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Jigsaw puzzle maker

Print a favourite photo with real jigsaw-shaped cut lines, or print a blank template for kids to draw their own puzzle.

Pieces

24 pieces. Glue to card before cutting. Cut along the lines.

How to make a jigsaw puzzle at home

  1. Pick a photo with lots of detail and colour. Big areas of sky or wall make pieces hard to place, especially for young children.
  2. Print it at 100% scale on regular paper, or on photo paper for a sturdier finish.
  3. Glue it to thin card (a cereal box works) with a glue stick, pressing out bubbles. Let it dry flat under a book.
  4. Cut the rows first, then each strip into pieces. Adults should handle craft knives.

The classic interlocking “tab and blank” shape dates from 18th-century London map-maker John Spilsbury’s “dissected maps”, which were among the first jigsaws and were made to teach geography.

Questions people ask

How do I turn a photo into a jigsaw puzzle?

Choose a photo, pick the number of pieces, and press Print. The photo prints with jigsaw cut lines on top. Glue it to thin card first, let it dry, then cut along the lines with scissors or a craft knife.

Is my photo uploaded?

No. The photo is loaded straight into this page in your browser and never sent to a server, and it isn’t saved when you leave.

How many pieces should I choose?

6 to 12 pieces suit ages 3–5, 20 to 35 pieces ages 6–8, and 48 or more older children and adults. Remember that paper pieces are fiddly to cut below about 3 cm.

Can I print a blank jigsaw template?

Yes. Without a photo you get a blank template: children draw their own picture on it, then cut it up and swap puzzles. It is a popular "getting to know you" activity for the first day of school.

Can I play the puzzle on screen?

Yes. Press "Play on screen" to shuffle your photo into square tiles, then tap two tiles to swap them until the picture is whole.

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