When you think of a jigsaw puzzle, you likely associate it with childhood and children. But, hopefully you’re also aware that it can totally be an adult activity to do–and a pretty fun one at that! Completing a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle was something that had been on my own bucket list, and I can tell you it was no easy feat. What it was, however, was quite a few evenings’ worth of fun in an all-consuming way that also activates your brain. Research actually shows that jigsaw puzzles may have positive effect on our memory! I definitely should do more of them.
If adult jigsaw puzzles are already a favorite pastime or if it’s something you want to add to your hobbies list, you’ve come to the right place. This cool collection, has some beautiful ones to choose from, plus tips to help solve them.

Best 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzles for Adults (+ Tips for Solving One)
Of course, choosing the puzzle to start putting together may be overwhelming in and of itself–perhaps more so than actually completing the puzzle! So, here is a beautiful collection of the best 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles for adults on the market. Which cool one will you solve?
1.
Transit Posters Moonlight Moment
New York Puzzle Company $24
Finished Puzzle Size: 24”x18”
1000-Piece Puzzle
2.
Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird by Frida Kahlo
EuroGraphics $17.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 19. 25″ x 26. 5″
1000-Piece Puzzle
3.
Hummingbird Garden
Buffalo Games $14.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 26.75 x 19.75 inches
1000-Piece Puzzle
4.
Cocktails 1000-Piece Puzzle
Eurographics Puzzles $18.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 19.25″ x 26.5″
1000-Piece Puzzle
5.
Rainbow Gradient Jigsaw Puzzles
Blue Kazoo $35.00
Finished Puzzle Size: 20 x 30 inches
1000-Piece Puzzle
6.
Josephine Wall – Spirit of Flight – Glitter Edition
Buffalo Games $32.95
Finished Puzzle Size: 26.75 x 19.75 inches
1000-Piece Puzzle
8.
Geometric Colorful Mandala
Bgraamiens Puzzle $18.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 26.6 inches x 26.6 inches
1000-Piece Puzzle
9.
Night at The Movies: Movie Jigsaw Puzzle
Big Potato Store $20.00
Finished Puzzle Size: 20 x 27.39 inches
1000-Piece Puzzle
10.
Tropical Fish
Vermont Christmas Company $17.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 26 5/8″ x 19 1/4″
1000-Piece Puzzle
12.
Mountain Retreat Nature – Forest Lake
Bob Ross $19.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 28 x 20 inches
1000-Piece Puzzle
14.
Crescent Moon Bay
Buffalo Games $9.97
Finished Puzzle Size: 26.75 x 19.75 inches
1000-Piece Puzzle
16.
Old Town Porto
Neith Games $19.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 26.7 x 18.9 inches (68 x 48 cm)
1000-Piece Puzzle
19.
Asian Oil-Paper Umbrellas
Eurographics $20.95
Finished Puzzle Size: 26.5″ x 19.25″
1000-Piece Puzzle
20.
Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
Moruska $16.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 27.56″ x 19.69″
1000-Piece Puzzle
21.
Embroidered Hanging with Peacock
Flame Tree Publishing $19.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 27.56″ x 19.69″
1000-Piece Puzzle
22.
Purple Succulents
BetterCo. $25.00
Finished Puzzle Size: 70X50 cm (aprox. 27.5×20 inches)
1000-Piece Puzzle
23.
Country Life Country Store
Buffalo Games $22.89
Finished Puzzle Size: 26.75 x 19.75 inches
1000-Piece Puzzle
24.
Undersea Jigsaw Puzzles
HXMARS $17.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 70 x 50 cm/27.56″ x 19.69″
1000-Piece Puzzle
25.
Lake House
Vermont Christmas Company $17.99
Finished Puzzle Size: 26 5/8″ x 19 1/4″
1000-Piece Puzzle
How Long Does it Take to Complete a 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle?
Do you have any guesses on how much time you should reserve to complete an adult jigsaw puzzle like this? I naively thought that it could be completed in a couple hours, by the time I finished a glass or two of wine. Wrong. In my case, solving it actually ended up taking more than 7 hours, spread across a few evenings. On average, you could expect for it to take anywhere between 3 to 10 hours, depending on the type of the puzzle, among other factors.
Tips on How to Complete a 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Tip 1: Before you do anything else, make sure all the pieces are turned print size up. This will immensely cut down on the time it takes to find the correct pieces to complete the puzzle.
Tip 2: If the puzzle has major color or pattern features, sorting the puzzle pieces into groups based on them will make it easier to solve (you can use these practical sorting trays).
Tip 3: Start the puzzle by putting together the edge pieces.
Tip 4: Move onto completing the large shape and color sections. These are often easier to start from than the smaller details in the puzzle.
Tip 5: Take breaks here and there to refresh your mind.
Making a Custom or Personalized Jigsaw Puzzle
On top of the amazing jigsaw puzzles for adults mentioned above, there’s also another wonderful way to acquire yourself – or someone else as a gift – a great one to solve: by customizing one yourself! Here is a list of some websites to check out if a customized jigsaw puzzle is something of interest to you:
All of these websites let you upload your own design or photograph onto their site, which they will turn into a puzzle and then send it to you by mail once it’s finished. How exactly does it work, you ask? Each company and site has their own specific methods to go about it, but in large parts they are similar enough that by examining and explaining one will make it easy to shop on any one of them.
So, let’s take a look at how you could make yourself a customized jigsaw puzzle on the site Creative Jigsaw Puzzles. First, choose the type of a puzzle you want to make. Do you want it to be traditional, or plastic, or wooden? Here is where you make that choice. Next, you can choose the size of the puzzle as well as the number of pieces on it – and, yes, a 1000 piece puzzle is an option! Then you also have the option to choose a matching custom print box. However, this step is not mandatory and is entirely up to you whether it’s something that is needed for your puzzle or not. After this step, you can finally enter the actual online puzzle maker and use your choice of images to design the customized puzzle. You can do this by dragging and dropping the image files onto the online puzzle maker.
Once you are finished and satisfied with the design of the puzzle, you can move forward with the ordering and payment, after which all you need to do is wait for it to arrive! PS: They deliver worldwide, so no need to worry about that no matter which corner of the world you’ve found yourself in.
A customized puzzle like this would be a fun activity for you and your family to complete at home (maybe put it on your Couple’s Bucket List!). Alternatively, a personalized puzzle would also make for an amazing birthday or Christmas present to a loved one. Imagine the surprised look on their face when they unwrap their gift, revealing a puzzle made of a picture that has a loving and emotional memory connection to them! And unlike a simple frame with a photograph inside, a puzzle offers joy and something to do for several hours and days. No matter if you are gifting a child or an adult, they would undoubtedly enjoy such a thoughtful present.
I must admit I have now been bitten by the jigsaw puzzle bug, and although I’ve already finished one, it is definitely not going to be the only one. It’s a perfect thing to check off the winter bucket list every single year.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my links, I earn a commission that helps to keep this blog running—at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here.
More Bucket List Ideas to do At Home
Quarantine Bucket List: 85 Fun Things to Do At Home & Outside
Rainy Day Bucket List: 65 Fun Activities & Things to Do
Card Game Bucket List: 100+ Fun Ones to Play with Family & Friends
Board Games Bucket List: 50 of the All Time Best Ones to Play
At Home Bucket List: 50 Fun Things to Do Without Leaving the House
The 10 Best Adult Paint by Numbers Kits (+ Tips to Complete Them)
How (and Why) to Write a Letter to Your Future Self
As a huge fan of the jigsaw puzzle I love your write up. My spouse and I spend a great deal of time relaxing with puzzles after the kids have gone to bed. It's really a great brain exercise, while being social and catching up on the days events. And your tips are spot on! :)
Actually, the world's largest jigsaw puzzle is 32,256 pieces. Sold by Puzzlehouse.com. Maybe I'll try that one when my little ones are a bit older.
What a nice puzzle to be solved !
Great article. As someone have just starting out in the world of blogging, I need all the tips I can get. I am so grateful for some simple, easy to implement advice.
I was at a craft show and they were selling puzzles which had a slightly different picture on the box than the actual puzzle inside. I really want to get some. They were 1000 pieces and $20
Hmm. Why were the puzzles inside different??
I by puzzles from same company size amount of pieces it’s cut from the same machine so you can copy piece by piece
Hello Annette,
I have Bi-polar disorder and complete puzzles to relax my mind while listening to the radio..
It works for myself and it is a way I support charity shops as they are a cost effective way to purchase and recycle them.
Thank you for your Bucket list journey aspirations.
If interested in my bucket list please ask!!!
Regards David.
Thanks for the comment! I’m always interested in seeing other people’s bucket lists :)
In this era of self isolating. I broke down and purchased a puzzle.Its 1000 pieces and the design is a challenge but I have nothing but time and find it relaxing.Puzzle ” Love is Golden”
I purchased a 18,000 piece monster puzzle to keep myself occupied during the pandemic. The puzzle is divided into four bags. I have completed three bags and am now working on the fourth bag of 4,500 pieces. It’s a challenge that is becoming very tedious. However, I’m determined to finish it. Hopefully, the pandemic will be over, but at this rate, maybe not. No problem, I’ll just find something else to do…
FYI, it takes much longer than 4X to complete a 4,500 piece puzzle compared to completing 4 1,000 piece puzzles. One must find the correct piece within 4,500 pieces versus 1,000 which makes it more difficult and thus more time-consuming. Be patient, and it will all fall into place eventually!
Wow! 18,000 pieces!?!? That’s pretty dang impressive.
Hi Annette! This is a great read and is relevant to my own Bucket List.
I’ve worded jigsaw puzzles for years and have always found the time to be relaxing. In fact, once I start a puzzle, I often find everything else goes by the wayside. Forget those chores! It can be hard to pull myself away from the puzzle, kind of like it is hard to put down a good book.
I’m in my ’60’s and one thing on MY bucket list was to start up one more small business that I can grow over the next few years. A jigsaw puzzle company (Moondog Puzzles)! We were poised to go into production just as Covid hit and that delayed production a few months. But things are up and running now, and going well.
Here’s to bucket lists and puzzles!