There’s nothing like a good old jigsaw puzzle to pass the time. But with so many options out there, you might not know what puzzles to try, whether you’re a beginner or a vet looking for a real challenge.
When finding the perfect puzzle, Ben Jamesson, vice president of marketing and product development at Buffalo Games, says piece count is an easy jumping-off point. “I would recommend starting with a 300- or 500-piece puzzle because you can finish them in a weekend or even a single evening if you put your mind to it,” he says. Then, if that’s too easy, you can graduate to the puzzles with 1,000, 2,000 or even 3,000 pieces.
Another factor to consider when choosing difficulty is the design itself. Karen Kavett, who has popular Instagram and YouTube accounts devoted to puzzles, says color is key.
“Beginners should look for puzzles with bright colors and very clear color separation,” she says. “That will make it easier to sort the pieces into the different sections to be able to finish it quickly without getting frustrated.” On the flip side, if you’re looking for a challenge, she says to look for puzzles with large areas of a similar color or even the same color.
In the end, it’s all about finding a puzzle that you truly enjoy. “I love puzzles with bright, saturated colors, since if I’m going to be looking at a puzzle for hours, it should be colors that make me happy,” Kavett says. So whether it has a smooth gradient or features the adorable Baby Yoda, there’s a puzzle out there for you.
To help you find a puzzle that balances challenge and aesthetics, we’ve compiled a list based on Kavett’s and Jamesson’s recommendations. The puzzles are broken out by difficulty, and we even threw in some unique puzzles (including a puzzle subscription) and accessories so you can use your free time to become a jigsaw junkie.
Easy puzzles
Fairies 300-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle ($14.95; barnesandnoble.com
Start off with an easy 300-piece puzzle with this option from Barnes & Noble that depicts a dreamy fairy land.
Star Wars The Child 500-Piece Puzzle ($8.99, originally $10.99; amazon.com
If you’re a fan of The Child (also known as Baby Yoda), this adorable puzzle will have you fawning over his big eyes while you put together his 500 pieces.
Frank Lloyd Wright Guggenheim 2-Sided 500-Piece Puzzle ($15.99; barnesandnoble.com
This dual-sided puzzle depicts Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Guggenheim Museum. On one side is a beautiful photo of the iconic architectural feat, and on the other is the blueprint to the building.
Harry Potter Flying Keys Puzzle ($15.95; barnesandnoble.com
For the Harry Potter fan in your life, this 500-piece puzzle is the perfect starter to sharpen their problem-solving skills.
Medium puzzles
Moruska ‘Starry Night’ by Vincent Van Gogh 1,000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle ($13.99, originally $14.99; amazon.com
Can’t make it to the Museum of Modern Art in New York to see van Gogh’s “Starry Night” in person? This puzzle is your next best bet as you can piece together a copy of the world-famous painting.
Nevertheless She Persisted Puzzle ($18; uncommongoods.com
If you need some inspiration, try solving this puzzle, which showcases 24 of history’s most empowering women. Tons of motivational quotes are laden throughout the image, so you can persist through this 1,000-piece puzzle all the way to the end.
Galison All Are Welcome Here 1,000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle ($13.14, originally $16.99; amazon.com)
Put together a crowd of colorful, peaceful people with this delightful 1,000-piece puzzle.
Grand Canyon National Park Poster Art of The WPA 1,000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle ($16.99, originally $19.99; amazon.com
If you’re seeking a puzzle with a different look, this stylized option looks like a poster for Grand Canyon National Park.
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloons Jigsaw Puzzle ($20.79, originally $25.99; etsy.com
This gorgeous puzzle is not only delightful to look at, but it will also be a joy to slowly piece together until it reaches its beautiful complete form.
Hard puzzles
Bgraamiens Blooming Color 1,000-Piece Round Jigsaw Puzzle ($17.99; amazon.com
This colorful puzzle is a real treat to put together. The intricate shades make it a tough one to solve, but if it gets too hard there’s some lettering on the back of the pieces to make it easier.
African Animals 3000 Piece Puzzle 3,000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle ($39.95; barnesandnoble.com
If you want a puzzle that’s hard due to its sheer number of pieces, this 3,000-piece kit is the one for you. Just make sure you have enough room on your table for this behemoth, as it measures 48 inches by 32 inches. There’s a 3,000-piece option that depicts Hogwarts as well.
Areaware Gradient Puzzle ($17.50, originally $25; amazon.com
This gradient puzzle is quite tricky because the only thing that distinguishes the pieces is slight differentiation in color.
Bgraamiens The Lines Puzzle ($17.99; amazon.com
The hectic lines that are drawn across this puzzle make it hard to tell which piece goes where, as there’s no rhyme or reason to the way they’re drawn. You’ll need to tap into some real puzzling powers to solve this one.
Practically Impossible Clear Jigsaw Puzzle ($18.99; amazon.com
This puzzle contains pieces that are all clear, so you have to rely on their shape to solve this intricate puzzle. However, there are only 70 pieces, so it isn’t as heinous as our next puzzle.
Ravensburger Krypt Black ($19.99; amazon.com
This diabolical puzzle is infamously challenging, according to our experts. There are fewer than 1,000 pieces, but they’re all the same color. You’ll have to rely on the shapes of the pieces themselves and your own puzzling skills if you’re going to try to solve this bad boy.
Unique puzzles
Night Sky Wooden Puzzle ($90; uncommongoods.com
This unconventional puzzle is made out of wood, and its pieces are shaped drastically different than normal jigsaws.
Jiggy Puzzle Subscription (starting at $26 per month; jiggy.com
For the ultimate puzzle junkie, this subscription from Jiggy will send you a 500-piece puzzle every single month. You’ll never run out of fun and exciting puzzles to solve with this relaxing membership.
Personalized Puzzle (starting at $17.99, originally starting at $19.99; etsy.com
If you’re looking for something more sentimental, try out this personalized puzzle. Just send in a high-quality photo and you’ll receive puzzle pieces that create that image.
Wrebbit Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall 850-Piece 3D Puzzle ($49.99; target.com
These kinds of 3D puzzles add pop to your standard hobby, as they tower up off the table. This Harry Potter puzzle will have you building Hogwarts right in your own kitchen.
Wrebbit Empire State Building 975-Piece 3D Jigsaw Puzzle ($39.95, originally $44.99; amazon.com
This 975-piece puzzle re-creates New York’s iconic Empire State Building, and its 3D build will have the skyscraper shoot into the sky in your own home.
Puzzle accessories
MasterPieces Accessories Jigsaw Puzzle Glue Bottle and Wide Plastic Spreader, 2-Pack ($14.89; amazon.com
Want to keep your puzzle together forever? Once it’s completed, preserve it with this puzzle glue that comes with a spreader to ensure a nice, even coating.
Buffalo Games Puzzle Presto! Peel and Stick Puzzle Saver ($6.88, originally $10.99; amazon.com
If you don’t want to deal with the mess of gluing your puzzle, try these peel-and-stick sheets that apply right to the back of your puzzle to keep it pieced together.
Lavievert Jigsaw Puzzle Roll Mat ($9.99; amazon.com
If you don’t want your puzzle to take up your entire kitchen table until you solve it, this roll mat lets you easily store it and break it out at a later date. It measures 46 by 26 inches and holds up to 1,500 pieces.
Brightech LightView Flex Magnifier ($29.99, originally $35.99; amazon.com
Are your puzzling sessions going late into the night, or do you simply want some extra light along the way? This powerful lamp will illuminate your workspace so you can see each piece’s every detail. Plus, it has a built-in magnifying glass to help you really focus on the most challenging of puzzles.
MagniPros 3X Magnifying Glass ($23.95; amazon.com
Magnifying 300%, this handheld glass will help zoom in on the tiniest details in your puzzle. It also has an adjustable, dimmable light so you can get the perfect amount of light on your pieces.
AllwaySmart Puzzibly Puzzle Sorting Trays ($19.99, originally $26.50; amazon.com
If you’ve got a puzzle with a lot of different sections, these sorting trays are essential to keep all your pieces separated. Divide and conquer with this set that contains eight trays and fits up to 1,000 pieces.