Free Nonogram
Solve nonograms (picross, griddlers) from 5×5 to 15×15. Fill and cross out cells, check for mistakes and print a PDF. Every puzzle has one solution.
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How to solve nonogram puzzles
A nonogram is a picture logic puzzle. The numbers beside each row and above each column list the runs of filled squares in that line, in order. A clue of 3 1 means a run of three filled squares, at least one gap, then a single filled square. Use the clues together to work out which squares to fill and reveal the picture.
- Choose a size from 5 by 5 to 15 by 15. Small grids are quick; 15 by 15 can take a while.
- Tap or drag to fill squares. Switch the tap mode to cross, or right-click, to mark squares you know are empty.
- Clues turn grey when their row or column matches, so you can see what is left.
- Press Check to mark wrong squares in red, Undo to take back a step, or Clear to start again.
- Download a PDF with the puzzle and an answer key, or copy a link so a friend can solve the same puzzle.
How the puzzles are made
Each picture starts from random noise that is smoothed and often mirrored so it forms shapes rather than static. The clues are read from the picture and handed to a solver that works one line at a time, the same way a person does. If the solver gets stuck, one undecided square is changed and the check runs again, until the whole picture can be solved by logic alone.
Because the solver never guesses, a finished check proves the puzzle has exactly one solution. The pictures are abstract shapes rather than drawings of objects.
Sizes and solving time
Times vary a lot from person to person; these are rough guides for a first try.
| Size | Squares | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 5×5 | 25 | 1–3 minutes |
| 10×10 | 100 | 5–15 minutes |
| 15×15 | 225 | 15–45 minutes |
Useful tips and limitations
- Start with big clues: in a 10-square row, a clue of 7 must cover the middle four squares wherever it sits.
- Cross out squares as soon as you know they are empty; the gaps are as useful as the filled squares.
- Add up a clue and its gaps: if 4 2 3 plus two gaps is 11 in a 12-square row, almost every square is forced.
Common questions
Is a nonogram the same as picross or griddlers?
Yes. Nonogram, picross, griddlers, hanjie and paint by numbers are different names for the same kind of puzzle.
Do I ever need to guess?
No. Every puzzle is checked by a line-by-line solver that must finish it without guessing, which also proves there is only one solution.
Can I print a nonogram?
Yes. The PDF has the puzzle with its clues on the first page and the solved picture on the second, in US Letter or A4.
What does a clue of 0 mean?
The whole row or column is empty. Cross out every square in it.
Every puzzle is made and played in your browser. Best times, scores and solved puzzles are saved only in this browser on this device; nothing is uploaded and no account is needed. Clearing site data removes them.