Gifts for Puzzle Lovers (Jigsaws, Boards and Brain Teasers)
- 20 gift ideas
- From under $10 to $100 and up
- 9 niche picks
Good gifts for puzzle lovers include a portable puzzle board with drawers, a roll-up mat, sorting trays, puzzle glue for a finished favorite and a new jigsaw with a twist, such as a Wasgij or a gradient puzzle. Brain teasers, a speed cube and crossword books suit other solvers.
Quick picks
- Best overall: A portable puzzle board with drawers Lets a puzzle in progress leave the dining table. Idea 5
- Best for experts: A gradient puzzle for experts No picture to go on, only shifts in color. Idea 4
- Best stocking stuffer: Puzzle glue to keep a favorite Turns a finished favorite into wall art. Idea 8
- Best splurge: A magnifying floor lamp A bright magnifier for tiny pieces and late nights. Idea 10
- Best for game night: An escape room game in a box An escape room of codes and riddles for the table. Idea 17
The best gifts for puzzle lovers either give them something new to solve or make the hobby easier. We sorted these 20 ideas into jigsaw puzzles, puzzle gear, brain teasers and 3D models, and paper puzzles, so you can match the type to what they already like.
Check the piece count and age label on the box, and the size of their table, before you buy. For older relatives who like quiet hobbies, see our Gifts for Grandparents guide.
Ideas 1 to 4
Jigsaw puzzles worth the table space
From detailed scenes to expert-level challenges.
1. A Ravensburger 1,000-piece puzzle
Ravensburger is known for snug-fitting pieces, and the Myths & Legends scene is busy and detailed, which rewards a patient puzzler who likes to study a picture for an evening. A 1,000-piece puzzle is a comfortable size for a weekend and fits most dining tables. The listing age label says 14 and up. Check the finished size against the table they use.
Tip: Check the finished size against the table they have for puzzling.
2. A Wasgij puzzle with a twist
Wasgij puzzles do not show the finished picture: you build the scene a character on the box is looking at, a fresh challenge for someone who has done hundreds of regular jigsaws. It suits a puzzler who is bored of box pictures and likes a bit of humor. It is a 1,000-piece puzzle, so plan a few evenings.
Tip: Tell them the box picture is a clue, not the answer.
3. A wooden puzzle with whimsy pieces
Wooden puzzles with figure-shaped whimsy pieces feel different from cardboard and look like a keepsake when done, which suits a puzzler who wants something special for a gift or a display. This one has 1,010 pieces and is made for adults. Allow extra time for it, and keep the figure pieces in a tray as you go.
Tip: Sort the figure-shaped pieces into a tray early so none get lost.
4. A gradient puzzle for experts
A color-gradient puzzle has no picture to go on, only subtle shifts in color, which makes it a hard 1,000 pieces for a seasoned puzzler who wants a real challenge. It is labeled hard and age 12 and up. Give it to someone who has finished many puzzles and enjoys sorting by shade.
Tip: Offer it to an experienced puzzler, since the box is labeled hard.
Ideas 5 to 10
Puzzle gear that makes the hobby easier
5. A portable puzzle board with drawers
A board with a cover and sorting drawers lets a puzzle in progress move off the dining table and come back later, which suits a puzzler who shares a table with the rest of the household. It holds up to 1,000 pieces and the attached cover protects the work. Measure the puzzle's finished size against the board before you buy.
Tip: Check the finished size of their usual puzzles against the board.
6. A roll-up puzzle mat
A felt mat rolls up a half-done puzzle and stores it in a bag, a simple fix for a puzzler in a small home who has to clear the table for dinner. It fits up to 1,500 pieces. It is low-cost and pairs well with a new puzzle for an easy gift set.
Tip: Pair it with a new puzzle for an easy gift set.
7. Puzzle sorting trays
Stackable trays with lids keep edges, colors and shapes apart, a small upgrade that speeds every puzzle for someone who sorts before they start. They suit a puzzler who works on a big puzzle across several days. The set has eight trays with a white background that makes pieces easier to see.
Tip: Keep the lids on between sessions to protect the sorted pieces.
8. Puzzle glue to keep a favorite
When a finished puzzle is too good to break up, puzzle glue turns it into wall art, which suits a puzzler with a favorite finish or a gift puzzle they want to keep. The bottle is 8 ounces. Pair it with a frame so the finished puzzle can go straight on the wall.
Tip: Pair it with a frame that matches the puzzle's finished size.
9. A frame sized for big puzzles
A 20 x 27 inch frame fits many 1,000-piece puzzles, so a glued favorite can go on the wall, which suits a puzzler who wants to show a finished piece. Check the puzzle's finished size first, since sizes vary by puzzle, and the frame is listed for puzzles and posters.
Tip: Measure the puzzle's finished size first, since sizes vary.
10. A magnifying floor lamp
A bright magnifier on a gooseneck makes tiny pieces and similar colors easier on the eyes, which suits an older puzzler or a late-night solver who works under poor light. It is a floor lamp, so it needs floor space next to the table. This is a bigger gift, a fit for a family pooling together.
Tip: Check the floor space next to their puzzle table first.
Ideas 17 to 20
Crosswords, logic books and escape games
17. An escape room game in a box
EXIT games turn an evening into an escape room of codes and riddles, for puzzle lovers who like company and a game night. This one is called The Enchanted Forest, and the listing says ages 12 and up. Some escape games are single-play, so check the box and plan it as a one-night event.
Tip: Plan it as a one-night game and check whether it can be replayed.
18. A book of Sunday crosswords
A thick book of New York Times Sunday puzzles edited by Will Shortz keeps a crossword fan busy for months, which suits someone who solves with a pen at breakfast. Sunday puzzles are the larger grids. It comes in an omnibus volume, so there are many puzzles in one gift.
Tip: Add a good pen or a pencil with an eraser.
19. A logic grid puzzle book
Logic grid puzzles, the who-lives-where kind, scratch a different itch from crosswords for a puzzler who likes deduction. They use clues and a grid to work out the answer. A book of them suits someone who already solves sudoku or crosswords and wants something new.
Tip: Give it with a pencil and a good eraser.
20. An intro to cryptic crosswords
Cryptic clues look impossible until someone explains the rules, and Minute Cryptic teaches them one short clue at a time, which suits a crossword fan who is ready for cryptics. It is by Angas Tiernan. It makes a good gift for someone who finishes regular crosswords quickly.
Tip: Pair it with a regular crossword book for variety.
Frequently asked questions
What are good gifts for puzzle lovers?
A new jigsaw is the obvious start, but accessories are often better: a portable puzzle board, a roll-up mat, sorting trays or puzzle glue. For variety, try a 3D wooden model, a metal brain teaser or a crossword book. Check the piece count they like.
What are good gifts for jigsaw puzzle lovers who have everything?
Choose something with a twist or an upgrade: a Wasgij puzzle with no picture to copy, a gradient puzzle, a wooden whimsy puzzle, a magnifying lamp or a frame for a finished puzzle. Our Gifts for Someone Who Has Everything guide has more ideas.
What accessories do puzzle lovers need?
A portable board or roll-up mat to move a puzzle in progress, sorting trays to separate edges and colors, puzzle glue to save a finished favorite and a frame to hang it. A good light or a magnifier helps with tiny pieces.
What is a good puzzle gift for an older adult?
A magnifying floor lamp, a crossword or logic book, a 1,000-piece puzzle with a clear picture and a portable puzzle board suit older puzzlers. See Gifts for Grandparents for more ideas. Check the piece size and the light at their table.
What are good puzzle gifts besides jigsaws?
Mechanical wooden models, cast metal brain teasers, a Japanese secret puzzle box, a speed cube, an escape-room game or a book of crosswords and logic puzzles. Match the type to what they already enjoy, and check the age label on the box.
How do I choose the right puzzle for a gift?
Check the piece count they usually finish, whether they like a clear picture or a challenge, and the size of their table. A 1,000-piece puzzle is a common size. If you are unsure, give an accessory such as a mat or a sorting tray.
