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Other Magic Square Sizes: 3 * 5 * 7 * 9 * 11 * 13 * 15 * 17 * 19 *
21 * 23 * 25 * 27 * 29 * 31 * 33 * 35 * 37 * 39 * 41 * 43 * 45 * 47 * 49 * 51 * 53 * 55 * 57 * 59 *
61 * 63 * 65 * 67 * 69 * 71 * 73 * 75 * 77 * 79 * 81 * 83 * 85 * 87 * 89 * 91 * 93 * 95 * 97 * 99 *

A 23x23 Magic Square

Scroll down to see a magic square
in which all rows, columns, and both diagonals
add up to the same magic sum (6095)

A Magic Square is a square of numbers in which every row, every column, and both diagonals add up to the same number. This number is often called the magic sum. The 23 by 23 magic square shown below has a magic sum equal to 6095.

Though magic squares can be made with non-consecutive and non-regular sequences, they are usually seen made up of consecutive numbers. To the best of my knowledge, the middle number in the sequence must be in the center square, and the magic sum will be equal to this middle number times the number of rows in the square. (In the case of 3x3 squares, I have proved that the middle number MUST be equal to one-third of the sum. See proof here.)

All odd-size Magic Squares can be made with the method shown below, which can be summarized as "start in the middle of the top and keep moving up and to the right except when you get blocked, in which case drop down and continue." The more detailed directions about creating these squares can be found further below. There are other methods for creating magic squares, but this is the easiest to learn. (There are basically only two methods of creating a 3x3 square but the larger squares have a large number of irregular variants, and probably other regular methods.)

Read more about Magic Squares

If you'd like to read more about magic squares, click one of these links to look for books about Magic Squares at Amazon.com, at Amazon.canada, and at Amazon.co.UK.

A 23-by-23 Magic Square

(Magic Sum = 6095)

Books about
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278 303 328 353 378 403 428 453 478 503 528 1 26 51 76 101 126 151 176 201 226 251 276
302 327 352 377 402 427 452 477 502 527 23 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 277
326 351 376 401 426 451 476 501 526 22 24 49 74 99 124 149 174 199 224 249 274 299 301
350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 21 46 48 73 98 123 148 173 198 223 248 273 298 300 325
374 399 424 449 474 499 524 20 45 47 72 97 122 147 172 197 222 247 272 297 322 324 349
398 423 448 473 498 523 19 44 69 71 96 121 146 171 196 221 246 271 296 321 323 348 373
422 447 472 497 522 18 43 68 70 95 120 145 170 195 220 245 270 295 320 345 347 372 397
446 471 496 521 17 42 67 92 94 119 144 169 194 219 244 269 294 319 344 346 371 396 421
470 495 520 16 41 66 91 93 118 143 168 193 218 243 268 293 318 343 368 370 395 420 445
494 519 15 40 65 90 115 117 142 167 192 217 242 267 292 317 342 367 369 394 419 444 469
518 14 39 64 89 114 116 141 166 191 216 241 266 291 316 341 366 391 393 418 443 468 493
13 38 63 88 113 138 140 165 190 215 240 265 290 315 340 365 390 392 417 442 467 492 517
37 62 87 112 137 139 164 189 214 239 264 289 314 339 364 389 414 416 441 466 491 516 12
61 86 111 136 161 163 188 213 238 263 288 313 338 363 388 413 415 440 465 490 515 11 36
85 110 135 160 162 187 212 237 262 287 312 337 362 387 412 437 439 464 489 514 10 35 60
109 134 159 184 186 211 236 261 286 311 336 361 386 411 436 438 463 488 513 9 34 59 84
133 158 183 185 210 235 260 285 310 335 360 385 410 435 460 462 487 512 8 33 58 83 108
157 182 207 209 234 259 284 309 334 359 384 409 434 459 461 486 511 7 32 57 82 107 132
181 206 208 233 258 283 308 333 358 383 408 433 458 483 485 510 6 31 56 81 106 131 156
205 230 232 257 282 307 332 357 382 407 432 457 482 484 509 5 30 55 80 105 130 155 180
229 231 256 281 306 331 356 381 406 431 456 481 506 508 4 29 54 79 104 129 154 179 204
253 255 280 305 330 355 380 405 430 455 480 505 507 3 28 53 78 103 128 153 178 203 228
254 279 304 329 354 379 404 429 454 479 504 529 2 27 52 77 102 127 152 177 202 227 252



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How to Make Your Own Odd-Size Magic Square

  1. Draw a square with any odd number of rows and columns.
  2. Put your first number in the MIDDLE square of the TOP row.
  3. Move UP and to the RIGHT to find the position for your next number, but ...
    • if the next "position" is ABOVE a column, go to BOTTOM of that column (you can see a sample of this movement by looking at how we moved from 1 to 2 in the square above).
    • if the next "position" is to the RIGHT of a row, go to LEFT of that row (you can see this movement between (12) and (13) above).
    • if the next cell is already filled in, drop down to the cell below the number you just filled in for the next number (you can see this when you look at how we moved from 23 to the next number above).
    • if the next cell is both ABOVE and to the RIGHT of the entire square, drop down to the cell below the number you just filled in for your next number (you can see this if you look at (276) and the next number).
  4. Print your NEXT number into the new square you just moved to.
  5. Repeat steps 3-4 until the entire square is full.
  6. You can see how it works by printing this page and drawing arrows to see how it worked when I created this magic square

This Magic Square was created by John Knoderer, a webmaster and computer programmer who is available to telecommute to your location.

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You can find more of John's puzzling materials at www.MAZES.com and at www.GodLovesEveryone.org. You can reach John at Webmaster (at) Mazes.com.

Fine Print: If you print and duplicate these magic squares for classroom use or other multiple copy use, please send a payment of $(however much you think this is worth) to the author. John puts a GREAT DEAL of time into creating and posting materials to the internet for you to use (and enjoy). Your donations will help pay bills and keep new materials coming your way.

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