Scrabble Tile Values
Every letter's point value and tile count in the standard 100-tile set. (Yes, I double-checked the math. My gradebook has taught me to trust no total until it's been added twice.)
All 26 letters, sorted by point value
Total: 100 tiles (98 letters + 2 blanks) — the complete standard Scrabble set.
Point values, grouped
| Points | Letters | Count per letter |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Blank | 2 tiles total |
| 1 | E | 12 each |
| 1 | A, I | 9 each |
| 1 | O | 8 each |
| 1 | N, R, T | 6 each |
| 1 | L, S, U | 4 each |
| 2 | D | 4 each |
| 2 | G | 3 each |
| 3 | B, C, M, P | 2 each |
| 4 | F, H, V, W, Y | 2 each |
| 5 | K | 1 each |
| 8 | J, X | 1 each |
| 10 | Q, Z | 1 each |
Why the point distribution matters
Scrabble's tile bag isn't random chaos — it's a carefully rigged economy. Letters you'll draw constantly (E, A, I, O, N, R, T) are worth almost nothing, because if they scored big every single turn would feel like a jackpot and the game would lose all texture. Meanwhile Q, Z, J, and X are rare, awkward, and worth real points precisely because nobody wants to get stuck holding them at the end of the game. (I relate. Every June I get stuck holding a rack full of ungraded essays and zero good options.)
Knowing the distribution changes how you play. If you're holding an E or an A, relax — eleven more are still floating around the bag, so there's no urgency to force a bad play just to offload it. If you draw a Q, Z, J, or X, the math shifts: these letters are worth stockpiling patience for, since landing one on a double or triple letter square can single-handedly swing a close game. Good players track which high-value tiles have already been played and adjust their odds accordingly — the ocean has currents, and so does the tile bag.
The blank tiles deserve a special mention: they score zero, but they're arguably the two most powerful tiles in the entire set, because they let you complete a bingo or dodge a dead rack when the letters just aren't cooperating. Flexibility over points — a lesson I try (and mostly fail) to apply to my own life outside the classroom too.
Once you've got the values memorized, put them to work with the Scrabble Helper, which finds your highest-scoring legal play automatically, or check any word's exact score with the Scrabble Word Checker.
Related word tools
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles are in a Scrabble set?
100 — 98 letter tiles plus 2 blanks. I've counted them out on the kitchen table more times than I'd like to admit, usually while a 13-year-old asks if Scrabble is 'even a real game anymore.' It is. Fight me.
Why is Q worth 10 points if U isn't required?
Q is worth 10 points because of how hard it is to play, not because of a firm U requirement. Most Q words do lean on U (QUIZ, QUAKE), which makes Q genuinely awkward to unload — but a handful of legal words like QI, QAT, and QOPH skip the U entirely. The high point value is Scrabble's way of compensating you for carrying a rack anchor. Think of it as combat pay.
What's the point value of a blank tile?
Zero. Blanks score nothing no matter what letter you declare them as — the payoff is flexibility, not points. Play one as an S to pluralize a word for 30 points, and the blank itself still contributes exactly zero to that total. It's the substitute teacher of Scrabble tiles: does the job, gets no credit.
Which letter has the most tiles in the bag?
E, with 12 tiles — more than double the count of the next most common letters (A and I, at 9 each). It's also worth just 1 point, which tracks: the letter you'll draw constantly had better not be worth much, or every rack would turn into a jackpot.