Edition: The standard English language Scrabble with 100 tiles and the usual letter values. Last checked October 25, 2026

Scrabble Rules: How to Play and Score Scrabble

Scrabble is the word game where you build words with letter tiles on a board, crossword style. Here are the rules in short, plus answers to the questions that most often start arguments, like which words are allowed.

Players
2 to 4
Age
10 and up
Playing time
60 to 90 minutes

How to win: Score the most points by playing words, where letter values and premium squares all count.

Who is right?

The classic arguments at the table when you play Scrabble.

Which words are allowed?

Words in the dictionary you agreed on.

Official rule

Any word found in a standard dictionary is allowed, including inflected forms like plurals and verb endings. Proper nouns, abbreviations, words that need a hyphen or apostrophe, and words that are always capitalized are not allowed.

Common house rule

Many American families use The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary or Merriam-Webster as the judge. Agree on it before you start.

What happens when you challenge a word?

Whoever loses the challenge pays for it.

Official rule

If the word is invalid, the player takes back their tiles and scores nothing that turn. If the word is valid, the challenger loses their next turn in most editions.

Common house rule

Many play with no penalty for challenging, so you can look up words freely.

Can you exchange tiles late in the game?

Only if there are enough in the bag.

Official rule

You may only exchange if there are at least 7 tiles left in the bag. Exchange as many as you like, and that is your turn.

Common house rule

Some allow exchanges as long as there are any tiles in the bag.

How much is a blank tile worth?

Zero points.

Official rule

A blank can be used as any letter but scores 0 points. The letter it stands for stays the same for the rest of the game.

Common house rule

Some allow swapping a blank on the board for the real letter from your rack. That is not official.

What you need

  • Game board with 15 by 15 squares
  • Letter tiles with point values
  • 2 blank tiles
  • Tile racks
  • A bag for the tiles
  • Score pad

Setup

  1. 1Put all tiles in the bag and mix them.
  2. 2Each player draws one tile. The player closest to A goes first. A blank beats everything.
  3. 3Return the tiles to the bag, and each player draws 7 tiles for their rack.
  4. 4Agree on which dictionary you will use before the game starts.

How to play

  1. 1The first word must be played across or down and cover the center star. The star counts as a double word score.
  2. 2Later words must connect to tiles already on the board, like a crossword.
  3. 3All tiles you play in one turn must be in a single line, either across or down.
  4. 4Every new word formed along the way must be valid, and it scores points too.
  5. 5Add up the letter values and apply any premium squares under your new tiles.
  6. 6If you use all 7 tiles in one turn, you get a 50 point bonus, often called a bingo.
  7. 7Draw new tiles from the bag so you have 7 again.
  8. 8Instead of playing a word, you may exchange tiles or pass. You score no points that turn.

Premium squares

  • Double letter: the tile on that square counts double.
  • Triple letter: the tile on that square counts three times.
  • Double word: the whole word counts double.
  • Triple word: the whole word counts three times.
  • Premium squares only count on the turn a tile is first placed on them.
  • If a word covers two word squares at once, both multiply, so two double word squares give four times the score.

Ending the game

  • The game ends when the bag is empty and one player has used all their tiles, or when no one can play another word.
  • Each player subtracts the value of their unplayed tiles from their score.
  • If a player has used all their tiles, they add everyone else's unplayed tile values to their score.

House rules

Pick the rules you want to play with tonight. Everyone at the table has to agree.

Frequently asked questions

How many points do you get for using all 7 tiles?

A 50 point bonus, on top of the value of the word.

Do premium squares count again when a word is built on later?

No. A premium square only counts on the turn a tile is first placed on it.

Can you play foreign words or slang in Scrabble?

Only if they appear in the dictionary you agreed to use.

Source: The publisher's rulebook and common family tradition. The rules are written in our own words. Ask the referee if you are unsure.

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