Gifts for Puzzle Lovers: Jigsaws, Brain Teasers and Daily Fixes
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 23 hand-picked ideas
Puzzle people share a particular kind of patience. They'll spend three evenings on a sky made of nearly identical blue pieces, or turn a little metal tangle over in their hands until it suddenly comes apart. Some do the crossword in pen every morning; some have a card table in the corner that hasn't been empty since 2020. What they have in common is that they enjoy the struggle, so the best gifts give them a satisfying challenge, or make the struggle more comfortable.
The page starts with jigsaws, from heirloom wooden puzzles to deliberately maddening ones, then covers the boards, tables and trays that make big puzzles manageable. After that come brain teasers and twisty cubes, a run of daily puzzle books and calendars, and a final section on choosing the right difficulty. Use the short list if you're in a rush.
For people who love games as well as puzzles, see gifts for board game lovers. Puzzlers who also enjoy a good mystery will find more in gifts for true crime fans, and for a grandparent who does a puzzle a day, try gifts for grandpa.
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Good places to start
Jigsaws worth clearing the table for
Most jigsaw lovers have done dozens of pleasant landscapes. These offer something different: a better-made puzzle, a harder one, or one with a twist at the end.
- Our favorite1
Hand-Cut Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle
~$125
Wooden puzzles are cut by hand into irregular shapes, often with figural pieces (puzzlers call them whimsies) shaped like animals, letters or objects hidden in the picture. They're expensive for their piece count, but they feel lovely, last for generations and are a new kind of challenge for someone who has mastered cardboard. Choose an image they'll enjoy looking at, since these tend to get done again and again.
- 2
2000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
~$28
A long project for someone who finishes a 1000-piece puzzle in a weekend and wants something that lasts. It needs a big flat surface, so it pairs well with a puzzle board. Check they have the space before you commit them to a month of puzzling.
- 3
Gradient Color Jigsaw Puzzle
~$20
No picture at all, just a smooth rainbow fade, so every piece has to be placed by tiny changes in color. It's a delightful torment for an experienced puzzler and a bad first puzzle for anyone else. Good lighting helps a lot.
- 4
Murder Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle Game
~$25
A story comes with the box, and the clues to solving the crime are hidden in the finished picture. It's a fun change for a puzzler who also loves detective novels, and it works well as a shared project for a couple or a family over the holidays.
- 5
Glow-in-the-Dark Milky Way Jigsaw Puzzle
~$22
A night-sky puzzle that glows once the lights go off. Space puzzles are hard because of all the dark pieces, but the payoff at the end is worth it. A nice gift for a puzzler who also loves astronomy.
- 6
Custom Photo Jigsaw Puzzle
~$25
A puzzle made from a photo you upload. It's a sweet gift for a grandparent or a couple, since they'll be piecing together a memory. Pick a photo with lots of color and detail; a picture with a big plain sky or wall makes for a frustrating puzzle.
- 7
Large Piece 300-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for Seniors
~$18
Extra-large pieces and a bold, high-contrast picture make this easier on eyes and hands. It's a kind choice for an older puzzler whose eyesight or grip isn't what it was, and it can be finished in an afternoon.
Boards, tables and trays for big puzzles
The real problem with jigsaws is where to put them. These keep a puzzle in progress safe from the cat, the kids and the need to eat dinner on the dining table.
- 8~$140
Portable Jigsaw Puzzle Table with Drawers
A tilted puzzle top on a folding stand, with drawers for sorting. A dedicated workspace for the serious puzzler.
Puzzle LoversHomebodiesluxe - 9~$65
Adjustable Jigsaw Puzzle Board
A board with drawers that can tilt or slide under a couch. Good for anyone without room for a permanent puzzle table.
Board Game FansHomebodiespractical - 10~$18
Felt Puzzle Roll-Up Mat
Roll a half-done puzzle up inside the felt and the table is free again. Cheap, simple and surprisingly effective.
Puzzle LoversHomebodiespractical - 11~$22
Portable Puzzle Sorting Trays
Stackable trays for separating edges, colors and sky pieces. Every jigsaw person sorts, and trays keep the piles from spreading.
Board Game FansPuzzle Loverspractical - 12~$24
Jigsaw Puzzle Glue Sheets and Frame Kit
Peel-and-stick sheets and a frame for preserving a favorite finished puzzle on the wall instead of breaking it up.
Puzzle LoversArtists & Crafterspractical - 13~$45
Adjustable LED Floor Lamp for Puzzles and Reading
A gooseneck lamp that puts bright light right over the table, which matters for dark or subtle puzzles in the evening.
Puzzle LoversBook Loverspractical
A puzzle a day for word and number people
For the crossword and sudoku crowd, the best gifts keep the daily habit going.
20.Page-a-Day Puzzle Calendar ~$16
A desk calendar with a crossword, logic grid or brain teaser on every page. A small daily ritual for a whole year.
21.Cryptic Crossword and Logic Puzzle Book Collection ~$16
Cryptics are crosswords where every clue is a wordplay riddle. A fresh challenge for a solver who finds regular crosswords easy.
22.Large Print Sudoku Puzzle Book ~$9
Easy-to-hard sudoku with big, clear numbers and room for notes. Good for older solvers and anyone tired of squinting.
23.Cushioned Lap Desk ~$35
A firm surface on a soft base, so they can do the crossword in an armchair or in bed without a wobbly book.
How to pick the right difficulty
With jigsaws, piece count is only part of the story. A 500-piece puzzle of a single color can be harder than a 1000-piece puzzle of a busy, colorful street scene. Images with lots of distinct objects, text and contrasting colors are the friendliest; skies, water, forests and solid colors are the hardest. Quality matters too: thicker pieces that click together firmly and a matte finish without glare make a big difference to how pleasant a puzzle is to do.
If you're not sure of their level, look at the puzzles they've done recently, or ask whether they like a challenge or a relaxing evening. For someone living with memory loss, choose fewer, larger pieces and a familiar, cheerful subject; finishing matters more than difficulty. And many puzzlers love to swap finished puzzles with friends or at the library, so a puzzle doesn't need to be one they'll keep forever.
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Under $25
$25–$50
Puzzle shopping, piece by piece
Find out what kind of puzzles they do: jigsaws, crosswords, logic, or mechanical brain teasers. The gifts barely overlap.
For jigsaw lovers, gear is often a better gift than another puzzle. A board, table or sorting trays solve real problems.
Match the difficulty to their experience, and remember that the image matters as much as the piece count.
For older puzzlers, look for large pieces, large print and good lighting.
If they have other interests too, ask our gift finder for ideas that combine them.
Puzzle gift FAQs
What do you buy someone who loves jigsaw puzzles?
A puzzle board or table, sorting trays, or a roll-up mat makes puzzling easier. For a special gift, a hand-cut wooden puzzle is a step up from cardboard, and a gradient puzzle is a challenge for experts.
What is a good puzzle for someone who finds puzzles too easy?
Try a gradient color puzzle, a 2000-piece puzzle, a hand-cut wooden puzzle with irregular pieces, or a set of metal disentanglement puzzles. Cryptic crosswords are the equivalent for word puzzlers.
What's a good puzzle gift for a grandparent?
Large-piece jigsaws, large-print sudoku or crossword books, a custom photo puzzle of the family, or a lap desk and good lamp for comfortable solving.
How many pieces should a puzzle gift have?
For most adults, 500 to 1000 pieces is a comfortable range. Experienced puzzlers enjoy 1500 to 2000, while 300-piece puzzles with large pieces suit children and older adults.