The Best Jigsaw Puzzles For Adults

Buying Guide

Whether you want to exercise your brain or just do something relaxing, solving jigsaw puzzles is a hobby you can do anytime alone or with loved ones. Adult jigsaw puzzles usually offer more complexity than puzzles for children, so they’re a good choice if you like solving problems and can point out small details. You also get to choose from a wide selection that includes everything from realistic scenes of places, things and people to holiday, character and fantasy themes.

Your experience level with puzzles will guide you on the right number of pieces. If you’re a beginner, consider puzzles that include 100 to 300 pieces and usually just take a few hours to finish. If you’re somewhat experienced, you may find 500- to 750-piece puzzles a reasonable option that can take four hours or longer to complete. Puzzles with 1,000 pieces or more provide a good challenge even for experienced puzzlers. However, it could take anywhere from nine to 19 hours to finish one of these.

You’ll also want to consider how complex and familiar the puzzle design is. You might find it easier to assemble a puzzle featuring your favorite movie character or piece of artwork than a detailed waterfall scene in nature. If the puzzle has many similar colors, this can make it harder to locate the right pieces as can a puzzle where a lot of elements blend together. A puzzle with more varied colors will simplify the sorting process and can save you from more frustration.

Plus, you’ll want to look at the puzzle piece size and shapes. You’ll find that clearly unique shapes and larger pieces lead to an easier assembly experience. On the other hand, small puzzle pieces that come in similar shapes increase the puzzle’s difficulty level. It also helps to get a puzzle made of a durable material that won’t fray and make it harder to securely lock the pieces together.

Of course, you’ll want to make sure the puzzle is appealing enough to keep your attention through several hours of assembly. This means you’ll want to carefully choose a scene that you’ll feel fulfilled putting together or at least want to see through to the end. You might even find some options that would make a nice addition as artwork in your home.

• Rectangular puzzles are the most common and usually easier for beginners. However, you can also find puzzles in shapes such as circles and hearts that can present a bigger challenge.
• To prevent eye strain and make it easier to tell puzzle pieces apart, you’ll want to make sure your area has sufficient lighting. Working near a window or using a desk lamp can help. You can also look for puzzles with matte pieces instead of glossy ones to cut down on any glare.
• Unless you’ll complete your adult jigsaw puzzle in one sitting, you’ll need to plan on storage. If you have a dedicated area, you could just leave the puzzle there. Otherwise, you might use a roll-up puzzle mat or special puzzle board to keep from losing your work. You can put any unused pieces back in the box or in any sorting trays you’re using.
• Make sure that you don’t get a puzzle that’s too large for your workspace. You can especially run into issues if you’ll use a small table since some adult puzzles are over two feet wide.
• After you finish the puzzle, decide on whether to preserve it. You can buy special adhesive sheets that you apply to the puzzle’s back and then apply some pressure for a secure stick. A messier option involves using a special glue you can apply to one side or both. You can also put a puzzle in a frame for hanging.
• For an easier puzzle-building experience, consider using trays or something else you can sort similarly colored puzzle pieces in. After sorting, you may find it easiest to start building the puzzle’s borders before you tackle the middle.
• If you end up with a dreaded missing puzzle piece, try asking the manufacturer for a replacement piece.
• To help you with solving the adult jigsaw puzzle, manufacturers often include a poster you can refer to rather than make you rely on the smaller image on the box.