Buzz
Kodak's "World's Largest Puzzle" boasts 51,300 pieces and measures an impressive 28.5 feet by 6.25 feet (8.6 meters by 1.9 meters) once fully assembled. KodakLong before it became a beloved pastime during quarantine, assembling jigsaw puzzles was a cherished family tradition. Interestingly, did you know that jigsaw puzzles originally had an educational purpose?
Sir John Spilsbury, an English engraver and mapmaker in the 1700s, is recognized for inventing the first jigsaw puzzle in 1766. He mounted a world map onto wood and cut out the countries, which teachers later used to educate students about geography, sparking the birth of a recreational hobby.
Big Time Puzzles
Spilsbury would scarcely recognize his invention today. In the early 1900s, jigsaw puzzles served as promotional tools, often distributed for free or sold at minimal cost. Today, businesses continue to leverage puzzles for innovative marketing. For example, Kodak markets what it declares as the "world's largest jigsaw puzzle." This colossal puzzle, featuring 27 global images, consists of 51,300 pieces and spans 28.5 feet by 6.25 feet (8.6 meters by 1.9 meters) when assembled. And yes, this mammoth puzzle comes with a price tag exceeding $400!
While the Kodak puzzle is impressive, Guinness World Records (GWR) acknowledges the largest jigsaw puzzle by surface area, assembled in Dubai in July 2018. This puzzle commemorated the Year of Zayed
Assembling jigsaw puzzles is a fantastic group activity, but 1,600 students from the University of Economics of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam elevated it by completing a puzzle with the most pieces: 551,232. The finished puzzle measured 48 feet, 8.64 inches by 76 feet, 1.38 inches (14.85 meters x 23.20 meters) and featured a six-petaled lotus flower. The students accomplished this feat in 17 hours.
The Hardest Puzzles Ever?
With only nine pieces, this puzzle has earned the title of the world's most challenging jigsaw puzzle. Known as the Ice Puzzle 9, it was created by Yuu Asaka. The puzzle includes a small board and nine uniquely shaped pieces with right angles and curved edges, resembling Tetris but significantly more difficult. The ultimate challenge lies in fitting the final piece, which is nearly impossible to place correctly.
Magician, video creator, and puzzle expert Chris Ramsay spent two hours and nine minutes solving the Ice Puzzle 9. By his own account, he was utterly drained by the end of the ordeal.
Yuu Asaka also designed another equally challenging puzzle called Jigsaw Puzzle 29. The goal is to fit 29 pieces into a 5-inch by 5-inch (12-centimeter by 12-centimeter) tray. The puzzle's difficulty is heightened by the inclusion of five corner pieces, making it a true test of patience and skill.
Designed by Yuu Asaka, the Ice Puzzle 9 consists of just nine pieces. The main challenge is fitting the final piece, which is almost impossible to place correctly.
Yuu AsakaPeople Puzzles
Surprisingly, only a handful of Guinness World Records related to jigsaw puzzles are held by individuals. One such record is the largest hand-cut wooden jigsaw puzzle, achieved by Dave Evans from Weymouth, Dorset, England. He crafted a 40,763-piece puzzle honoring the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, featuring 33 images of jubilee celebrations. Measuring 20 feet by 8 feet (6 meters by 2.5 meters) when assembled, the puzzle collapsed shortly after completion. Evans and four assistants spent over 16 days rebuilding and relocating it to Sandringham, where it was displayed and officially recognized by Guinness World Records.
Another notable record-holder is Luiza Figueiredo from Sao Paolo, Brazil. In 2017, she earned a Guinness World Record for owning the largest collection of jigsaw puzzles, totaling 1,047 unique sets. Figueiredo began her collection in 1967 and achieved her first world record in 2010 with 238 puzzles. She surpassed her own record in 2012 with 502 puzzles before reclaiming the title in 2017.
However, in November of that year, Georgina Gil-Lacuna from the Philippines briefly held the record with her collection of 1,028 puzzles. By July 2017, Figueiredo regained the title with her updated collection of 1,047 puzzles, maintaining her status as the current record-holder.
"A key requirement for all Guinness World Records is that they must be breakable. Every record is open to challenges, creating endless opportunities for record-breaking achievements worldwide," explains Kaitlin Vesper, records manager at Guinness World Records North America, via email.
In March 2019, over 1,700 individuals came together to create the largest human jigsaw puzzle piece ever recorded, aiming to raise awareness for autism spectrum disorder.
Guinness World RecordsNumerous puzzle records are held by corporations, including the largest spherical jigsaw puzzle. Measuring 15.7 feet (4.77 meters) in circumference, it was crafted by Unima Industrial Ltd. in Hong Kong and depicted a scene from "Winnie the Pooh."
"The incredible aspect of record-breaking is its inclusivity; it’s accessible to everyone—individuals, families, schools, businesses, and even entire communities," says Vesper. "Brands and companies approach us to leverage the impact of record-breaking to celebrate milestones, anniversaries, or to spotlight new product launches."
Similarly, in March 2019, more than 1,700 people formed the largest human jigsaw puzzle piece ever recorded—a groundbreaking achievement. This initiative aimed to raise awareness for autism spectrum disorder (the puzzle piece symbolizes the Autism Speaks organization). But one might wonder: is it truly a puzzle piece if there’s no puzzle for it to fit into?
"Every Guinness World Records title comes with specific guidelines that must be adhered to. The record for the largest human jigsaw puzzle piece is a perfect example. It falls under our 'largest human image' category, where participants gather to form a recognizable image," explains Vesper. "A jigsaw puzzle piece is defined as an irregularly shaped, interlocking, and tessellating component meant to fit into a larger picture. The human formation must clearly resemble a puzzle 'piece' rather than a complete puzzle. This record can be broken if another group replicates the image with a larger number of participants."
Is anyone ready to take on this challenge?
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The Guinness World Record for most jigsaw puzzle pieces tattooed on the human body belongs to Enigma (AKA Paul Lawrence), a sideshow performer, actor, and musician from Seattle. In 2011, Enigma set the record with 2,123 puzzle pieces tattooed across his body from head to toe. (It’s unclear if anyone comes close to second place.)
