What Wood Are Jigsaw Puzzles Made From?

Chipboard / Greyboard: Recycled paper pulp, 1.5–2.5mm thick. Core material.
Printed Paper Layer: Glossy/matte/linen finish, laminated to chipboard.
Adhesive: PVA or similar between layers.

Modern cardboard jigsaw puzzles contain no wood. They're made from:

Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles (Premium / Heirloom)

These are made from wood. Common species:

Wood	Properties	Used By
Birch (Baltic/Russian)	Fine grain, stable, laser-cuts cleanly, light color	Wentworth, Liberty, Artifact, many laser-cut artisans
Maple (Hard)	Dense, durable, light, excellent cut quality	Stave, Elms, high-end custom
Cherry	Warm tone, darkens with age, cuts well	Custom makers
Walnut	Dark, luxurious, stable	Premium custom
Plywood (Baltic Birch, ApplePly)	Dimensionally stable, multi-ply, consistent	Many laser-cut brands (Nautilus, etc.)
MDF	Cheap, uniform, but dusty, less premium feel	Budget wooden puzzles

Laser Cutting: Vaporizes kerf → tight fit, slight burn smell, vertical edges. Standard for wooden.
Scroll Saw / CNC: No burn, wider kerf → looser fit. Artisanal.
Die Cut (Cardboard): Steel rule die stamps shapes. Fast, cheap, slight variation.

Cost ($50+ vs $15), weight, humidity warping, cutting dust, splinter risk. Chipboard is engineered for this exact use.

Buying Tip: "Wooden puzzle" = laser-cut wood. "Cardboard puzzle" = chipboard. They're different product categories.

Jigsaw Puzzles