9 Multiplication Tricks That Make Times Tables Click

Times tables are much easier when kids see the patterns behind them. Instead of memorizing 144 separate facts, children who know a handful of tricks can work out almost any fact, and then remember it faster with practice. Teach these one at a time, then practise with our times tables worksheets.

Start with what multiplication means

Before any tricks, make sure children understand that 3 × 4 means "three groups of four." Lay out three plates with four grapes on each. Count them. Then show the same thing as an array, three rows of four dots. When children understand the idea, the tricks make sense instead of feeling like magic.

1. Skip counting is multiplication

3 × 4 is counting by 3s four times: 3, 6, 9, 12. Our skip counting sheets build this foundation, and singing skip-counting songs helps it stick.

2. Order doesn't matter

3 × 7 = 7 × 3. Turn an array on its side to prove it. Once kids know this, the number of facts to learn is almost cut in half.

3. The 0s and 1s

Anything × 0 is 0 (zero groups of anything is nothing). Anything × 1 is itself. That's 23 facts learned in a minute!

4. The 2s are doubles

Anything × 2 is just a double. Kids usually know doubles already: 6 + 6 = 12, so 6 × 2 = 12.

5. The 4s are double-doubles

To multiply by 4, double it, then double again. 4 × 7 → 14 → 28.

6. The 8s are double-double-doubles

8 × 6: double 6 = 12, double again = 24, double again = 48.

7. The 5s end in 5 or 0

They're also half of the 10s: 5 × 8 is half of 80, which is 40. Practise with a clock face; the minutes go up in 5s.

8. The 10s add a zero

10 × 7 = 70. (Explain that the digits move one place to the left, rather than just "adding a zero," so it still works with decimals later.)

9. The 9s finger trick

Hold up ten fingers. For 9 × 3, fold down the 3rd finger. You have 2 fingers before it and 7 after: 27. Works all the way to 9 × 10.

10. The 9s digits add to 9

18, 27, 36, 45… the digits always add up to 9, and the tens digit is one less than the number you're multiplying by. 9 × 6: the tens digit is 5, and 5 + 4 = 9, so 54.

11. The 11s repeat (up to 9)

11 × 4 = 44, 11 × 7 = 77. Easy wins build confidence.

12. Break hard facts apart

7 × 8 feels tricky? Split it: 7 × 4 = 28, and double it to get 56. Or 7 × 8 = (5 × 8) + (2 × 8) = 40 + 16 = 56. Children who can break numbers apart rarely get stuck.

13. The 6s: 5 times plus one more group

6 × 7 = 5 × 7 + 7 = 35 + 7 = 42.

14. The 12s: 10 times plus 2 times

12 × 6 = 60 + 12 = 72.

Which facts are left?

After these tricks, only a few facts remain tricky for most kids: 6 × 7, 6 × 8, 7 × 7, 7 × 8 and 8 × 8. Make a special flash card set just for these and practise them for a minute a day. Rhymes help too: "5, 6, 7, 8: 56 is 7 × 8."

A four-week practice plan

• Week 1: 0s, 1s, 2s, 10s and 5s. Use our skip counting and single-table sheets.
• Week 2: 4s and 8s (doubling), 3s.
• Week 3: 9s and 11s with their patterns, then 6s and 12s.
• Week 4: mixed review and the tricky few. Try a minute-math drill and multiplication mystery pictures.

Five minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday. Use the worksheet maker to create endless fresh sheets with an answer key in seconds.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Racing before understanding. Timed drills work best after children know strategies.
• Learning tables in order only. Mix them up so children don't just count up from the start.
• Ignoring division. Teach fact families together: 3 × 4 = 12, so 12 ÷ 3 = 4. See teaching division.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should kids know their times tables?

Many curricula expect fluency with facts up to 10 × 10 by around age 8–9 (Grade 3/Year 4), with 12 × 12 a year later in some countries.

Are timed tests bad?

Not if they're low-pressure. Have children beat their own score rather than compare with others. See our math fact fluency guide.

My child knows the tricks but is still slow. What next?

Speed comes from repetition. Short daily practice, games with cards and dice, and real-life use (shopping, cooking) all help.

A times table order that works

Many children find this order easiest:

1. 10s: add a zero.
2. 2s: doubles.
3. 5s: half of the 10s.
4. 4s: double the 2s.
5. 3s: skip counting.
6. 9s: the finger trick.
7. 11s: repeat the digit (to 9 × 11).
8. 6s, 7s and 8s: use known facts and the turnaround rule.

By the time children reach the 7s, they already know most facts.