There are so many different sizes of puzzles. When you are shopping for one, you will find that 1000-piece puzzles are the most popular, with the greatest selection of images and styles. However, there are people who prefer larger piece counts: 1500, 2000, up to 50,000 pieces.

A 2000-piece puzzle is not that much different than a 1000. Someone can struggle with a 300-piece puzzle just as easily as a 5000 piece. It’s not only the number of pieces that can make a puzzle challenging.

If you were wondering how to approach a larger puzzle, I have a few ideas.

As you puzzle more often, you will figure out what methods work best for you. Aside from some experience, there are three things that you really need in order to do a larger piece puzzle: space, time, and the willingness to sort.

A 2000-piece puzzle will not necessarily be double the size of 1000 pieces. The pieces could be bigger or smaller, so you can’t always compare, but you still need adequate space. Check the box for the dimensions of the finished puzzle so you can best prepare. I do my puzzles at the end of the dining room table, and I have them on foam boards from the dollar store. Having them on the foam board allows me to turn the puzzle so I do not have to stand up and change seats. A lot of people have special puzzle tables or portable caddies, but there are limited options for puzzles over 1500 pieces. Most of them are expensive. Everyone wants to be comfortable when they do a puzzle, especially when it is time consuming. Be sure to have a space prepared where you can access the pieces and be comfortable.

Place puzzle at comfortable place

I work full time, and I have a young daughter. I do my puzzles at night or on the weekends. I can usually do a 1000-piece puzzle within a week. If you have more free time, then perhaps you can do a puzzle more quickly, but how long it takes to do a puzzle is not always dependant on the amount of time you have.  

Sort Jigsaw Puzzle

The key to any puzzle is how you sort the pieces. A larger puzzle will need more sorting. The more time you spend sorting, the easier the puzzle will be to assemble. This is a very personalized approach. Whether you sort by color, shape, or pattern, you need to sort. There are puzzle sorting trays, but some people use baking sheets or kitchen bowls. Once you have them somewhat organized, you can look for key parts of the image that stand out (a red bicycle, a yellow sun, a green tree, etc.) and work from there.

I hope this was helpful. Regardless of size, every puzzle is unique and needs to be approached differently. Find a space, take some time, and get organized. This is not a race, take your time. If it takes days, weeks, or months, just have fun. You can do it. :)