Why Are Jigsaw Puzzles So Expensive Now? It‘s Basic Economics
Jigsaw puzzles have skyrocketed in price over the last 3 years due to a huge spike in demand combining with constrained supply. Production costs and transportation fees are up with inflation, manufacturers face backlogs, and eager puzzle buyers keep snapping up limited inventory. This imbalance between surging interest and lagging output has led pieces to become a luxury.
The Pandemic Drove an Explosion in Demand
When COVID-19 lockdowns began, stuck-at-home consumers turned to puzzles as a relaxing distraction in droves. Major puzzle maker Ravensburger saw sales increase 370% year-over-year in the early weeks of US restrictions – a massive and sudden jump. This enthusiasm kept going even as normalcy resumed; Ravensburger‘s puzzles sales remain up 52% in 2022 over pre-pandemic levels.
Jigsaw puzzles join other nostalgic home hobbies like baking bread, gardening, and playing board games in seeing resurgence over the past 3 years. With travel and entertainment options limited, people sought activities to occupy their minds and pass the time. Jigsaw puzzles also provide cognitive benefits like enhancing visual-spatial skills and short-term memory over staring at screens.
Manufacturers Face Supply Chain Chaos
Just as interest hit fever pitch, the companies making puzzles confronted extensive supply chain disruptions and production setbacks. Most mainstream puzzles come from factories in Europe and Asia – regions facing lengthy COVID-related slowdowns.
For example, market leader Ravensburger had to temporarily close its German headquarters and distribution centers in March 2020. The company saw delays stretching puzzles delivery timelines 8-10 weeks longer than usual. Competitor brand Buffalo Games told customers new puzzle stock would be unavailable until Fall 2020, reopening months later with prices 10-15% higher across top sellers.
These shutdowns combined with shipping container shortages, overloaded ports, and spikes in material and transportation costs. Cardboard prices are up 15% and sea freight 300%, which gets directly passed to puzzle MSRPs. With limited product made and exorbitant costs to import, new puzzle supply lagged while interest grew.
Puzzles Become a Seller‘s Market
All this has led to puzzles becoming a seller‘s market – brands can raise prices and still see inventory bought at alarming paces. Rouen-based manufacturer Lividini & Co. usually sells 15,000 puzzles per year; they managed to sell 300,000 units during spring 2020 alone. Consumer panic buying and patience for restocks allows companies to shore up margins.
Ravensburger, Buffalo Games, White Mountain, and other major publishers now charge over 30% more for new puzzles than 2019 rates. For example, a 1000 piece Buffalo Games puzzle cost $15 in 2019 but goes for $22 in 2024 – a 47% increase in just four years. Across puzzle makers, pieces now average over $1 per 100.
Average Jigsaw Puzzle Piece Price Per 100
| Year | Average Price Per 100 Pieces |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $0.70 |
| 2020 | $0.90 |
| 2021 | $1.10 |
| 2022 | $1.25 |
| 2023 | $1.35 |
Expect these elevated prices to persist until manufacturing output catches up with demand. Companies are actively investing to increase production volumes in 2024-2024 to stabilize the situation. But the new enthusiast base built during the pandemic shows jigsaw puzzles are back in a big way compared to the pre-2020 landscape.
Why Have Puzzles Gotten So Popular?
Puzzles may seem like a boring old-person activity, but they boast real cognitive benefits that appeal to all ages. As people sought stimulation away from screens over the past few years, they (re)discovered talents provided by jigsaw puzzles.
Studies show puzzles enhance short-term memory, visual-spatial reasoning, and fine-motor skills. They provide a tangible feeling of accomplishment when finishing a challenging layout. And they still feel nostalgic and wholesome, especially as environmental concerns make plastic toys and electronics less popular.
While prices skyrocketed the last few years, expect costs to plateau and stabilize some eventually. But supply will likely take years to fully catch up – the new generations hooked on puzzles are here to stay. Brands need to invest and scale up production capabilities to meet this enthusiasm.
Tips to Keep Enjoying Puzzles on a Budget
If your favorite 1,500 piece autumn landscape puzzle now costs $45 instead of $25, here are some ways to keep enjoying the hobby without breaking your fun budget:
- Buy used puzzles – Lots of people are reselling quality previously-owned puzzles that cost a fraction of new while still having all pieces.
- Shop sales and clearance sections – Retailers like Target, Walmart and Amazon deeply discount overstock puzzles. Sign up for brands‘ email lists to get notified of deals.
- Swap with friends – Arrange a puzzle exchange to refresh your options for free among your own network.
- DIY custom puzzles – Turn photos, kids‘ artwork, or magazine clippings into affordable custom puzzles using services like Shutterfly.
While this supply-demand mismatch persists through 2023, staying savvy can keep your puzzle passion satisfied even with higher new-puzzle costs.
Do you have favorite tips for obtaining puzzles affordably even with higher prices lately? Share your thoughts in the comments!
