Large Print Word Searches: A Practical Guide

A good large print word search has grid letters of at least 18 points, a word list of at least 16 points, generous spacing between letters, and a grid small enough to keep that size on one page — 18×18 at most on US Letter and 17×17 on A4. On this site every library puzzle meets that standard, and any puzzle you make can be printed in large print if its grid is small enough. This guide covers choosing, printing and setting up a comfortable large print puzzle, for yourself or for someone else.

Who large print is for

Anyone who finds standard puzzle books small: people who’ve misplaced their reading glasses, readers with low vision, children learning letters, anyone solving in dim light or across a table. Large print isn’t an “easy mode” — it’s a way of presenting any puzzle. A Hard puzzle with backward words can be large print, and so can an Easy one.

What to look for

Real, stated sizes

Many puzzles are called large print because they look big on a screen. Ask for the printed size in points. On this site:

• Grid letters: 18–26 pt in large print.
• Word list: 16 pt.
• Instructions: 14 pt.

These are true only when printed at actual size (100%), which is why every PDF page footer says so.

Spacing, not just size

Big letters jammed together are still hard to track along a line. Each letter here sits in a cell about two-thirds larger than the letter itself, so rows and columns stay distinct.

A clear typeface

The letters use Atkinson Hyperlegible Next, a typeface created for the Braille Institute of America to keep similar shapes distinct. Uppercase-only grids help too: every letter is the same height.

Contrast

Black letters on white paper, no background tints, no decorative borders behind the grid. The answer key uses a soft gray band so the letters underneath stay readable.

Choosing a puzzle

Start with familiar vocabulary and a modest grid:

• First puzzles: Easy difficulty, 10×10 to 13×13. Try Backyard Flower Garden or Fruit Market.
• Regular solvers: Medium, 13×13 to 15×15 — Backyard Birds or Road Trip.
• Experienced solvers: Hard, up to 17×17 — see puzzles for adults.

Every one of our 48 library puzzles fits large print on both paper sizes. Browse them on the large print word search page.

Making your own large print puzzle

Personal puzzles — family names, a favorite hobby, a hometown’s streets — are especially welcome as gifts. In the word search maker:

1. Enter 8–14 words.
2. Choose a grid of 17×17 or smaller (the maker suggests a size).
3. Generate, then open Print & PDF and choose Large print.

If you pick a grid that’s too big, the PDF button explains that large print would need letters below 18 points and offers a smaller version of your puzzle. It never shrinks the type and still calls it large print.

Printing it right

1. Download the PDF rather than using quick print — the sizes are exact.
2. Print at Actual size / 100%. Avoid “Fit to page.”
3. Match the paper to the printer: US Letter in North America, A4 almost everywhere else.
4. Black and white is perfect.
5. Heavier paper (90–120 g/m², or 24–32 lb) feels nicer and keeps pens from bleeding through.

If the word list doesn’t fit under the grid at 16 points, it continues on a second page — the first page says so. That’s by design: nothing is shrunk to squeeze it in.

Setting up for comfortable solving

• Light: bright, even light from the side or behind the shoulder reduces glare on the page.
• Pens: a felt-tip or highlighter is easier to see than a ballpoint. Highlighters mark whole words without hiding letters.
• A clipboard gives a firm surface in an armchair.
• Magnifier: a sheet magnifier works well on large print grids for extra comfort.

Playing on a screen instead

On a tablet or computer, large print is about zoom:

• Use the zoom buttons under the board (up to 200%).
• Tap the first and last letter instead of dragging — no steady hand needed.
• Turn on dark mode in the footer if a bright screen is uncomfortable; found words show as a bright band with dark letters.
• Increase your device’s text size; the page reflows.

Details in playing with a keyboard, touch, or larger text.

How large print compares with standard print

	Standard print	Large print
Grid letters	about 9.5–20 pt, depending on grid size	18–26 pt
Word list	11.5 pt	16 pt
Largest grid	25×25 on both papers	18×18 Letter, 17×17 A4
Best for	Most readers, big grids	Low vision, young readers, solving at a distance

For reference, a typical paperback book uses text around 10–12 points. At 18 points, a capital letter is roughly 4–5 mm tall on paper, and the cell around it is larger again, so the grid is easy to follow with a finger.

Large print for care homes and groups

Large print puzzles suit group activity sessions well:

• Print one per person rather than sharing, so everyone can hold the page at a comfortable distance.
• Choose familiar themes: gardens, seasons, travel, kitchens, songs. Our library includes all of these.
• Use Easy or Medium. Words that read forward keep the session relaxed and sociable.
• Read the list aloud at the start, so everyone knows what they’re looking for even if reading the list is tiring.
• Work in pairs where one person reads and the other finds.
• Keep answer keys handy so a staff member can help anyone who gets stuck on the last word.

The pack builder on the printable library can produce a week of large print puzzles in one PDF.

Choosing a puzzle for low vision

Size isn’t the only thing that matters. For solvers with low vision:

• Fewer, longer words are easier than many short ones.
• Smaller grids keep the letters larger: a 12×12 large print grid uses bigger letters than a 17×17, because the page width is shared among fewer cells.
• Forward directions (Easy) reduce the strain of tracking letters in unusual directions.
• Matte paper reduces glare compared with glossy paper.

Ask the solver what they prefer. Some enjoy a Hard puzzle in large print, and the format supports it.

Common problems and fixes

The letters look smaller than expected. The print dialog probably used “Fit to page.” Reprint at 100%.

The word list is on a second page. At 16 points, a long list may not fit under the grid. That’s intentional — the alternative would be shrinking the list. Use fewer words if you want everything on one page.

The PDF button says the grid is too big for large print. Choose 18×18 or smaller on Letter, or 17×17 or smaller on A4. The maker explains and offers a fitting size.

The answer key is hard to read. The key uses a light gray band behind found words so letters stay visible. If your printer prints gray very dark, use the draft or “economy” setting for the key.

Frequently asked

Is large print easier? No — only bigger. Difficulty comes from directions, grid size and words, which you choose separately.

Can I print any library puzzle in large print? Yes. All 48 fit on both Letter and A4.

Can I make the letters even bigger? Choose a smaller grid. Large print scales letters up to 26 points as the grid gets smaller.

Giving large print puzzles as a gift

A small stack of printed puzzles is an easy, thoughtful present for a relative or neighbor. Use the printable pack builder to choose up to ten puzzles, select Large print, and put answer keys at the end. Staple the puzzles into a booklet and keep the keys in an envelope.

A sample large print setup

• Words: 12 familiar words on one theme
• Difficulty: Easy or Medium
• Grid: 13×13 (letters around 25 points)
• Print: Large print, US Letter or A4, at 100%
• Extras: Name line, answer key printed separately, a felt-tip pen

If you’re unsure whether someone needs large print, print one page each way and let them choose. Many people prefer large print once they’ve tried it, even without a vision problem.

Large print isn’t a separate kind of puzzle — it’s the same puzzle, printed so that more people can enjoy it.

Good light helps too.

Summary

• Look for stated point sizes: 18 pt letters, 16 pt word list.
• Keep grids at 17×17 or smaller for large print on any paper.
• Print the PDF at 100% on the right paper size.
• On screen, use zoom and tap-tap selection.

Find a puzzle on the large print word search page, or read the technical background in choosing readable grid and font sizes.