How do Super Bowl Squares Work? A Simple Guide to Play
Updated: November 10, 2026 | By Meyer Roy
Super Bowl squares work on a 10 by 10 grid with 100 squares. Players fill the squares with their names, then the numbers 0 to 9 are drawn at random for each team. At the end of each quarter, the last digit of each team’s score picks the winning square.
Everything you need to play is free on this site, with no sign-up.
Need a board first? Get the free Super Bowl squares template.
What are Super Bowl Squares?
Super Bowl squares are a party game played on a grid of 100 squares during the Super Bowl. Each square belongs to one player and matches one number for each team. The game is also called football squares or Super Bowl boxes, and it needs no football knowledge.
Squares is a game of chance. Every square has the same chance before the numbers are drawn, so a first-time player can win as easily as a lifelong fan.
How do Super Bowl Squares Work, Step by Step?
Super Bowl squares work in 5 steps: get a grid, fill the squares, draw the numbers, watch the game and check the score at the end of each quarter. Setting up the grid takes about 10 minutes once your group is ready.
- Get a grid. Print one of the free printable Super Bowl squares, a 10 by 10 grid with 100 empty squares, or open the Super Bowl squares template in Excel.
- Name the teams. Write one team across the top of the grid and the other team down the left side.
- Fill the squares. Each player writes a name or initials in one or more squares until all 100 are full.
- Draw the numbers. Draw the numbers 0 to 9 at random and write one above each column. Draw them again and write one beside each row.
- Check each quarter. At the end of every quarter, take the last digit of each team’s score and find the square where the two numbers meet.
How do You Find the Winning Square?
You find the winning square in Super Bowl squares by using the last digit of each team’s score. Find the top team’s digit in the row of numbers across the top and the side team’s digit in the column down the side. The square where they meet is the winner.
Example: the top team leads 17 to 14 at halftime. The last digits are 7 and 4. The winner is the name in the square under the top number 7 and beside the side number 4.
| End of | Example score (top team first) | Winning numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter | 7 to 3 | Top 7, side 3 |
| Halftime | 17 to 14 | Top 7, side 4 |
| 3rd quarter | 24 to 17 | Top 4, side 7 |
| Final | 31 to 24 | Top 1, side 4 |
These scores are examples only, to show how the last digit works. For a full grid with names and winners, see the sample Super Bowl squares page.
How Many Winners are There in Super Bowl Squares?
Most Super Bowl squares games have 4 winners, one at the end of each quarter: the 1st quarter, halftime, the 3rd quarter and the final score. The same square can win more than once if the last digits repeat.
Some groups play for fun or small prizes, and some give a bigger prize for the final score. The Super Bowl squares payouts guide shows the common splits.
When are the Numbers Drawn in Super Bowl Squares?
The numbers in Super Bowl squares are drawn only after every square has a name in it. Drawing the numbers last keeps the game fair, because no player can choose a square that already has strong numbers.
The easy way is to write 0 to 9 on slips of paper and pull them from a cup, once for the top and once for the side. The Super Bowl squares generator can also draw them for you. Some numbers do win more often, as the best Super Bowl squares numbers guide explains.
How do Squares Work in Football With a Small Group?
Squares work in football with a small group by using a smaller grid or by giving each player more squares. A 25 square grid suits 5 to 10 players, a 50 square grid suits 10 to 25 players, and the full 100 square grid suits larger groups.
- 25 squares: a 5 by 5 grid. Each row and each column gets 2 numbers. See the 25 square Super Bowl grid.
- 50 squares: a 10 by 5 grid. Each row gets 2 numbers and each column gets 1. See the 50 square Super Bowl grid.
- 100 squares: the classic 10 by 10 grid. Each row and column gets 1 number.
What Happens if the Super Bowl Goes to Overtime?
If the Super Bowl goes to overtime, most squares games use the final score after overtime for the last prize. The 4th quarter score is then ignored. Agree on this rule before kickoff and write it on the grid, so nobody argues later. The Super Bowl squares rules page lists every rule to settle first.
Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Check the NFL’s Super Bowl page for the official kickoff time and teams.
Super Bowl Squares FAQ
Do you need to know football to play Super Bowl squares?
No. You only need to read the score at the end of each quarter and look at the last digit for each team.
How many people do you need for Super Bowl squares?
Any number works. Small groups can take several squares each or use a 25 or 50 square grid.
Can one person have more than one square?
Yes. Players often take several squares, which helps fill the grid faster.
What if not all the squares are filled?
Agree on a rule before the game. Most groups roll an unclaimed prize over to the next quarter.
Which team goes on top of the grid?
It does not matter. Pick one team for the top and one for the side, and keep it the same all game.
Can the same square win twice?
Yes. If the last digits are the same at the end of two quarters, the same square wins both.
Is Super Bowl squares free to play?
It can be. Many groups play for fun or small prizes, and every template on this site is free.
How Super Bowl Squares Work, in Short
Super Bowl squares work by matching the last digit of each team’s score to a square on a 10 by 10 grid, once per quarter. Fill the grid, draw the numbers and check the score 4 times.
Ready to set up your game? Download the free Super Bowl squares template and start filling squares.
Free Super Bowl Squares does not run pools or handle money. Rules on games with prizes differ by state and country, so check your local rules.