How long does it take to solve a Sudoku?

There is no single answer - It depends on difficulty and experience. Here is a realistic breakdown of expected solving times at every level.

Solving Times by Difficulty and Experience

Difficulty	Beginner	Intermediate	Experienced
Easy	8-15 min	4-8 min	Under 3 min
Medium	15-30 min	10-20 min	5-12 min
Hard	30-60 min	20-40 min	10-25 min
Expert	45+ min	30-60 min	15-35 min
Master/Extreme	Over 1 hr	45-90 min	25-60 min

What Speeds Up Solving

Pattern recognition - The more techniques you have internalised, the less time each step takes.
Pencil marks early - Writing candidates upfront costs 2 minutes but saves 10 on Hard puzzles.
Consistent scanning order - A repeatable workflow prevents missed singles.
Volume - Daily solving builds speed faster than anything else.

Competitive Solving Times

World-class competitors complete Easy puzzles in under 90 seconds and Hard puzzles in 5-8 minutes. These solvers recognise advanced patterns instantly and rarely need full pencil marks. Competitive times are not a useful benchmark for casual solvers - Focus on beating your own personal best.

Track your progress on the Sudoku.by leaderboard.