Easy Sudoku for Beginners
Easy sudoku with 40 numbers already in place: a gentle start for new players and a relaxing break for everyone else. Choose a square, pick a number and enjoy.
Who the Easy Level Is For
This level is our sudoku for beginners. If you have never solved a grid before, or you have not played for years, start here. It is also a good choice for experienced players who want a calm, quick game at the end of the day or with the morning coffee.
How Many Numbers You Get
Every easy sudoku on this page starts with 40 of the 81 squares filled in. That is almost half the grid, so there is always a next move waiting if you look for it. Like all our puzzles, each grid is created fresh in your browser and has exactly one solution, so you never need to guess.
Techniques You Will Use
Easy grids can be solved with two simple ideas:
- Scanning a box. Pick a number, choose a box where it is missing, and look along the rows and columns that pass through that box. If the same number already sits in one of those lines, it cannot go there. Often only one square is left.
- The last possible number. Choose an empty square and list the numbers already in its row, column and box. When eight of the nine are taken, the ninth is your answer.
You will rarely need pencil notes at this level, but it is a good time to try the Notes button so that it feels familiar later. Both techniques are explained with pictures at the start of our page on Sudoku strategies.
How Long a Game Takes
Most players finish an Easy puzzle in 5 to 15 minutes. Nobody is watching the clock, though: pause or hide the timer and take as long as you need. If you step away, your game is saved in the browser and waits for you.
Easy Sudoku for Beginners on Paper
If you prefer a pencil, press Print next to the board. You get an easy printable sudoku with large squares on a full page, without the buttons and colors of the screen. It is handy for grandchildren who are just learning, or for a puzzle on the train.
Ready for More?
When Easy grids start to feel automatic, move on to Medium Sudoku, which begins with 32 numbers and asks you to look a little deeper. If you still want a refresher on the rules, our guide on how to play Sudoku walks through a full example, and the Daily Sudoku gives you one new puzzle every day.
Easy Sudoku Questions
Is Easy the right level if I have never played Sudoku?
Yes. Easy puzzles can be finished with simple scanning, so they are the best place to learn the rules. If you would like a short introduction first, read how to play Sudoku.
How many numbers are given in an Easy puzzle?
Every Easy grid starts with 40 of its 81 squares filled in. Medium has 32, Hard has 27 and Expert has 24.
How long does an Easy Sudoku take?
Most players finish in 5 to 15 minutes. You can pause or hide the timer whenever you like, so there is no pressure to hurry.
Can children play the Easy level?
Of course. Sudoku needs no arithmetic, only logic, so it works well for children who know the numbers 1 to 9. Printing a grid and solving it together is a nice way to start.