Nonogram rules
A nonogram is a grid with numbers instead of a picture. The numbers say how the filled cells of each row and column are grouped; your job is to rebuild the picture from them.
- A clue like 3 1 means a block of 3 filled cells, then at least one empty cell, then a block of 1, in that order.
- Every row and every column must match its clue exactly; all other cells are empty.
- Use X to mark cells you know are empty; the picture is revealed when every clue is met.
Nonograms are also called hanjie or Japanese crosswords: a nonogram puzzle is a Japanese crossword drawn in cells instead of letters. The name is often typed nanogram or nonagram; it is the same puzzle.
Try it on small grids
Three small Nonogram puzzles to get the feel. Hints work here too and explain each step.
Practice 1 · 5x5 · Easy
Practice 2 · 6x6 · Easy
Practice 3 · 8x8 · Medium
Your first moves
Start with the biggest numbers. In a 10-cell row with the clue 8, the block can start in cell 1, 2 or 3, and whatever it does it covers cells 3 to 8: fill those six. A clue whose blocks and gaps add up to the full width fixes the whole line. Then turn to the columns, where your new cells give the next clues their footing, and cross out cells no block can reach.
A worked example, step by step
Our solver finished this Nonogram (8x8) in 30 steps. Every step names its technique; step through it on the board, or read the whole solve below.
All 30 steps
- Simple boxes. In row 6 (clue 3 3), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: B6-C6, F6-G6 are filled.
- Finished lines. Column B (clue 1) already has all its filled cells, so B1-B5, B7-B8 are empty.
- Simple boxes. In column C (clue 6), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: C3-C5 are filled.
- Simple boxes. In column D (clue 4 1), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: D3-D4 are filled.
- Simple boxes. In column E (clue 4 1), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: E3-E4 are filled.
- Simple boxes. In column F (clue 6), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: F3-F5 are filled.
- Finished lines. Row 3 (clue 4) already has all its filled cells, so A3, G3-H3 are empty.
- Finished lines. Row 4 (clue 4) already has all its filled cells, so A4, G4-H4 are empty.
- Finished lines. Column G (clue 1) already has all its filled cells, so G1-G2, G5, G7-G8 are empty.
- Simple spaces. In row 1 (clue 2), the crossed cells decide which blocks fit in which gap: A1, H1 are empty.
- Spaces split the line. In row 2 (clue 4), the crossed cells decide which blocks fit in which gap: C2-F2 are filled and A2, H2 are empty.
- Spaces split the line. In row 5 (clue 1 1 1 1), the crossed cells decide which blocks fit in which gap: A5, H5 are filled.
- Finished lines. Row 5 (clue 1 1 1 1) already has all its filled cells, so D5-E5 are empty.
- Simple spaces. In row 8 (clue 2), the crossed cells decide which blocks fit in which gap: A8, H8 are empty.
- Simple boxes. In column A (clue 2), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: A6 is filled.
- Finished lines. Column A (clue 2) already has all its filled cells, so A7 is empty.
- Simple boxes. In column H (clue 2), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: H6 is filled.
- Finished lines. Row 6 (clue 3 3) already has all its filled cells, so D6-E6 are empty.
- Finished lines. Column H (clue 2) already has all its filled cells, so H7 is empty.
- Spaces split the line. In column D (clue 4 1), the crossed cells decide which blocks fit in which gap: D1 is filled.
- Spaces split the line. In column E (clue 4 1), the crossed cells decide which blocks fit in which gap: E1 is filled.
- Finished lines. Row 1 (clue 2) already has all its filled cells, so C1, F1 are empty.
- Simple boxes. In column C (clue 6), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: C7 is filled.
- Finished lines. Column C (clue 6) already has all its filled cells, so C8 is empty.
- Simple boxes. In row 8 (clue 2), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: E8 is filled.
- Finished lines. Column E (clue 4 1) already has all its filled cells, so E7 is empty.
- Simple boxes. In column F (clue 6), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: F7 is filled.
- Finished lines. Row 7 (clue 1 1) already has all its filled cells, so D7 is empty.
- Finished lines. Column F (clue 6) already has all its filled cells, so F8 is empty.
- Simple boxes. In row 8 (clue 2), the blocks overlap themselves however they sit in the free room: D8 is filled.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the gap: two blocks in one line always have at least one empty cell between them.
- Filling cells from the overlap of different blocks; overlap works one block at a time.
- Leaving empty cells unmarked: an X is what lets the crossing lines see their room.
Where Nonogram comes from
Nonograms were invented in Japan in 1987, independently by the graphics editor Non Ishida and the puzzle writer Tetsuya Nishio. The British puzzle collector James Dalgety brought Ishida's puzzles to the Sunday Telegraph in 1990 and coined the name, from Non and diagram. They spread through newspapers and puzzle magazines in the 1990s and have been a favourite of puzzle apps ever since.