7x7 KenKen, 8x8 and 9x9 Puzzles

Big calcudoku grids for experienced solvers: play 7x7, 8x8 or 9x9 online, or print them with answers.

This page gives you free 7x7 KenKen-style puzzles that run in your web browser. It opens a 7x7 grid at Medium, and there is nothing to install and no sign-up. Puzzles are made on your own device, and nothing is uploaded.

A KenKen-style puzzle (also called calcudoku) asks you to fill a grid with digits so that every row and column uses each digit once, and every cage of cells hits its target with its operation. The tool only shows puzzles that have exactly one solution, because the built-in solver checks each puzzle first.

The same page also offers 8x8 and 9x9 grids, and you can print puzzles with answer pages. KenKen is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. These are our own KenKen-style puzzles and are not the official KenKen.

How to play 7x7, 8x8 and 9x9 KenKen

Choose a grid size: 7x7, 8x8 or 9x9. The page opens on 7x7 at Medium.
Pick a Difficulty (Easy, Medium, Hard or Expert) and Operations (All four: + − × ÷; Addition only; Addition and subtraction; or Multiplication and division). Changing a setting makes a new puzzle; New puzzle gives another one with the same settings.
Tap or click a cell. Read the cage helper line, which lists the digits that can make that cage, for example “Cage 3+ (2 cells) can be made from: 1 2”.
Tap a digit on the number pad, or type it on your keyboard.
Press the Pencil button (or P or Space) to write small notes instead of a digit. Use these notes to track possible digits.
Press Hint when you are stuck. It names the technique for the next logical step, shades the cells, explains it in one sentence, and can do the step for you. If one of your digits is wrong, it tells you first.
Press Check to count wrong cells. If you want the answer, use Reveal cell for one cell or Solve it for the whole grid. Use Undo and Redo, or Ctrl+Z, to step back.

Arrow keys move between cells, 1 to 9 enter a digit, and Backspace erases. Progress is saved in your browser on this device, so a reload continues the same puzzle. Copy link gives a link with a ?p= code that opens exactly the same puzzle somewhere else.

What are the rules of a 7x7 KenKen puzzle?

A 7x7 KenKen-style puzzle is a Latin square. You fill the grid with the digits 1 to 7 so that each digit appears once in every row and once in every column, the same idea as sudoku without boxes.

Heavy outlines divide the grid into cages. The top-left cell of each cage shows a target and an operation, such as 12+ or 6×, and the digits in that cage must produce the target with that operation. Each row of a 7x7 grid adds to 28 and multiplies to 5040, which is a useful check on your work.

Subtraction and division cages always have exactly two cells. You take the larger minus the smaller, or the larger divided by the smaller, and the order of the two cells does not matter. For example, 3− can be 4 and 1, and 2÷ can be 4 and 2. Cages on 7x7 to 9x9 grids can hold up to 5 cells.

How do I solve a big KenKen?

Start with the cages that leave the fewest choices. A single-cell cage gives you its digit directly. Next, use the cage helper line to see which digit sets fit each cage. In a 9x9 grid, for example, a two-cell 17+ can only be 8 and 9.

On big grids, split large × cages by their prime factors. 5 and 7 are prime and no other digit up to 9 contains them, so a × cage whose target is divisible by 7 must contain a 7, and one divisible by 5 must contain a 5. Then work with the rows and columns: look for a digit that fits in only one cell of a row or column, and a cell that only one digit can fill. Pencil marks make these checks easier to spot. If you get stuck, Hint names the next technique and shows where it applies.

What makes hard KenKen puzzles harder?

The site rates difficulty by the solving steps a puzzle needs, not by its size. Easy puzzles can be solved with single-cell cages, “only one digit fits”, “only one place for a digit” and cage combinations. Medium adds pairs (naked or hidden) and a digit forced onto a line by a cage. Hard needs a triple or one round of trial and error. Expert needs deeper trial and error.

The generator’s measurements show the difference. Over 20 puzzles per setting, 9x9 easy puzzles average about 40 cages with 13 single-cell cages, while 9x9 expert puzzles average about 27 cages with 4 single-cell cages. Harder puzzles have bigger cages and fewer free single cells, so there are fewer easy starting points.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a 9x9 KenKen take?

The timer runs while you play, and Pause stops it. The page does not give a typical time because solving speed depends on the difficulty. An easy 9x9 puzzle averages about 40 cages with 13 single-cell cages, while an expert one averages about 27 cages with 4, so expert puzzles usually take more work to finish.

Can I print 9x9 puzzles?

Yes. Open the Print tab and choose 1, 2 or 4 puzzles per page. The print includes answer pages, so you can check your work after solving.

Is there a 9x9 KenKen puzzle with answer?

Yes. Every puzzle has exactly one solution, and the built-in solver checks it before the puzzle is shown. While you play, use Reveal cell to show one cell or Solve it to show the full answer. Printed sets include answer pages.

Can I use only addition on a big grid?

Yes. Choose Addition only under Operations. Every cage of two or more cells then uses +, which makes a 9x9 grid a long but gentle puzzle.

Can I play hard KenKen puzzles here?

Yes. Click New puzzle, set Difficulty to Hard or Expert, and choose your Operations. If you get stuck, Hint names the technique needed for the next step and can do that step for you.

KenKen puzzles online: Start here to play KenKen-style puzzles in your browser with no sign-up.
6x6 KenKen: Try a smaller grid when you want practice before moving to 7x7 or larger.
Printable KenKen: Use this when you want paper puzzles to solve away from the screen.
KenKen solver: Use this to check a puzzle you are working on or to see how a grid resolves.
KenKen puzzle generator: Use this to make new puzzles with the size and settings you choose.
KenKen rules: Read this for the full rules before your first puzzle.
4x4 KenKen: Pick this small grid if you are new to cages and targets.