Jigsaw Puzzle Log

Who this is for

Every puzzle you finish, on one list. Record when you started and finished, how many pieces it had, how hard it felt, how long it took and whether any pieces were missing, so you know which boxes are worth keeping, lending or passing on.

Jigsaw puzzlers who work through a steady pile of boxes, swap with friends or borrow from a library or puzzle club, and families who keep a puzzle on the go.

What this helps you track

• Which puzzles you have finished and when
• Piece counts, your own difficulty score and the time each took
• Puzzles with missing pieces, before you lend or swap them
• Whether each puzzle is yours, borrowed or swapped
• Your running totals of puzzles and pieces for the year

How to use it

1. Write your name, the year and a page number at the top.
2. Start a row when you tip out a new puzzle: the start date, title and brand, and piece count.
3. When it is finished, add the finish date, the time taken in whatever way you track it, and any missing pieces.
4. Score its difficulty and your overall rating on your own scale, and mark whether it is owned, borrowed or swapped.
5. At the end of each page, add up puzzles finished and pieces and carry the totals into the header.
6. Use the browser version to keep the log in your own browser, or print a page for the puzzle table.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

What scale should I use for difficulty and rating?

Any scale you like, such as 1 to 5 or 1 to 10. Keep the same one throughout the log so puzzles can be compared. Writing your scale in the notes helps if someone else reads the log.

How do I record time taken?

However suits you: total hours, number of sessions or days on the table. Some people only write the finish date and let the two dates tell the story; there is no right way.

Why note missing pieces?

So a puzzle with a gap does not get lent or swapped without a warning, and so you can tell a friend or club before they start. Write how many are missing and roughly where, such as edge or sky.

Can I use it for a puzzle club or library?

Yes. Use the source column to mark borrowed or swapped puzzles and the notes area for who has each one now. For a whole lending library, one row per loan works well.