Zebra Puzzles
Five houses, five owners, five pets, and one way they all fit. This site serves six zebra puzzles each morning, the kind people also call Einstein's Riddle.
How the levels differ
| Level | What changes |
|---|---|
| Very easy | Most clues name a position outright |
| Medium | More clues need combining |
| Ultra hard | More categories and more clues about what is not true |
Draw it out
If a hard puzzle feels stuck, write the positions in a row on paper and add what each clue rules out. Negative clues, like the tea drinker is not next to the cat owner, are easy to forget on screen. On paper they become crossed off boxes, and the next step often jumps out.
Paper helps most with clues that say what is not true.
Before you start Zebra Puzzles
- Start with clues that name a position outright, such as the first house.
- Clues like somewhere to the left of only help when paired with another clue, so keep them in mind.
- Use undo to step back when the board stops making sense.
- On ultra hard, list what cannot be true first. Those puzzles lean on clues about what is not the case.
Playing Zebra Puzzles step by step
- Read every clue
Go through all the clues before you place anything.
- Place items
Put names, drinks, pets and other items into positions in the table.
- Watch the markers
Green means a placement fits a clue, red means it breaks one. Neither guarantees the final answer. Keep going until the table is full and every clue is used.
Quick facts about Zebra Puzzles
- Puzzles a day
- 6
- Levels
- Very easy, easy, medium, hard, very hard, ultra hard
- Checking
- Green and red markers as you place items
- Solution
- Exactly one, no guessing needed
- Account
- Not needed
- Category
- Logic and mystery games, logic boards
Zebra Puzzles FAQ
Can I play zebra puzzles online free?
Yes. The six daily puzzles are free in the browser, and you can start without an account.
Do the green and red markers give the answer away?
No. Green only means a placement fits a clue so far, and red means it breaks one. A board full of green can still be wrong.
Why is it called a zebra puzzle?
The famous original asked who owns the zebra and who drinks water, after a list of fifteen clues about five houses.
Which level should I start on?
Beginners can start at very easy. Regular solvers usually open at medium.
Do I ever need to guess?
No. Every clue is needed, and each puzzle has one answer you can reach by logic alone.
Facts checked on 2026-11-09. Zebra Puzzles belongs to Zebra Puzzles. Megadle is not linked to it.