You’ve seen them on YouTube. Those massive, pillowed blocks of plastic that look more like a piece of structural engineering than a toy. Most people see the 17x17x17 Rubik's Cube and think it’s a joke or perhaps a 3D-rendered prank. It isn’t. It's a real, physical object that you can buy, scramble, and—if you have about fifteen hours of free time and a high tolerance for finger cramps—actually solve.
But here’s the thing. It’s not "harder" than a standard cube in the way you might think. It’s just... longer.
The Engineering Behind the Over-the-Top 17x17x17 Rubik's Cube
Back in the day, anything beyond a 5x5 was considered impossible. The internal mechanisms just couldn't hold together. If you tried to make a 17x17x17 with traditional core designs, the whole thing would literally explode in your hands the moment you tried to execute a corner cut. This is what speedcubers call a "pop," and with this many pieces, a pop is basically a death sentence for your afternoon.
Oskar van Deventer changed the game. He’s the legendary puzzle designer who first proved these massive "layer-cake" cubes could exist. His "Over-the-Top" 17x17x17 was a marvel of 3D printing. It used a specialized "floating" internal structure where the pieces essentially grip onto each other in nested tracks. Modern mass-produced versions, primarily from brands like YuXin or ShengShou, use a refined version of this. They are "pillowed"—meaning the faces are curved—because if they were perfectly flat cubes, the corner pieces would have nothing to hold onto and would simply fall off.
It’s heavy. Weighing in at several pounds, you don't solve this on the bus. You solve it on a desk. With a towel underneath so it doesn't slide around.
The physics are wild. To keep thousands of individual plastic bits from jamming, the tolerances have to be microscopic. When you turn a layer on a 17x17x17 Rubik's Cube, you aren't just moving plastic; you're managing the friction of hundreds of moving parts simultaneously. Honestly, it’s a miracle they don't seize up more often.
How Do You Even Start Solving This Thing?
If you can solve a 5x5 or a 7x7, you can solve this. Seriously. It’s the same logic.
Most people use the "Reduction Method." Basically, you turn the giant 17x17 mess into a 3x3. First, you build the centers. On a standard cube, the center is one piece. On a 17x17, each "center" is a 15x15 grid of 225 stickers. You have to pair those up into solid blocks of color. It's tedious. You do the white center, then the yellow, then the others. It takes forever.
Then comes "edge pairing." You find the 15 pieces that make up a single long edge and line them up. Once you’ve reduced all the edges and centers, you just solve it like a regular Rubik's cube. Easy, right? Well, except for the "parities."
Parity is a nightmare. It’s a mathematical quirk where, because of the way the layers move, you end up with a single edge flipped or two pieces swapped that would be physically impossible on a 3x3. On a 17x17, the parity algorithms are long. If you mess up one move in a 60-move sequence at the 14-hour mark, you might actually cry. I’ve seen it happen.
The Mental Toll of 6,699 Stickers
Let's talk about the math for a second because it’s staggering.
A 3x3 has 54 stickers. A 17x17x17 Rubik's Cube has 1,539 individual pieces on the surface and a total of 6,699 stickers. Just think about that. If you spent one second looking at each sticker, it would take you nearly two hours just to see the whole cube.
The number of possible permutations is a number so large it makes no sense to the human brain. It’s something like $6.69 \times 10^{1054}$. For context, there are only about $10^{80}$ atoms in the observable universe. You are more likely to win the lottery every single day for the rest of your life than you are to accidentally solve this cube by turning it randomly.
Who Actually Buys This?
It’s a niche market. Obviously.
Collectors love them because they look imposing on a shelf. It’s a conversation starter. "Is that real?" is the first thing everyone asks.
Then there are the "big cube" specialists. You’ve got guys like Max Park or Kevin Hays who have dominated the competitive scene for years. While the World Cube Association (WCA) only officially recognizes up to the 7x7 for competitions, the 17x17 has become a "Mount Everest" for the community.
Is it fun? Kinda. It's meditative. It’s like doing a 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, but one that fits in your lap and can be ruined by a single clumsy turn.
Common Misconceptions
People think you need to be a math genius. You don't. You just need pattern recognition and extreme patience.
Another myth is that it’s fragile. While you shouldn't drop it, modern versions from companies like YuXin are surprisingly robust. They use high-quality ABS plastic. The turning is actually quite smooth, provided you keep the layers aligned. If you try to turn it while the internal pieces aren't perfectly straight, you'll feel a "crunch." That’s the sound of a hundred-dollar puzzle contemplating suicide. Stop turning immediately when you feel the crunch.
Pricing and Where to Find One
This isn't a $10 toy from the grocery store. A 17x17x17 Rubik's Cube will usually set you back anywhere from $600 to $900 depending on the brand and where you buy it.
- YuXin HuangLong 17x17: Generally considered the gold standard. It’s relatively stable and comes in a nice display box.
- ShengShou 17x17: Often a bit cheaper, but tends to be heavier and a bit more prone to locking up.
- Custom 3D Prints: These can cost thousands. Unless you’re a hardcore collector, stick to the mass-produced ones.
Buying one second-hand is risky. If the previous owner didn't tension it correctly or—heaven forbid—tried to lube it with something petroleum-based (which melts the plastic), you’re buying a very expensive paperweight.
The Reality of the Solve
Most people who buy a 17x17 solve it once.
It takes a long time. The first time will probably take you 10 to 20 hours. You’ll do it in stages. Two hours on Monday for the first two centers. Three hours on Tuesday for the rest. By the time you get to the 3x3 stage at the end, your hands will be sore, and you’ll be seeing squares when you close your eyes.
But that final turn? It’s a rush.
Why Bother?
In a world of 15-second TikToks and instant gratification, there is something deeply rewarding about a task that demands ten hours of pure focus. It’s a test of endurance. It’s a way to prove to yourself that you can handle something complex without giving up.
Plus, it looks cool.
🔗 Read more: NYT Mini Crossword August 27: Why This Tiny Puzzle Still Gets Us Every Time
Actionable Steps for Aspiring Big-Cubers
If you’re serious about tackling the 17x17, don't just jump in. You'll regret it.
- Master the 7x7 first. If you can’t solve a 7x7 in under 10 minutes, a 17x17 will be a miserable experience. The logic is identical, but the 17x17 punishes lack of efficiency.
- Invest in "Cube Lube." Do not use WD-40. Please. Use a silicone-based lubricant specifically designed for puzzles (like Maru or Weight 5). It makes the thousands of moving parts slide without sticking.
- Set up a dedicated workspace. You need a flat surface and good lighting. Trying to solve this in bed is a recipe for a "pop" that sends pieces under your dresser where they'll be lost forever.
- Learn the "Freeslice" method. It’s a way of pairing edges that is way faster for big cubes. If you try to pair edges one by one on a 17x17 using the beginner method, you'll be there until next Christmas.
- Watch a walkthrough. Before you scramble it, watch a video by someone like RedKB or J Perm. See how they handle the cube physically. Large cubes require a different grip to keep the layers from misaligning.
Solving a 17x17x17 Rubik's Cube isn't about being "smart." It's about being stubborn. If you have the patience to sit through the monotony of 225-piece centers, you’ve already won half the battle. Just keep the layers aligned, watch out for the crunch, and remember to stretch your wrists.