Word Ladder

Word Ladder gives you two words and asks you to turn the first into the second. At every step you change exactly one letter, and the result must be a real word from the game list. A puzzle shows the shortest possible number of steps, so you can aim for a perfect ladder. Play with three-letter or four-letter words, with easy, normal and long ladders. A hint shows the next word of a shortest path. Play Word Ladder free online in your browser — no download or sign-up needed.

Steps 0Shortest 0Solved 0

    Turn the start word into the target word. Change exactly one letter at each step and make a real word every time. Fewer steps is better; the shortest ladder is shown above.

    Game Information

    Category
    Word Games
    Players
    Single player
    Difficulty
    Three- and four-letter words, short and long ladders
    Game type
    Words, Puzzle, Vocabulary
    Works on
    Desktop and mobile browsers
    Controls
    • Keyboard: type the next word and press Enter
    • Touch: type in the box and press Add
    • Keyboard: H hint, N new puzzle
    Features
    • Three difficulty settings
    • Shows the shortest number of steps
    • Hint and Remove last buttons
    • Show solution button
    • Solved and perfect counts saved

    How to Play Word Ladder

    Objective

    Reach the target word from the start word by changing one letter at a time, always forming a valid word.

    Starting a game

    Choose a mode. The start word is at the top and the target word is shown dashed at the bottom.

    Rules

    • Each new word must differ from the previous word by exactly one letter, in the same position order.
    • Every word must be in the game word list.
    • You cannot repeat a word in the same ladder.
    • The number of steps is counted and compared with the shortest ladder.

    Controls

    • Keyboard: type the next word and press Enter
    • Touch: type in the box and press Add
    • Keyboard: H hint, N new puzzle

    Winning and losing

    You win when you reach the target word. A ladder with the shortest possible number of steps is marked as perfect.

    Tips and Strategies

    • Work from both ends: think which words could lead into the target.
    • Change letters that already match the target first only if that keeps real words.
    • Vowels are often the key letters in three-letter words.
    • Use Remove last to back out of a dead end.
    • If you are stuck, take a hint and note which letter changed.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which words are accepted?

    Words from the project word list of common three- and four-letter words. Some rare words are not included.

    Is the shortest ladder always shown?

    Yes. The Shortest figure is the smallest number of steps that exists for this puzzle.

    Can I change the order of letters?

    No. You change one letter in place at each step; letters do not move.

    More Games

    Looking for something else to play? Browse more word games or the full catalog.

    More Word GamesAll Games