Here’s where you can find some great puzzles from small businesses! I’m here to help you find the best puzzles and support small businesses as we head into the cozy winter months! Includes sustainable puzzles, literary puzzles and more!
Written and edited by Jen Ryland. Last updated on:
Why is it that puzzles are so satisfying? To me, puzzles are distracting (in a good way), can be a fun and collaborative activity with family that gets everyone off their devices, and provide a sense of satisfaction that is hard to find in real life these days. You may not have control over this unpredictable world, but you are the master of your small puzzle universe! There may be setbacks, but with patience, you can turn chaos into order.
I’ve been trying to shop more from small businesses and independent bookstores, so I’ll be highlighting them. These puzzles are either sold by small local businesses, or made by them! Happy Shopping!
Great Puzzles from Bookshop.org!
Bookshop.org donates 30% of your purchase to independent bookstores!
Check out my TOP FIVE Bookshop.org puzzles for book lovers:
- Pride and Puzzlement honors the late great Jane Austen
- If you love Bridgerton on Netflix, check out The World of Bridgerton Puzzle!
- This Do not Disturb Puzzle warns others that you are busy tackling all those books!
- Do you organize your books by color? Grab this Bodelian Library Rainbow puzzle
- The World of the Brontes will take you back to your time with Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre
I’ve made a list of ALL my favorite puzzles on Bookshop.org all in one place! My list includes The Office puzzles, Tiger King puzzles, Alice’s Wonderland, the Golden Girls, and more!
Small Businesses that Make and Sell Puzzles
ZenChalet wood puzzles are durable and sustainable! They can be wall mounted too! Check out this beautiful Mandala Heart Puzzle! Designed in the USA by a company based in Jacksonville, FL.
The Jigsaw Puzzle Factory – Andover, MA
The Jigsaw Puzzle Factory makes high quality puzzles using 90% recycled materials and printed with vegetable ink. They are 100% biodegradable! The Jigsaw Puzzle factory has a lot of fantasy-themed puzzles. I love this beautiful Tony DiTerlizzi puzzle – you might know him as the illustrator of The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black. This adorable Rudolph puzzle would make a great family activity. You can order through their website (link above) or from their Amazon store here. Around $20
Pomegranate Puzzles – Portland, OR (recommended by Karen @ For What It’s Worth Reviews)
Pomegranate has gorgeous artsy puzzles. These landscape ones are stunning, and I think a Jackson Pollock puzzle would be a serious challenge! $18, 10% with newsletter sign-up, and free shipping with a $75 order.
New York Puzzle Company – New York
For that New Yorker magazine loving person in your life, the New York Puzzle Company makes puzzles based on, among other things, classic New Yorker magazine covers! So fun, and such beautiful artwork! Around $20.
Art and Fable – Doylestown, PA
Dianne (in the comments) clued me in to this great company. Each puzzle purchase supports both an artist and their favorite charity. Each purchase includes a stand for the lid, a resealable bag for storing pieces. Here’s Lake Como Breeze by Paul Jorgensen (donation to Kids International Development Society), Day in the Garden by Betsy Silverman (Animal Rescue League of Boston) and Window Nook by John Powell (Autism Society of America). These puzzles are a little pricier, at $29, but do offer free shipping if you buy three, the bonus gifts, the charity donation AND a lost piece replacement service. Genius!
The New York Public Library Shop – New York, NY
If you’re doing any kind of gift shopping, the New York Public Library shop has so many great things you won’t see anywhere else. They also have a small assortment of puzzles, including these two NYC-themed ones!
Stocklist Goods & Gifts – Tacoma, WA
This store has expanded their puzzle offerings in 2021, including some really beautiful puzzles that are ready to order! They have a lot of vintage-y puzzles, like this dog one. And I am beyond obsessed with this “Where’s Prince” puzzle featuring 1990s celebrities partying in Times Square in 1999. These are $18-$20 plus shipping.
UC San Diego Campus Bookstore – who knew they had puzzles? Musical Cats and Mix Tapes. And and those noodles are making me HUNGRY! Under $20, and many are on sale now for under $15!
Independent Bookstores with a Great Selection of Puzzles
Bethany Beach Books – Delaware
This independent bookstore in Delaware is a treasure trove of puzzles! They have lots of 500 and 1000 piece puzzles and seem to specialize in two kinds (both of which I’m LOVING): holiday puzzles and beach-themed puzzles. I also have my eye on that one of Paris because … Paris! Puzzles run around $18.
Powell’s Books – Portland, OR
Powell’s Books is legendary and they have some great puzzles to choose from. Little Women cross-stitch puzzle, where have you been all my life. I love these beautiful birds. Puzzles run $17-20 with $8 shipping.
Pufferbellies – Staunton, VA
Pufferbellies has a great selection of puzzles in the 500-750 piece range, which is the perfect size to do over a weekend. Around $15-20 plus shipping.
The Red Barn Mercantile – Alexandria, VA
The Red Barn Mercantile, a DC area bookstore, has some beautiful puzzles you can grab – they are $14-$17 plus shipping.
White Mountain Puzzles – Jackson, NH
I LOVE these holiday themed puzzles featuring wreaths and Christmas stamps. I may just order a couple of these for a family after-dinner activity during Christmas week. These are $14-17.
Whistlestop Book Store – Carlisle PA
Whistlestop has a great selection of puzzles I haven’t seen elsewhere, including a lot based on art – a Van Gogh puzzle would be a serious challenge, and I LOVE the Sherlock Holmes puzzle. Santa, are you listening? You can search their puzzle page by number of pieces, which I love!
My three favorite under $20 puzzles from Amazon
Sometimes, for whatever reason, you’ve just got to use Amazon. The listing below contains affiliate links and I may earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases.
Friends puzzle – I am totally getting these for all the Gen Z’s in my life as they are all obsessed by this show! $20
The World of Shakespeare – definitely buying this one for myself! $22 with free shipping.
This delicious looking donut puzzle is $17.99 with free shipping if your order is over $25. 1000 pieces!
Andy Warhol Flowers – $14.00 with free shipping if you order $25 total in merchandise. If any of my family members are reading, this would make me a great present!
Great Puzzles that Ship Internationally!
The Book Depository – ships internationally. Did you know that The Book Depository has an amazing selection of puzzles? Me either. They have a lot of bookish and art-themed puzzles:
The far left is the Bodelian library, and I love that. The middle one is “do not disturb” and the far right is my fantasy library with a secret door! Puzzles under $20 and international shipping!
I’ll update this as I find more. If any of these are now out of stock, or if you have recommendations for me, please tell me in comments!
If you are looking for other gifts, check out my entire bookish gift guide. It includes socks, pillows, jewelry, and bookends for book lovers!
I haven’t put together a puzzle in many years.
Mary! You’e got to try it!