Easy Sudoku
Plenty of starting numbers, so there are fewer blanks to deduce. The right place to learn the scanning pattern before moving up.
Puzzle 1
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 2
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 3
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 4
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 5
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 6
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 7
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 8
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 9
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 10
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 11
40 clues · 9×9
Puzzle 12
40 clues · 9×9
About easy sudoku
Every easy grid here opens with 40 given numbers, leaving 41 cells to fill. That is enough of a head start that basic scanning carries you the whole way; you should not need to write a single pencil mark.
The technique to build here is working one digit at a time. Pick a number that already appears four or five times, and every row and column it sits in is closed to another copy of it. Go box by box crossing those lines off, and a single legal cell often survives. Learn that on easy and medium stops being frightening.
Frequently asked questions
How many numbers does an easy sudoku start with?
40 of the 81 cells are filled in, leaving 41 to solve. That is the standard count for an easy grid and it is enough that scanning alone will finish the puzzle.
Do I need pencil marks for easy sudoku?
No. Every cell on these grids can be reached by scanning rows, columns and boxes. If you find yourself needing to note candidates, there is usually a simpler deduction sitting somewhere you have not looked.
How long should an easy sudoku take?
Ten to twenty minutes for a beginner, under ten once you have the scanning habit. Speed comes from recognising patterns, not from working faster.
What should I try after easy?
Medium, which drops to 32 givens. The jump is small in numbers and noticeable in feel: it is the level where you first meet a genuine stall.