How to Solve Nonograms: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

If the rows and columns of numbers look like a math test, don't worry. Learning how to play a nonogram takes about five minutes, and there is no arithmetic involved beyond counting. A nonogram is a picture logic puzzle: you use the number clues around the edge of the grid to figure out which cells to fill in, and when you finish, the filled cells reveal a hidden picture. This guide walks you through the rules, your very first moves, and a full worked example so you can solve your first nonogram today.

What is a nonogram?

A nonogram is a grid puzzle where number clues tell you which cells in each row and column should be filled. It goes by several names. You may know it as picross (the version Nintendo made famous), a griddler, a hanjie, or a Japanese crossword. People sometimes even search for it as a "nanogram" or "nonagram," which are just common misspellings of the same puzzle. Whatever you call it, the rules are identical, and the payoff is the same: a small piece of pixel art that appears as you solve.

The rules in 60 seconds

Each row and column has one or more numbers next to it. Those numbers are your clues, and they work like this:

• Each number is the length of a run of consecutive filled cells.
• The numbers appear in the same order as the runs.
• Between two runs in the same line there is at least one empty cell.

So a row clue of 3 1 means: somewhere in that row there is a block of exactly three filled cells, then a gap of one or more empty cells, then a single filled cell, in that order. A clue of 5 on a five-cell row means the whole row is filled. That is the entire game. If you want the formal version, the nonogram rules page lays it out with diagrams.

The two things you do with each cell

There are only two actions in a nonogram, and using both is the secret to solving:

• Fill a cell when you can prove it belongs to a run (click or tap).
• Mark it with an X when you can prove it must be empty (right-click or long-press).

Beginners tend to only fill cells. Marking the empties with an X is just as important, because every X you place narrows down where the remaining runs can go. Treat the X marks as real progress, not as an afterthought.

Your first move: completely full and completely empty lines

The easiest way to start is to look for lines that the clues decide on their own.

• A line that is completely full. On a five-cell row, a clue of 5 fills the whole row. A clue of 2 2 on a five-cell row also fills it completely: two cells, one forced gap, two cells, which is exactly five. Fill these in first.
• A line that is completely empty. A clue of 0 (or a blank clue) means every cell in that line is empty. Mark them all with an X.

These "free" lines give you anchor cells that crossing lines can build on, so always sweep for them before anything else.

The overlap technique (your most important tool)

Most easy nonograms are solved with one idea: overlap. When a run is long enough relative to the line, it has to cover some cells no matter where it sits.

Here is how to find the overlap. Take a clue and imagine sliding its run as far left as it will go, then as far right as it will go. Any cell that is filled in both positions is guaranteed to be filled.

A quick example on a five-cell row with the clue 4:

• Pushed left, the run covers cells 1, 2, 3, 4.
• Pushed right, the run covers cells 2, 3, 4, 5.
• Cells 2, 3, and 4 are filled in both, so fill them in.

There is even a shortcut: the number of guaranteed cells is (2 × clue) − line length when that is positive. For a clue of 4 on a 5-cell line that is 8 − 5 = 3 cells. For a clue of 3 on a 5-cell line it is 1 cell (the middle). This single technique resolves a large chunk of any easy grid. We break it down further in the overlap technique explained.

A full worked example (5×5)

Let's solve a small grid together. Picture a 5×5 nonogram with these clues:

• Rows (top to bottom): 1, 1, 5, 1, 1
• Columns (left to right): 1, 1, 5, 1, 1

Step by step:

1. Row 3 has the clue 5. The row is five cells long, so fill all of row 3.
2. Column 3 has the clue 5. Same logic, fill the entire third column.
3. Look at column 1, clue 1. The only filled cell in that column so far is where row 3 crosses it, and the clue says there is exactly one filled cell. So that cell is the whole answer. Mark every other cell in column 1 with an X. Do the same for columns 2, 4, and 5.
4. Now check rows 1, 2, 4, and 5, each clue 1. In each of those rows the only filled cell is in column 3 (from step 2), which satisfies the 1. Mark the rest of each row with an X.

That's it. The grid is solved, and the filled cells form a neat plus sign. Notice how we never guessed. Every move followed directly from a clue, which is exactly how a good nonogram is meant to work.

What to do when you get stuck

Every beginner hits a wall where nothing obvious jumps out. Here is the fix.

• Switch between rows and columns. A cell you fill in a row gives new information to the column it sits in, and the other way around. When a row stalls, jump to its columns. This cross-referencing unsticks most puzzles.
• Use your X marks. Once a line's clues are all placed, X out every remaining cell in it. Those X marks often reveal the answer in a crossing line.
• Re-count. A miscounted run is the most common reason a nonogram feels impossible. Recount the clue and the cells before assuming you are stuck.

And the golden rule: don't guess. Our puzzles always have exactly one solution reachable by logic. If a cell feels like a coin flip, there is a deduction you haven't found yet, so keep looking.

Where to go next

Once full-line and overlap logic feel natural, you are ready to climb. Medium grids introduce edge logic and multiple runs per line. Hard grids bring in gap analysis. The complete set of methods, in order, lives in our nonogram solving techniques guide, and there is a faster-solving companion piece in nonogram tips and tricks.

The best way to learn how to solve nonograms is to solve nonograms. Open an easy 5×5, fill your first full line, and watch the picture appear.

Frequently asked questions

Is there any math in nonograms?

No real math, just counting. The numbers are the lengths of runs of filled cells, so you only ever count cells and gaps. There is no addition or multiplication needed to solve a nonogram, which is why they are sometimes called picture logic puzzles.

What do the numbers in a nonogram mean?

Each number is the length of a consecutive run of filled cells in that row or column, listed in order. A clue of 3 1 means a run of three filled cells, then at least one empty cell, then a single filled cell, reading left to right or top to bottom.

What is the difference between a nonogram and picross?

They are the same puzzle. "Picross" is the name Nintendo popularized, while "nonogram" is the generic term. The puzzle is also called a griddler, hanjie, or Japanese crossword. There is a full rundown in our guide to nonogram vs picross vs griddler.

How do you solve a nonogram without guessing?

Use the clues to find cells that must be filled or must be empty, and mark both. Start with completely full or empty lines, apply the overlap technique, then cross-reference rows against columns. A proper nonogram always has one solution you can reach by pure logic, so guessing is never required.

What size nonogram is best for beginners?

Start with 5×5 grids. They are small enough that overlap logic alone solves most of the puzzle, which makes them ideal for learning. Our easy nonograms are all 5×5, and there is a full step-by-step 5×5 walkthrough if you want to see one solved in detail.