Big Scrabble scores come from three things: high-value tiles, premium squares and the 50-point bonus for using all seven tiles. This page lists the highest face-value words of each length in the ENABLE word list, then explains why the most useful high scorers are often short words rather than long, exotic ones.
How tile values work
In the standard English game, A, E, I, O, U, L, N, S, T and R score 1; D and G score 2; B, C, M and P score 3; F, H, V, W and Y score 4; K scores 5; J and X score 8; and Q and Z score 10. Blanks score nothing. A word's face value is the sum of its tiles, before premium squares and bonuses.
Highest face-value words by length
We calculated these from every word in ENABLE. Many need two Zs, two Js or similar, which a standard set can only provide with a blank, so they are more curiosities than practical plays.
3-letter words
| Word | Face value |
|---|---|
| ZAX | 19 |
| ZEK | 16 |
| FEZ | 15 |
| FIZ | 15 |
| PYX | 15 |
| WIZ | 15 |
| BIZ | 14 |
| COZ | 14 |
| KEX | 14 |
| ZAP | 14 |
4-letter words
| Word | Face value |
|---|---|
| JAZZ | 29 |
| FIZZ | 25 |
| FUZZ | 25 |
| BUZZ | 24 |
| QUIZ | 22 |
| RAZZ | 22 |
| HAJJ | 21 |
| JEEZ | 20 |
| FOZY | 19 |
| HAZY | 19 |
5-letter words
| Word | Face value |
|---|---|
| JAZZY | 33 |
| FIZZY | 29 |
| FUZZY | 29 |
| WHIZZ | 29 |
| MUZZY | 28 |
| DIZZY | 27 |
| FRIZZ | 26 |
| HUZZA | 26 |
| TIZZY | 26 |
| ABUZZ | 25 |
6-letter words
| Word | Face value |
|---|---|
| BEZAZZ | 35 |
| PAZAZZ | 35 |
| PIZAZZ | 35 |
| ZIZZLE | 33 |
| JAZZED | 32 |
| JAZZER | 31 |
| JAZZES | 31 |
| FRIZZY | 30 |
| HUZZAH | 30 |
| MIZZLY | 29 |
7-letter words
| Word | Face value |
|---|---|
| ZYZZYVA | 43 |
| PIZAZZY | 39 |
| JAZZILY | 35 |
| QUIZZED | 35 |
| ZIZZLED | 35 |
| JAZZMAN | 34 |
| JAZZMEN | 34 |
| QUIZZER | 34 |
| QUIZZES | 34 |
| ZIZZLES | 34 |
8-letter words
| Word | Face value |
|---|---|
| ZYZZYVAS | 44 |
| BEZAZZES | 37 |
| JAZZLIKE | 37 |
| PAZAZZES | 37 |
| PIZAZZES | 37 |
| QUIZZING | 36 |
| ZIZZLING | 36 |
| QUIZZERS | 35 |
| HUZZAHED | 33 |
| JAZZIEST | 33 |
Why short words often score more in practice
A five-letter word with a Z in it scores more if the Z lands on a triple letter square, and more again if the word also crosses a double or triple word square. Short words are much easier to fit onto premium squares than long ones. Three-letter words such as ZAX, FEZ, ZAP and WIZ, or two-letter words such as AX, EX, OX, XI and XU, regularly score 30 points or more when placed well.
- Play heavy tiles on letter premiums. An X or Z on a triple letter square is worth 24 or 30 points before you count the rest of the word.
- Score in two directions. If your heavy tile forms a word across and a word down, it counts in both. XI down and AX across from the same X is a classic example.
- Combine with word premiums. A word that covers a double or triple word square multiplies everything, including letter premiums.
- Do not forget the bingo bonus. A seven-letter word of modest face value plus the 50-point bonus usually beats a short high scorer. See our 7-letter words page.
Keeping heavy tiles moving
It is tempting to keep a Q or Z for the perfect square, but a tile that sits on your rack for several turns costs you. If you can play it for a reasonable score now, it is often right to do so. Learn the short words in our Q, X and Z lists so you always have an option.
Blanks and high scores
A blank can stand for any letter, but it scores nothing. That means using a blank as a Q or Z gives you the word without the points. Blanks are usually worth more as a route to a bingo than as a stand-in for a heavy tile, so think twice before spending one on a short play.
Hooks with heavy tiles
Adding a single letter to a word already on the board can create a second word for free. Plurals are the most common example, but heavy tiles hook too: an X after a vowel can turn a word such as BO into BOX while your main word runs down from the X. Checking for hooks next to premium squares is one of the quickest ways to find extra points. Before every move, scan the edges of the words already on the board for letters that could be added to the front or back, and note which ones would put your tile on a coloured square.
A simple practice routine
Pick one heavy letter a week. Learn its two- and three-letter words first, then the four-letter words that use common letters alongside it. During games, look for the premium squares near the centre of play before you look at your rack, then ask whether any short word can put your heavy tile on one of them. After the game, check the racks you struggled with to see which plays you missed.
Find high scorers in your rack
The Scrabble word finder sorts the words in your rack by tile score. Use it after a game to see the plays you missed, then read our Scrabble strategy guide for more on board play.
All lists come from the public-domain ENABLE word list. ENABLE is not an official tournament dictionary, so check doubtful words against the list your game uses.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-scoring word in Scrabble?
It depends on the board. Face value is only part of it: premium squares and the 50-point bonus usually matter more than the letters themselves.
Do these scores apply to Words With Friends?
No. Words With Friends uses different letter values, so the order of words would change.