But for Leeds teenager Joey Gouly, the plastic puzzle is such a doddle he can do it BLINDFOLDED.
The 17-year-old can solve the cube – reputedly the world's best-selling toy – in just 48 seconds with his eyes closed.
His amazing mental skills have earned him the national record for performing the feat blindfolded.
Just as incredible, the Roundhay School student can match up all six sides of the puzzle in just 15 seconds when he's allowed to look at what he's doing.
"I bought my first cube about two years ago and it's just gone from there," said Joey, from Chapel Allerton.
"I managed to finish it in about a week and then I kept practising in order to get faster and faster.
"After I started getting quite good at it, some of my friends bought cubes as well and asked me to teach them how to do it.
"I researched some techniques for doing the cube blindfolded but I also came up with my own.
"I memorise a part of the cube and then break it down to a couple of moves at a time.
"There are techniques, but I think you need a bit of natural ability as well."
Joey completed his record-breaking blindfolded feat during national finals in Birmingham.
Although well outside his personal best, his time of two minutes and 27 seconds was still an official national record.
He has also performed at the world championships in Hungary – the home of the Rubik's cube – where he finished an impressive 12th.
He owns about 30 different cubes and at his peak, was practising for up to three hours a day.
A former Allerton Grange High GCSE pupil, Joey is currently in the middle of his maths, physics and French A-level exams at Roundhay School.
He plans to take a gap year before heading off to Glasgow to do a degree in computer science.
Natural
Joey's maths teacher Rachael Cavanagh said he has a natural talent for solving puzzles.
"Joey is an instinctive mathematician who has real flair for the subject," she said.
"He has impressed me by his interest in the subject and it is obvious he researches topics outside of the school syllabus.
"It did not surprise me that he had such a talent because he has a very logical brain."
ian.rosser@ypn.co.uk