Guides

Times tables tricks from 1 to 12

The simplest shortcut for every table, all in one place.

The 1 times table

Any number times 1 stays the same: 1 × 7 = 7. The easiest table – great for warming up and building confidence.

The 2 times table

Times 2 is doubling: 2 × 8 = 8 + 8 = 16. Every answer is even (it ends in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8).

The 3 times table

Count in threes: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30. The digits of every answer add up to a multiple of 3 (27 → 2 + 7 = 9).

The 4 times table

Times 4 is doubling twice: 4 × 7 → 14 → 28. Every answer is even.

The 5 times table

Answers end in 0 or 5. Times 5 is half of times 10: 5 × 8 = 80 ÷ 2 = 40.

The 6 times table

Times 6 is times 5 plus one more: 6 × 7 = 35 + 7 = 42. With even numbers the answer ends in the same digit: 6 × 4 = 24, 6 × 6 = 36, 6 × 8 = 48.

The 7 times table

The trickiest table – learn it last, once the others are solid. Number rhyme: 5, 6, 7, 8 → 56 = 7 × 8. Also remember 7 × 7 = 49.

The 8 times table

Times 8 is doubling three times: 8 × 6 → 12 → 24 → 48. The last digits repeat: 8, 6, 4, 2, 0.

The 9 times table

The tens digit is the number minus 1 and the digits add up to 9: 9 × 7 = 63 (6 + 3 = 9). Or: times 10, then subtract the number – 9 × 8 = 80 − 8 = 72.

The 10 times table

Times 10 means adding a zero: 10 × 7 = 70. A great helper for the 5 and 9 tables.

The 11 times table

Up to 11 × 9, just repeat the digit: 11 × 4 = 44. 11 × 10 = 110 and 11 × 11 = 121 – worth remembering separately.

The 12 times table

Times 12 is times 10 plus times 2: 12 × 7 = 70 + 14 = 84. Handy for dozens: 12 eggs, 12 months.