so the real score is lower. The everyday column is usually the more realistic target.

Short words with heavy letters

Two- and three-letter words are where heavy letters earn the most, because they fit into tight spots next to other words.

Two-letter words with J, X or K:

Three-letter words, highest scores first:

High-scoring words you already know

You don't need obscure words to score well. These everyday words are worth the most:

Getting the most from a heavy letter

• Put it on a bonus square. A Z on a triple letter square is worth 30 points before anything else counts.
• Score it twice. Place a heavy letter where it forms two words at once, one across and one down, so it counts in both. Short words like XI and JO make this easy.
• Use every tile. Playing all seven tiles in one turn earns a bonus: 50 points in Scrabble and 35 in Words With Friends. That's often worth more than any single heavy letter.
• Don't hold it too long. A heavy letter sitting on your rack for several turns costs more than playing it for a modest score now.

To find the best play from your own tiles, type them into the Scrabble word finder or the Words With Friends solver. Results are sorted by score.