Paused
The big change from Easy is that the obvious squares run out more often. You will find yourself scanning a box, finding nothing, and moving to the next. The answer is usually a hidden single: a number that only has one home in a row, column or box, even though that square could hold other numbers too.
The puzzle above opens on Medium. You can switch level at any time with the Difficulty buttons. Every puzzle is checked by a solver to make sure it has exactly one answer.
What medium sudoku asks of you
- Hidden singles. For one row, column or box, take each missing number and count where it could go. If only one square works, place it.
- Scanning by number. Go through the board for all the 1s, then all the 2s, and so on. It is slower per number but rarely misses anything.
- Light notes. In a busy box with two or three empty squares, jot the options down. It saves holding them in your head.
Each of these is explained step by step in our Sudoku strategy guide.
At a glance
| Starting numbers | About 36 of 81 |
|---|---|
| Time | Usually 8 to 20 minutes. |
| Good for | Players who finish Easy comfortably and want a puzzle that makes them stop and think now and then. |
| What next | When Medium feels routine, try Hard, where notes become a regular part of the game. |
Other levels
Easy Sudoku
Classic Sudoku, opening at Easy.
Hard Sudoku
Classic Sudoku, opening at Hard.
Expert Sudoku
Classic Sudoku, opening at Expert.
Evil Sudoku
Classic Sudoku, opening at Evil.
Extreme Sudoku
Classic Sudoku, opening at Extreme.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between easy and medium Sudoku?
Medium puzzles start with fewer numbers, about 36 instead of 42, so the easy squares are harder to find. They still do not need advanced techniques.
Is medium Sudoku good for everyday play?
Yes. Many regular players settle on Medium or Hard for their daily puzzle. Our Daily Sudoku has a Medium puzzle every day too.
More Sudoku games
Classic Sudoku
The everyday game, from Easy to Extreme.
Daily Sudoku
Four puzzles a day, the same for everyone.
Killer Sudoku
Few or no numbers to start. Cages tell you their totals.
Jigsaw Sudoku
The boxes are wiggly pieces instead of squares.
Sudoku X
Both long diagonals need 1 to 9 as well.
Mini Sudoku
A quick game with the numbers 1 to 6.
Sudoku for Kids
Four numbers, big squares, no game over.
Sudoku 16 × 16
The numbers 1 to 16 on a 256 square grid.
Christmas Sudoku
Classic Sudoku dressed for the holidays, to play or print.
All games and tools
Every game on the site, the difficulty pages, printable puzzles and the solver.