Type a message and see it drawn in pigpen cipher symbols instantly. Download it as a crisp PNG or SVG, print it with the key for a treasure hunt, or decode a pigpen message by clicking the symbols you see.
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Click the symbols you see, in order. Use Space between words. Letters are shown on the keys as a key; switch them off to test yourself.
Pigpen key
Letters A–I sit in a tic-tac-toe grid, J–R in a grid with dots, S–V in an X and W–Z in an X with dots. Each letter is drawn as the shape of its pen.
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How to use the Pigpen Cipher Translator
Type your message in the box. Each letter is drawn as its pigpen symbol right away.
Adjust the look: symbol size, line weight, ink color and how many symbols fit on a line.
Download or print: save a PNG or SVG, or print the message with the key on the page.
To decode, open Pigpen → text and click the matching symbol for each shape you see; press Space between words.
Copy the decoded text or send it back to be drawn again.
The pigpen symbols at a glance
Each symbol is the outline of a letter's cell in the key. A dot means the letter comes from the second grid or the second X.
Letters
Key figure
Shape of the symbols
A B C
Top row of the grid
Open at the top: A = right + bottom lines, B = U shape, C = left + bottom lines
D E F
Middle row of the grid
D = open on the left, E = full square, F = open on the right
G H I
Bottom row of the grid
Open at the bottom: G = top + right, H = upside-down U, I = top + left
J – R
Grid with dots
Same shapes as A – I, each with a dot inside (J = A shape + dot, N = square + dot)
S T U V
The X
V-shaped wedges: S opens up (V), T opens left (>), U opens right (<), V opens down (Λ)
W X Y Z
The X with dots
Same wedges as S – V, each with a dot
Ideas for using pigpen messages
Treasure hunts and escape rooms: print the clue without letters and hide the key somewhere else in the room.
Classroom code-breaking: give students the key chart and a short sentence; ask them to make their own key with a different letter order.
Party invitations and cards: download the PNG and drop it into a card, with the answer printed on the back.
Worksheets: switch on "Show letters under symbols" to make an answer key that matches the puzzle exactly.
A little history
Grid-and-dot ciphers like pigpen have been around since at least the 1700s. Freemasons used them for private records, which is why the system is often called the Masonic cipher, and versions appear on gravestones and in letters from the American Civil War era. Today it is one of the most popular first ciphers for kids because the key is easy to draw from memory.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pigpen cipher?
The pigpen cipher replaces each letter with a symbol taken from the lines around it in a key diagram: two tic-tac-toe grids and two X shapes, one of each with dots. Because the letters sit in compartments like pigs in pens, it is called pigpen. It is also known as the Freemason's or Masonic cipher, since Freemasons used it in the 1700s.
How does the pigpen key work?
In the most common version, A–I fill a tic-tac-toe grid row by row, J–R fill a second grid where each cell has a dot, S–V go into the four wedges of an X (top, left, right, bottom) and W–Z into a second X with dots. A letter's symbol is the outline of its cell: E in the middle of the grid is a full square, A in the top-left corner is just a right and bottom line, and N is a full square with a dot.
How do I decode a pigpen message?
Match each symbol to the shape of a cell in the key. Check whether it has a dot (second grid or second X), then whether it is a box shape (grid) or a V shape (X). In this tool, open the Pigpen → text tab and click the symbol that looks the same; the letters appear in the box as you go.
Are there different versions of the pigpen cipher?
Yes. Some versions place the letters in a different order, for example filling the grids down the columns, putting the X letters in another order, or using a dotted grid with letters alternating between the plain and dotted pens. If a message does not decode, ask for or look for the key that came with it. This tool uses the widely taught version: A–I, J–R with dots, S–V, W–Z with dots.
Does the pigpen cipher have numbers?
The classic pigpen key only covers the 26 letters. Numbers are usually spelled out or written normally. This translator can keep digits and punctuation as ordinary characters, or drop them if you untick the option.
Is the pigpen cipher secure?
No. Each letter always maps to the same symbol and the key is widely published, so anyone who recognizes it can read the message. It is perfect for escape rooms, scavenger hunts, classroom code-breaking and secret notes between friends, not for real secrets.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.