Daily · one letter at a time · race your friends
Word Ladder
Climb from the start word to the goal, changing one letter each step. Every step must be a real word.
How to play Word Ladder
You get a start word at the top and a goal word at the bottom. Build a ladder between them, one rung at a time.
- Each new word changes exactly one letter of the word above it. The changed letter lights up green.
- Every step has to be a real word.
- A small green bar under a letter means it already matches the goal.
- Stuck? Tap any earlier rung to go back to it. That’s free: the steps after it just drop off.
- Hint fills in the next word on a shortest ladder, and adds 1 step to your score.
For example, COLD becomes WARM in 4 steps: COLD → CORD → CARD → WARD → WARM.
Par, score and racing friends
Par is the fewest steps the ladder can be done in, and every daily ladder can hit par using everyday words. Your score is the steps in your finished ladder plus any hints. When you race a friend, solving beats giving up, then fewer steps wins, then the faster time. The clock starts when you start typing.
A new ladder every day
Word Ladder Race is a free daily word ladder you can play on a phone, tablet or computer, with nothing to download. Everyone gets the same ladder on the same date, and a new one arrives at midnight. Most days use 4-letter words; Wednesdays and Saturdays stretch to 5. Finish, then send a friend the link and see who climbs it faster. Want more? Practice ladders in 4 or 5 letters are there any time and never spoil a daily one.
Tips
- Look at which letters already match the goal and try not to change them.
- Vowels are the hinge: swapping the middle vowel (CARD → CORD) often opens a new path.
- Sometimes you have to change a letter you’ll change back later. That’s part of the puzzle.
Questions
What counts as a word?
Everyday English words, including plurals and past tenses. Names, abbreviations and rude words aren’t allowed. If a word you know isn’t accepted, try another route.
Does going back cost anything?
No. Your score only counts the ladder you finish with, plus 1 for each hint. We also show how many words you tried, just for fun.
What happens if I give up?
You’ll see a shortest ladder. It counts as not solved, so your streak starts again with tomorrow’s ladder.
More word games: Daily Word, Hive, Edgewise and all word games.