Medium Printable Sudoku

Medium Sudoku provides a satisfying challenge without requiring advanced logic. Around 30–34 given digits leave enough empty cells to require hidden singles and pairs, but every step can be found through patient scanning.

Want to solve instead of print? Jump straight into a puzzle. ▶ Play Medium Sudoku
Generate Medium Puzzles
Given digits:
30–34
Avg. solve time:
15–30 min
Recommended age:
12+
Techniques needed:
4 types
Who This Level Is For

Regular players, classroom challenges, Sunday mornings.

Medium puzzles bridge the gap between beginner and experienced play. You'll need to use pencil marks and scan more carefully, but you won't need anything beyond basic pair-finding to reach the solution.

Printing Tips for Medium
  • 1 or 2 per page is recommended for comfortable solving.
  • Leave a margin for pencil notes and candidate lists.
  • Good for Sunday newspaper-style solving sessions.
  • Select "Background graphics" in print settings for sharp borders.
  • Print at 100% scale - Do not scale to fit.

Medium Sudoku - Complete Guide

All Printable Levels - At a Glance
LevelGiven digitsSolve timeAge
Easy 36–40 5–15 min 8+
Medium 30–34 15–30 min 12+
Hard 25–29 30–60 min 16+
Expert 20–25 45–90 min Any (advanced)
Master 17–22 90–180 min Any (elite)
Extreme 17–20 2–4+ hours Any (elite)
Techniques Required - Medium
#TechniqueFrequency
1 Obvious Singles Every puzzle
2 Hidden Singles Most puzzles
3 Obvious Pairs Some puzzles
4 Pointing Pairs Occasionally

How to Approach Medium Puzzles on Paper

Step 1 - Write candidate lists
For each empty cell, write small possible digits (candidates) in the margins. Cross out candidates eliminated by digits already in the cell's row, column, and box. A cell with only one candidate is a naked single - Place it immediately.
Step 2 - Look for hidden singles
A hidden single is a digit that can only go in one cell within a row, column, or box - Even if that cell has other candidates. Scan each unit for digits that appear in only one candidate list. These are always placeable.
Tip - Pointing pairs
If a candidate digit appears in only one row or column within a 3×3 box, it cannot appear elsewhere in that row or column outside the box. Cross out those candidates across the rest of the row/column. This "pointing pair/triple" technique is the key medium-level unlock.

How difficult is Medium? - Relative comparison

Easy 25% difficulty
Medium ← You are here 50% difficulty
Hard 75% difficulty
Expert 100% difficulty

Paper vs. Online - Which is better for Medium?

ScenarioPaperOnline
Offline access (flights, rural)✓ Ideal-
Track personal best timesManual only✓ Automatic
Share with friends / classroom✓ Print copiesShare link
Undo mistakesEraser only✓ Unlimited undo
Hints when stuck-✓ Cell reveal
Leaderboard & scoring-✓ Only online

Frequently asked questions

Are these puzzles unique? +
Yes. Every puzzle is generated fresh using a randomised backtracking algorithm. Each click of "Generate Puzzles" produces a new set that has never appeared on this site before.
Do medium puzzles always have a unique solution? +
Yes. Our generator verifies that each puzzle has exactly one valid solution before serving it. You will never be forced to guess - Every step can be deduced logically.
Can I get solutions printed too? +
Solutions are not currently included on the printout. For classroom use, you can use our online solver to verify answers - Enter the given digits and hit Solve.
How do I play medium online instead? +
Click below to play in your browser - Includes a timer, unlimited undo, notes mode, hints, and leaderboard scoring.
Play Medium Sudoku Online

Get automatic timing, unlimited undo, mistake tracking, and leaderboard scores.