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Scrabble gifts for Christmas and birthdays
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Someone you know loves Scrabble and you need a present. Start with what they already own, then pick from the groups below: small gifts, gifts for serious players, families, grandparents, and travelers.
What is the best Scrabble gift?
If they already own a board, the new Official Scrabble Players Dictionary or a turntable is the safest choice. If they own nothing, a new set makes the best present. The table sorts our picks by who they suit.
| Gift | Best for | Gift size |
|---|---|---|
| Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 8th edition | Anyone who plays often | Small |
| Scrabble Slam | Stockings and short games | Small |
| World's Smallest Scrabble | A joke gift or a desk toy | Small |
| Sand timers | Someone who already has a board | Small |
| Lazy susan turntable | Someone who already has a board | Small |
| Scrabble Classic | A family without a set | Small |
| Scrabble Junior | Children aged 5 and up | Small |
| Scrabble to Go | Trips and vacations | Small |
| Low vision tiles | Easier reading | Small |
| Scrabble Deluxe Edition | Families who play often | Bigger |
| Retro 1949 Edition or Deluxe Travel Edition | Serious players and collectors | Bigger |
What should you check before you buy?
Check three things: whether they own a set, which dictionary they use, and who will play. A quick look at the games shelf saves a duplicate.
- No set at all: buy a set. Our guide to Scrabble sets explains the choices.
- A set with missing tiles: see our guide to replacement Scrabble tiles before you buy a whole new game.
- A dictionary on the shelf: check the edition. The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary from Merriam-Webster is the usual family reference, and the eighth edition is the newest.
What are good Scrabble stocking stuffers?
A card game, a pocket-size set, or a sand timer all fit in a stocking. They make a small birthday present or a white elephant gift too.
Scrabble Slam is a fast card game where you change one letter at a time. Its listing says it is for 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, and it fits in a carry-on or a purse.
World's Smallest Scrabble is a pocket-size magnetic novelty set. It is more of a shelf toy than a game for four, so treat it as a laugh and not a replacement for a board.
For a quick race, Bananagrams comes in a banana-shaped pouch and plays well in the car on the way to Thanksgiving dinner. We cover it in our games like Scrabble guide.
What should you buy a serious Scrabble player?
Buy something that improves a set they already have: a dictionary, a turntable, or a timer.
The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 8th edition, is from Merriam-Webster. Its publisher's description lists over 200 new playable words, including boba, kayfabe, spox, yas, and zoomies, and more than 100,000 playable words from two to eight letters. It settles arguments at the family table.
There is also a hardcover edition of the eighth for a nicer gift.
Check which word list the player uses before you buy. Clubs and tournaments in the US and Canada play the NASPA Word List 2023 (NWL2023), which contains every word in the seventh edition of the dictionary, plus longer words and some words the book leaves out. A family player can use the eighth. We have not confirmed that every word in the eighth is in NWL2023, so a club player should check the club's list. The seventh edition is cheaper.
A lazy susan spins the board to face each player, so nobody reads letters upside down.
A pack of six sand timers keeps turns moving without a phone on the table.
A strong player may also like our two-letter words list and the scoring guide. Both are free, so put a link in the card.
What are the best bigger Scrabble gifts?
For a bigger present, choose a set with character: the Retro 1949 Edition, the Deluxe Edition, or the Deluxe Travel Edition.
The Retro Series Edition is styled after the 1949 original, with wooden tiles, wooden racks, and a velvet pouch.
The Deluxe Edition has a board that rotates on rubber wheels, 100 wooden tiles, and a folding carrying case.
Super Scrabble has a 21 by 21 board and 200 tiles. It suits groups who want a longer game, but we found it on Amazon only through a third-party seller, so we have not added a card. Read more on our Super Scrabble page.
What is a good Scrabble gift for a family?
A new set is a good shared present if the family has no board or the old one is incomplete. Christmas morning and a birthday party both work, and the Classic is a safe first set.
Younger children can join in with Scrabble Junior, which has a two-sided board and is made for ages 5 and up. For the youngest, My First Bananagrams is made for ages 4 and up (see our games like Scrabble guide). If the grown-ups disagree on the rules, our house rules page helps.
What is a good Scrabble gift for grandparents?
Low vision tiles are the best choice, because clear tiles make the game easier to enjoy together. They have bold black half-inch letters on white tiles and usually cost less than a new game, though you should check that they fit the board. Our large print guide has more.
A lazy susan also helps, because nobody has to lean across the table to read the words.
What is a good Scrabble gift for travelers?
A travel set is the best choice: it is made to be carried, so it suits road trips, holiday visits, and flights.
For someone who plays often, there is also a higher-end travel set with wooden tiles.
What free extras can you add to the card?
Add a link to the free tools on this site. They cost nothing and help a new player get started.
- Our score keeper adds up the scores for you.
- Our rules page settles who is right.
- Our printable score sheet suits anyone who prefers pen and paper.
- Our tile values page lists every letter and its points.
Common questions
What is a good gift for a Scrabble lover?
If they have a board, the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, a lazy susan, or a card game is a good add-on. If they have none, a new set makes a good shared present.
What can I give someone who already owns Scrabble?
Choose an add-on: a dictionary, a turntable, sand timers, or a different word game such as Scrabble Slam.
What is a good stocking stuffer for a Scrabble fan?
A card game such as Scrabble Slam, a pocket-size set, or a pack of sand timers all fit in a stocking.
What is the best gift for a serious Scrabble player?
The newest Official Scrabble Players Dictionary and a lazy susan improve a set they already own. For a bigger gift, choose the Retro 1949 Edition or the Deluxe Edition.
Which dictionary should a Scrabble player in the US have?
For family games, the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary from Merriam-Webster is the usual choice, and the eighth edition is the newest. Clubs and tournaments use the NASPA Word List 2023, so club players should check which list their club follows.
What is the best Scrabble gift for grandparents?
Low vision tiles with half-inch letters make the game easier to enjoy together, and a lazy susan saves leaning across the board.
What Scrabble gift suits young children?
Scrabble Junior is made for ages 5 and up. For the youngest, My First Bananagrams is made for ages 4 and up.
What is the best Scrabble gift for a traveler?
Scrabble to Go is made to be carried on trips. A higher-end travel edition with wooden tiles suits someone who plays often.
Related: Which Scrabble set should you buy? · Word games like Scrabble · Large print Scrabble · Score keeper · Rules · Tile values