Easy Sudoku Puzzles

Easy Sudoku puzzles are the perfect starting point for anyone new to the game. With 36–45 starting clues already filled in, these puzzles provide plenty of information for you to work with, so you can focus on learning the fundamentals of logical deduction without feeling overwhelmed.

Whether you’re picking up Sudoku for the first time or looking for a relaxing mental warm-up, easy puzzles help you build the habits and pattern recognition that form the foundation for every difficulty level above.

What Makes Easy Puzzles Different from Medium?

The key difference between easy and medium Sudoku comes down to which techniques you need to solve them.

Easy puzzles can be solved entirely with two techniques: naked singles and hidden singles. A naked single is when a cell has only one possible number left after checking its row, column, and box. A hidden single is when a number can only fit in one cell within a particular row, column, or box — even if that cell has other candidates.

Medium puzzles introduce pair-based logic. Once you step up to medium, you’ll encounter situations where naked and hidden singles alone aren’t enough. You’ll need techniques like naked pairs and hidden pairs to eliminate candidates and make progress. Medium puzzles also have fewer starting clues (30–35), which means more empty cells and more complex chains of deduction.

In short: easy Sudoku teaches you to see the obvious placements, while medium Sudoku teaches you to eliminate the impossible ones.

How to Solve Easy Sudoku Step by Step

The rules are simple: fill the 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and 3×3 box contains the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. Here’s a practical approach for beginners:

  1. Scan for naked singles. Look at each empty cell and check what numbers already appear in its row, column, and box. If only one number is missing from all three constraints, fill it in. This is the most common technique in easy puzzles — read our full naked single guide to master it.

  2. Hunt for hidden singles. Pick a number (say, 7) and scan each row, column, or box to see if there’s only one cell where that number can go. Even if the cell has other candidates, if 7 can’t go anywhere else in that unit, it belongs there. Our hidden single guide explains this in detail.

  3. Work in waves. Each number you place reveals new information. After placing a digit, immediately re-scan the affected row, column, and box — new naked or hidden singles often appear.

  4. Use pencil marks if needed. Even on easy puzzles, jotting down candidates helps you stay organized. Sudokupulse’s candidate mode lets you toggle pencil marks with a tap.

  5. Don’t guess. Every easy puzzle can be solved through logic alone. If you’re stuck, slow down and check your existing placements for errors rather than guessing.

Want a full walkthrough of the rules? Read how to play Sudoku or check the complete Sudoku rules.

Benefits of Starting with Easy Sudoku

  • Build pattern recognition. Spotting naked and hidden singles quickly is a skill that takes practice. Easy puzzles give you hundreds of repetitions in a low-pressure environment.
  • Develop good habits. Learning to scan systematically, use pencil marks, and avoid guessing now will pay dividends when you move to harder puzzles.
  • Experience the satisfaction of completion. Finishing a puzzle cleanly reinforces the logical thinking process and keeps you motivated to try harder grids.
  • Quick sessions. Most easy puzzles take 3–10 minutes, making them perfect for a coffee break, a commute, or a mental warm-up before work.

When to Move to Medium

You’re ready for medium Sudoku when:

  • You can complete easy puzzles consistently without using hints.
  • You’re finishing them in under 5 minutes and want more challenge.
  • You’ve learned to spot both naked singles and hidden singles confidently.
  • You’re curious about techniques like naked pairs and hidden pairs.

The jump from easy to medium is the most approachable difficulty increase in Sudoku. Medium puzzles still feature many singles, but they also require you to think about candidate relationships — and that’s where the puzzle really starts to shine.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many clues do easy Sudoku puzzles have? Easy puzzles typically have 36–45 starting clues, leaving only 36–45 empty cells to fill. This generous number of clues means you’ll always have multiple straightforward placements available.

What techniques do I need for easy Sudoku? Just two: naked singles (a cell with only one possibility) and hidden singles (a number that can only go in one place within a unit). Master these and you can solve any easy puzzle.

Is easy Sudoku too simple for experienced players? Easy puzzles are ideal for speed practice, warm-ups, or teaching others. Many experienced solvers use them to improve their scanning speed and compete for faster times. They’re also great when you want a relaxing solve without intense concentration.

How long does an easy Sudoku puzzle take? Beginners typically finish in 5–15 minutes. With practice, you can solve them in 2–5 minutes. Speed comes naturally as your pattern recognition improves.

Ready for more challenge? Try medium Sudoku to learn pair-based techniques, or browse our technique guides and beginner strategy articles to level up your skills.