Free calcudoku puzzles, solver and printables

Printable KenKen Puzzles

Choose size, difficulty and how many per page, then print fresh calcudoku sheets with answer keys.

This free printable KenKen tool makes KenKen-style puzzles, also called calcudoku, that you can print or save as a PDF straight from your web browser. It runs in the browser with no sign-up and nothing to install. The puzzles are made on your device, and nothing is uploaded.

You choose a grid from 3x3 to 9x9, a difficulty from Easy to Expert, and the operations you want. Every puzzle the site makes has exactly one solution, because the built-in solver checks it before the puzzle is shown. Answer pages can be added to the same printout, so the set is ready for homework, a classroom handout or a family puzzle night. The page opens on the Print tab with a 6x6 Easy set, and a Play tab lets you solve the same kind of puzzle on screen.

How to use the printable KenKen tool

  1. Open the Print tab. It opens with a 6x6 grid set to Easy.
  2. Choose a grid size from 3x3 to 9x9.
  3. Choose a difficulty: Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert, or Mixed easy/medium/hard.
  4. Choose the operations you want the cages to use.
  5. Choose how many puzzles appear on each page. The options depend on the grid size. For 3x3 to 5x5 you can pick 1, 2, 4, 6 or 9. For 6x6 you can pick 1, 2, 4 or 6. For 7x7 to 9x9 you can pick 1, 2 or 4.
  6. Choose the number of pages, from 1 to 20.
  7. Choose the paper size: US Letter or A4.
  8. Leave “Add answer pages” on if you want answers. It is on by default. The answer grids are smaller, several to a page, and numbered to match the puzzles.
  9. Check the preview of page 1, which shows the puzzles and answers.
  10. Click “Print / Save as PDF.” The browser print dialog opens. To get a PDF file, choose “Save as PDF” as the destination.

There are a few more options. “Hide the operations (targets only)” is a harder variant where each cage shows only its number, and you decide whether it is +, −, × or ÷. You can also add a title to each puzzle. Each page footer shows the seed and the page number. Keep the seed to reprint the same set later.

What are the rules of printable KenKen puzzles?

You fill an N x N grid, where N is 3 to 9, with the digits 1 to N. Each digit appears exactly once in every row and exactly once in every column. This is a Latin square, which is like sudoku without the 3x3 boxes. A 4x4 grid uses 1 to 4, and a 6x6 grid uses 1 to 6.

The grid is also divided into cages, shown with heavy outlines. A cage can be one cell or several cells. The digits inside a cage must combine to produce its target number using the operation shown.

How do cage targets and operations work?

Each cage has a target number and an operation in its top-left corner, such as “12+” or “6×”. Addition and multiplication cages can have any number of cells. The digits in the cage must add to the target, or multiply to it, in any order. A single-cell cage such as “3” simply tells you that cell’s digit.

Subtraction and division cages always have exactly two cells. You take the larger number minus the smaller, or the larger divided by the smaller. For example, “3−” can be 4 and 1, and “2÷” can be 4 and 2. The order of the two cells does not matter.

How are the difficulty levels rated?

The site rates difficulty by the solving steps needed, not by grid 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, both naked and hidden, and a digit forced onto a row or column by a cage. Hard needs a triple or one round of trial and error. Expert needs deeper trial and error.

Harder puzzles have bigger cages and fewer free single cells. On the generator, 6x6 Easy puzzles averaged 19 cages with about 7 single-cell cages, while 6x6 Hard averaged about 13 cages with 2 single cells. For 9x9, Easy averaged about 40 cages with 13 single cells, and Expert averaged about 27 cages with 4 single cells. These averages come from 20 puzzles each, across all four operations.

Which size is best for kids or a classroom?

There is no single right size. For young or new solvers, a smaller grid with Easy difficulty is usually the gentlest start. A 4x4 or 6x6 Easy set has more single-cell cages, which give fixed numbers to begin with. For a mixed class, Mixed easy/medium/hard lets you print one set with a range of challenges. Larger grids take longer, so match the size to the time you have.

How many puzzles fit on one page?

The number depends on the grid size. Grids from 3x3 to 5x5 fit 1, 2, 4, 6 or 9 puzzles per page. A 6x6 grid fits 1, 2, 4 or 6. Grids from 7x7 to 9x9 fit 1, 2 or 4. Bigger grids need more room, so the options get smaller as the grid grows. Use the page preview to check the layout before you print.

Frequently asked questions

Can I print KenKen with answers?

Yes. “Add answer pages” is on by default. The answer grids are smaller, several to a page, and numbered to match the puzzles. If you want a puzzle sheet without answers, for a test or a contest, turn that option off before printing.

Can I print on A4 paper?

Yes. Choose A4 or US Letter before printing; the layout is sized for the paper you pick.

How do I make a PDF?

Click “Print / Save as PDF.” In the browser print dialog, choose “Save as PDF” as the destination. Your browser then saves the printout as a PDF file on your device.

Can I print the same set again?

Yes. Every printed set is new unless you reuse the seed. The same seed and settings always give the same puzzles, so note the seed from the page footer and enter it again to reprint the set.

Is this the official KenKen?

No. KenKen is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. This tool makes KenKen-style puzzles, also called calcudoku, and it is not affiliated with KenKen or Nextoy.

Can I try the puzzles on screen instead of printing?

Yes. The Play tab lets you solve the same kind of puzzle on screen, so you can try a set before you print it.

  • KenKen puzzles online: Start here to solve puzzles in your browser before you choose a print set.
  • 4x4 KenKen: Use this for a small grid, a good first step for new solvers.
  • 6x6 KenKen: Use this for a middle-sized grid with more cages to work through.
  • 7x7, 8x8 and 9x9 KenKen: Use this when you want larger grids for experienced solvers.
  • KenKen puzzle generator: Use this to make new puzzles with the settings you choose.
  • KenKen solver: Use this to check your work or see the full solution to a puzzle.
  • KenKen rules: Use this for a full explanation of the rules before you start.