The Beginner's Guide to Buying Jigsaw Puzzles

Whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for the perfect gift, choosing the right jigsaw puzzle can feel surprisingly tricky. With hundreds of options out there — different piece counts, themes, and difficulty levels — it's easy to feel overwhelmed. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to find a puzzle you'll actually love completing.

How to Choose a Puzzle by Piece Count

Piece count is the biggest factor in how long and how challenging a puzzle will be. Here's a simple breakdown:

Under 500 Pieces — Perfect for Beginners

If you're new to puzzling or shopping for an older adult, this is a good place to start. Puzzles in the 99–499 piece range typically take 30 minutes–2 hours and are satisfying to finish in a single sitting. They’re great for when you don’t have much time to puzzle or as palate cleansers. Here are our current bestsellers in this range:

• Ordinary Habit A Moment In Paradise, 100 Piece Puzzle —A beautiful, meditative 100 piece design that's perfect for a relaxed afternoon. Ordinary Habit puzzles are known for their gorgeous art and premium quality.
• Villager Treetop Hideout, 250 Piece Puzzle —A charming Canadian-made design that's approachable for beginners but still satisfying to complete. Perfect if you want something a little more challenging than 100 pieces.

500–999 Pieces — The Sweet Spot

Puzzles in the 500–999 piece range offer a real challenge without requiring days of commitment. They're also great for a casual family activity. Expect 2-6 hours of total puzzling time. Here are our customer favourites:

• Sto Puzzle Nara Forest, 500 Piece — A stunning Japanese forest scene with a serene, painted quality. One of our top performers and a favourite among customers who love nature-inspired art.
• Laila Luxury Puzzle For Generations, 500 Piece — Our top luxury pick in this range. Laila puzzles are known for their exceptional quality and heirloom-worthy packaging — a perfect gift for someone special.

1000 Pieces — The Classic Challenge

The 1000-piece puzzle is the gold standard for enthusiasts. Plan for 6–15+ hours spread across multiple sessions. The reward? A gorgeous finished image. Here are our top picks:

• Reverie Cottage Library, 1000 Piece Puzzle — A cozy, whimsical scene packed with charming details that keep you engaged from first piece to last. Reverie is one of our most beloved brands, and this puzzle is a perfect example of why.
• Puzzle Weekend Coastal Bluffs, 1000 Piece Puzzle — One of our bestselling 1000-piece puzzles, featuring a stunning coastal landscape. A beautiful challenge that looks incredible framed on the wall when finished.

1500 Pieces and Beyond — For the Dedicated Puzzler

If you've got a dedicated puzzle table and serious patience, explore our 1500–2000 piece collection or even our 5000+ piece puzzles. These are epic projects — and epic accomplishments.

Choosing a Theme You'll Love

The image matters just as much as the piece count. You'll be staring at it for hours, so pick something that genuinely excites you. Here are the most popular themes we carry:

Canadian Landscapes

One of our most beloved categories. There's something special about puzzling together a scene from your own backyard. The Villager brand specializes in stunning Canadian imagery — from the rugged coast of Bowen Island to the rolling hills of Hobby Farm and the dramatic colours of Autumn Cascade. These make wonderful gifts for anyone who loves Canada.

Seasonal & Holiday Designs

Seasonal puzzles are a beloved tradition — pulling out a holiday puzzle is as cozy as it gets. The WEVE Merry Xmas 1000 Piece Puzzle is a seasonal favourite, and the Ravensburger London's Christmas Spirit 1000 Piece Puzzle captures the magic of the city at Christmas with stunning detail. Stock up early — seasonal puzzles sell out fast.

Art & Illustration

For something with a more artistic flair, explore brands like Ordinary Habit, Galison, and WEVE Puzzles. These brands collaborate with independent artists to create stunning works of art.

Whimsical & Fun

Not every puzzle needs to be a landscape. Brands like Brass Monkey and Marie-Chantal La Puzzlerie bring personality and playful charm to the table. Great for gifting to someone who appreciates something a little different.

Understanding Puzzle Difficulty

Piece count isn't the only thing that determines difficulty. Here's what else to consider:

• Colour variety: Puzzles with lots of distinct colours (like a busy market scene) are easier to sort than ones with large areas of similar colour (like a blue sky or snowy field).
• Image complexity: Detailed, busy images give you more visual clues. Minimalist or abstract designs are much harder.
• Piece shape: Standard interlocking pieces are easiest. Irregular cut pieces add a fun extra challenge. 
• Brand quality: Higher-quality puzzles have better-cut pieces that fit together more precisely, making the experience more enjoyable. Brands like Ravensburger and Clementoni are known for their premium quality.

Tips for First-Time Puzzlers

A few habits that will make your first puzzle experience much more enjoyable:

• Start with the edges. Find all the flat-edged pieces first and build the border. It gives you a frame to work within.
• Sort by colour and pattern. Before you start placing pieces, group them into rough colour categories. It saves a lot of time.
• Good lighting matters. Natural light or a bright lamp makes a huge difference, especially for darker puzzle images.
• Don't rush. Puzzling is meant to be meditative (unless you’re a speed puzzler). Put on a podcast or some music and enjoy the process, or be like me a listen to an audiobook.

Puzzle Gifting Tips

Puzzles make wonderful gifts — but matching the right puzzle to the right person makes all the difference:

• For a new puzzler: A 500 piece puzzle with a colourful, detailed image is the perfect entry point.
• For an experienced puzzler: Go for 1000+ pieces, or choose a brand they haven't tried yet — something from our New Arrivals is always a safe bet.
• For a Canadian: You can't go wrong with a Villager puzzle featuring a scene from their home province.

Ready to Find Your Perfect Puzzle?

Browse our full collection at Ruby's Puzzle Corner — we're a Canadian puzzle shop curating the best brands from around the world, with a special love for puzzles that celebrate Canada. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned puzzler, we've got something for you.

Not sure where to start? Check out our New Arrivals or shop by piece count using the links throughout this guide. Happy puzzling!