Matchstick Puzzles for Kids With Answers
11 matchstick puzzles for kids, from easy to hard, with answers hidden until you need them. All you need is a box of craft sticks or toothpicks.
Why matchsticks make a great brain trainer
A limited number of sticks forces non-obvious solutions. You cannot simply add a new line: you must work with what is already there. That trains planning a few steps ahead, spatial thinking and the habit of checking an answer, because a correct puzzle must make a true equation or the right shape.
How to build digits from matchsticks
Build digits the way a calculator shows them. The plus sign uses 2 sticks (one flat, one upright), the minus sign uses 1 flat stick, and the equals sign uses 2 flat sticks.
| Digit | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sticks | 6 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
Useful facts: a 6 and a 9 both have a "tail" (6 sticks each), a 3 becomes a 9 with one extra stick, and a 5 becomes a 6 with one extra stick.
Easy puzzles: fix the equation by moving one stick
Each equation below is wrong. Move exactly one stick to make it true. The equals sign stays where it is.
Puzzle 1
1 + 2 = 4
Show the answer
Turn the 2 into a 3 by moving one stick inside that digit. Now 1 + 3 = 4.
Puzzle 2
2 + 3 = 3
Show the answer
Change the last 3 into a 5 by moving one stick inside that digit. Now 2 + 3 = 5.
Puzzle 3
3 + 3 = 9
Show the answer
Turn the 9 into a 6 by moving its top-right stick to the bottom left. Now 3 + 3 = 6.
Medium puzzles: take a stick from one digit and give it to another
Puzzle 4
1 + 2 = 8
Show the answer
Take a stick from the 8 (it becomes a 9) and put it on top of the 1 (it becomes a 7). Now 7 + 2 = 9.
Puzzle 5
1 + 5 = 2
Show the answer
Take the upright stick of the plus sign (it becomes a minus) and add it to the 1 to make a 7. Now 7 − 5 = 2.
Puzzle 6
1 + 6 = 8
Show the answer
Take one stick from the 8 (it becomes a 9) and add it to the 6 to make an 8. Now 1 + 8 = 9. Do not forget that the 1 stays the same.
Harder puzzles: signs and bigger changes
Puzzle 7
3 + 4 = 5
Show the answer
Take the upright stick of the plus sign (it becomes a minus) and add it to the 3 to make a 9. Now 9 − 4 = 5.
Puzzle 8
3 − 4 = 6
Show the answer
Take one stick from the 6 (it becomes a 5) and add it to the 3 to make a 9. Now 9 − 4 = 5.
Shape puzzles with answers
Puzzle 9: the grid
Build a 2 by 2 grid of squares from 12 sticks. Counting small squares and the big one, there are 5 squares. Remove one stick so that exactly 3 squares are left.
Show the answer
Remove any one of the 8 outer sticks. That stick belongs to the big square and to one small square, so 5 − 2 = 3 squares remain. (Removing a middle stick breaks more squares, so it does not work.)
Puzzle 10: two squares left
Use the same grid. Remove two sticks so that exactly 2 squares remain.
Show the answer
Remove the two sticks on the top edge of the grid. The top two small squares and the big square lose a side, and the two bottom small squares are left. Other solutions exist, so let your child look for a second one.
Puzzle 11: the pyramid
Build 4 equal triangles from just 6 sticks.
Show the answer
Think in 3D. Make a triangle on the table with 3 sticks, then stand the other 3 sticks up from the corners so that their tops meet. You get a triangular pyramid with 4 triangle faces.
Puzzles by age
| Age | Good puzzles here | What it trains |
|---|---|---|
| 6-7 | Puzzles 1-3, building shapes and letters freely | Digit shapes, careful looking |
| 7-9 | Puzzles 4-6, 9 and 10 | Trying options, mental arithmetic |
| 9-10+ | Puzzles 7, 8 and 11 | Planning ahead, 3D thinking |
How to work with a child
- Start with simple puzzles: early success keeps motivation up.
- Let them try different options. Trial and error matters as much as the answer.
- Do not hint right away. Give 5-10 minutes of thinking time first.
- After solving, ask them to explain the logic: that locks in understanding.
- Let them invent their own puzzle and challenge you. Making a puzzle is harder than solving one.
FAQ: Matchstick Puzzles
What age are matchstick puzzles good for?
Simple versions work from age 6-7. Equation puzzles suit ages 7-10, and puzzles that need 3D thinking, like the pyramid, suit ages 9 and up.
Do matchstick puzzles need real matches?
No. Craft sticks, toothpicks or straws work just as well and are safer for younger kids. If you use real matches, remove the heads first.
What does "move one matchstick" mean?
You pick up exactly one stick and put it somewhere else. Nothing is added or thrown away, so the total number of sticks stays the same.
How do I make digits out of matchsticks?
Build them like numbers on a calculator display, with up to seven sticks per digit. The table above shows how many sticks each digit uses.
My child is stuck. How long should I wait?
Give 5-10 minutes of thinking time first. Then give a small hint, such as which digit to look at, before showing the answer.
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