Every row written out in full on one page, with the patterns inside it, the order to learn them in, and a drill for any table
Every times table from 1 to 20 is on this page — each row written out to 12, the patterns hiding inside it and a line of advice for that particular table. Pick any table in the drill to practise it against the clock, or scroll to the row you need.
Not all tables are equally hard, so learning them in numerical order wastes effort. The 1, 2, 5 and 10 rows come almost free and are worth getting solid first because every other table leans on them.
After that, take the 4s (double the 2s), the 3s (double and add one more), the 9s (ten lots minus one), and the 11s (the digit twice, up to 9). That leaves the 6s, 7s and 8s — the genuinely hard middle of the grid — as the only rows that need real drilling.
The 12s and above come last, and mostly they are not memorised at all: 17 × 6 is simply 10 × 6 plus 7 × 6. Learning the split is worth more than learning eight more rows.
1 × 1 = 1; 1 × 2 = 2; 1 × 3 = 3; 1 × 4 = 4; 1 × 5 = 5; 1 × 6 = 6; 1 × 7 = 7; 1 × 8 = 8; 1 × 9 = 9; 1 × 10 = 10; 1 × 11 = 11; 1 × 12 = 12.
Anything times one is itself. The only thing to learn here is that the rule also holds for zero, fractions and decimals.
The one times table is the identity: every number multiplied by one stays exactly as it was, which is why it is the only table you never have to learn.
The last digits cycle: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, 1, 2. Once you notice the cycle you can rule out a wrong answer before you have finished working it out.
2 × 1 = 2; 2 × 2 = 4; 2 × 3 = 6; 2 × 4 = 8; 2 × 5 = 10; 2 × 6 = 12; 2 × 7 = 14; 2 × 8 = 16; 2 × 9 = 18; 2 × 10 = 20; 2 × 11 = 22; 2 × 12 = 24.
Doubling. If you can double, you already know it — and the two times table is the foundation of the 4s and 8s, which are just doubling again.
Every answer is even, and every answer is the starting number doubled. If you can double, you already know the whole table.
Every answer in the 2 times table is even, because 2 itself is even. An odd answer is always a mistake.
3 × 1 = 3; 3 × 2 = 6; 3 × 3 = 9; 3 × 4 = 12; 3 × 5 = 15; 3 × 6 = 18; 3 × 7 = 21; 3 × 8 = 24; 3 × 9 = 27; 3 × 10 = 30; 3 × 11 = 33; 3 × 12 = 36.
Double the number, then add one more lot. Up to 3 × 12 the digits of every answer add to 3, 6 or 9 — a quick check that catches most slips.
Answers alternate odd, even, odd, even all the way up, because 3 is odd: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18.
The last digits cycle: 3, 6, 9, 2, 5, 8, 1, 4, 7, 0, 3, 6. Once you notice the cycle you can rule out a wrong answer before you have finished working it out.
4 × 1 = 4; 4 × 2 = 8; 4 × 3 = 12; 4 × 4 = 16; 4 × 5 = 20; 4 × 6 = 24; 4 × 7 = 28; 4 × 8 = 32; 4 × 9 = 36; 4 × 10 = 40; 4 × 11 = 44; 4 × 12 = 48.
Double, then double again. 4 × 7 is double 14, which is 28.
Every answer in the 4 times table is even, because 4 itself is even. An odd answer is always a mistake.
The last digits cycle: 4, 8, 2, 6, 0, 4, 8, 2, 6, 0, 4, 8. Once you notice the cycle you can rule out a wrong answer before you have finished working it out.
5 × 1 = 5; 5 × 2 = 10; 5 × 3 = 15; 5 × 4 = 20; 5 × 5 = 25; 5 × 6 = 30; 5 × 7 = 35; 5 × 8 = 40; 5 × 9 = 45; 5 × 10 = 50; 5 × 11 = 55; 5 × 12 = 60.
Half of ten times. 5 × 8 is half of 80, which is 40, and every answer ends in 5 or 0.
Every answer ends in 5 or 0, alternating all the way up. Odd steps end in 5, even steps end in 0.
Answers alternate odd, even, odd, even all the way up, because 5 is odd: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30.
6 × 1 = 6; 6 × 2 = 12; 6 × 3 = 18; 6 × 4 = 24; 6 × 5 = 30; 6 × 6 = 36; 6 × 7 = 42; 6 × 8 = 48; 6 × 9 = 54; 6 × 10 = 60; 6 × 11 = 66; 6 × 12 = 72.
Five lots plus one more: 6 × 7 = 35 + 7 = 42. With even numbers the answer ends in the same digit you multiplied by (6 × 4 = 24, 6 × 8 = 48).
Every answer in the 6 times table is even, because 6 itself is even. An odd answer is always a mistake.
The last digits cycle: 6, 2, 8, 4, 0, 6, 2, 8, 4, 0, 6, 2. Once you notice the cycle you can rule out a wrong answer before you have finished working it out.
7 × 1 = 7; 7 × 2 = 14; 7 × 3 = 21; 7 × 4 = 28; 7 × 5 = 35; 7 × 6 = 42; 7 × 7 = 49; 7 × 8 = 56; 7 × 9 = 63; 7 × 10 = 70; 7 × 11 = 77; 7 × 12 = 84.
The hardest row for most people, because it has no digit pattern. Learn 7 × 7 = 49 and 7 × 8 = 56 as landmarks and build the rest from them.
Answers alternate odd, even, odd, even all the way up, because 7 is odd: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42.
The last digits cycle: 7, 4, 1, 8, 5, 2, 9, 6, 3, 0, 7, 4. Once you notice the cycle you can rule out a wrong answer before you have finished working it out.
8 × 1 = 8; 8 × 2 = 16; 8 × 3 = 24; 8 × 4 = 32; 8 × 5 = 40; 8 × 6 = 48; 8 × 7 = 56; 8 × 8 = 64; 8 × 9 = 72; 8 × 10 = 80; 8 × 11 = 88; 8 × 12 = 96.
Double three times: 8 × 6 is 6 → 12 → 24 → 48. The last digits cycle 8, 6, 4, 2, 0.
Every answer in the 8 times table is even, because 8 itself is even. An odd answer is always a mistake.
The last digits cycle: 8, 6, 4, 2, 0, 8, 6, 4, 2, 0, 8, 6. Once you notice the cycle you can rule out a wrong answer before you have finished working it out.
9 × 1 = 9; 9 × 2 = 18; 9 × 3 = 27; 9 × 4 = 36; 9 × 5 = 45; 9 × 6 = 54; 9 × 7 = 63; 9 × 8 = 72; 9 × 9 = 81; 9 × 10 = 90; 9 × 11 = 99; 9 × 12 = 108.
Ten lots minus one: 9 × 7 = 70 − 7 = 63. The digits add to 9 up to 9 × 10, and the finger trick works for every fact.
Up to 9 × 10, the digits of every answer add to nine: 18 gives 1 + 8, 27 gives 2 + 7, 36 gives 3 + 6. The tens digit is also always one less than the number you multiplied by.
Answers alternate odd, even, odd, even all the way up, because 9 is odd: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54.
10 × 1 = 10; 10 × 2 = 20; 10 × 3 = 30; 10 × 4 = 40; 10 × 5 = 50; 10 × 6 = 60; 10 × 7 = 70; 10 × 8 = 80; 10 × 9 = 90; 10 × 10 = 100; 10 × 11 = 110; 10 × 12 = 120.
Every digit shifts one place left. It is the table every other one leans on.
Every answer is the starting number with a zero on the end, because multiplying by ten shifts each digit one place to the left.
Every answer in the 10 times table is even, because 10 itself is even. An odd answer is always a mistake.
11 × 1 = 11; 11 × 2 = 22; 11 × 3 = 33; 11 × 4 = 44; 11 × 5 = 55; 11 × 6 = 66; 11 × 7 = 77; 11 × 8 = 88; 11 × 9 = 99; 11 × 10 = 110; 11 × 11 = 121; 11 × 12 = 132.
Up to 11 × 9 the digit is written twice. For two-digit numbers, split the digits and put their sum in the middle (11 × 12 = 132).
For single digits the answer is just that digit written twice: 3 × 11 = 33, 7 × 11 = 77. From 10 upwards the pattern changes, because you are now carrying.
Answers alternate odd, even, odd, even all the way up, because 11 is odd: 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66.
12 × 1 = 12; 12 × 2 = 24; 12 × 3 = 36; 12 × 4 = 48; 12 × 5 = 60; 12 × 6 = 72; 12 × 7 = 84; 12 × 8 = 96; 12 × 9 = 108; 12 × 10 = 120; 12 × 11 = 132; 12 × 12 = 144.
Ten lots plus two lots: 12 × 7 = 70 + 14 = 84. This split is the only method you need.
Every answer in the 12 times table is even, because 12 itself is even. An odd answer is always a mistake.
The last digits cycle: 2, 4, 6, 8, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 0, 2, 4. Once you notice the cycle you can rule out a wrong answer before you have finished working it out.
Above twelve, split the number into ten plus the rest: 17 × 6 = 10 × 6 + 7 × 6 = 60 + 42 = 102. That turns every row from 13 to 20 into two tables you already know.
13 × 1 = 13; 13 × 2 = 26; 13 × 3 = 39; 13 × 4 = 52; 13 × 5 = 65; 13 × 6 = 78; 13 × 7 = 91; 13 × 8 = 104; 13 × 9 = 117; 13 × 10 = 130; 13 × 11 = 143; 13 × 12 = 156.
14 × 1 = 14; 14 × 2 = 28; 14 × 3 = 42; 14 × 4 = 56; 14 × 5 = 70; 14 × 6 = 84; 14 × 7 = 98; 14 × 8 = 112; 14 × 9 = 126; 14 × 10 = 140; 14 × 11 = 154; 14 × 12 = 168.
15 × 1 = 15; 15 × 2 = 30; 15 × 3 = 45; 15 × 4 = 60; 15 × 5 = 75; 15 × 6 = 90; 15 × 7 = 105; 15 × 8 = 120; 15 × 9 = 135; 15 × 10 = 150; 15 × 11 = 165; 15 × 12 = 180.
16 × 1 = 16; 16 × 2 = 32; 16 × 3 = 48; 16 × 4 = 64; 16 × 5 = 80; 16 × 6 = 96; 16 × 7 = 112; 16 × 8 = 128; 16 × 9 = 144; 16 × 10 = 160; 16 × 11 = 176; 16 × 12 = 192.
17 × 1 = 17; 17 × 2 = 34; 17 × 3 = 51; 17 × 4 = 68; 17 × 5 = 85; 17 × 6 = 102; 17 × 7 = 119; 17 × 8 = 136; 17 × 9 = 153; 17 × 10 = 170; 17 × 11 = 187; 17 × 12 = 204.
18 × 1 = 18; 18 × 2 = 36; 18 × 3 = 54; 18 × 4 = 72; 18 × 5 = 90; 18 × 6 = 108; 18 × 7 = 126; 18 × 8 = 144; 18 × 9 = 162; 18 × 10 = 180; 18 × 11 = 198; 18 × 12 = 216.
19 × 1 = 19; 19 × 2 = 38; 19 × 3 = 57; 19 × 4 = 76; 19 × 5 = 95; 19 × 6 = 114; 19 × 7 = 133; 19 × 8 = 152; 19 × 9 = 171; 19 × 10 = 190; 19 × 11 = 209; 19 × 12 = 228.
20 × 1 = 20; 20 × 2 = 40; 20 × 3 = 60; 20 × 4 = 80; 20 × 5 = 100; 20 × 6 = 120; 20 × 7 = 140; 20 × 8 = 160; 20 × 9 = 180; 20 × 10 = 200; 20 × 11 = 220; 20 × 12 = 240.
The 15s alternate between ending in 5 and 0; the 20s are the 2s with a zero on the end; and 19 × n is always 20 × n minus n, which makes it the easiest of the high rows despite looking the hardest.
Retrieval is what moves a fact from recognised to recalled, so what matters is how many times a fact is answered, not how many minutes are spent. Sixty seconds of shuffled drilling a day will move a row faster than a long weekly session.
Recite in order and you are practising the order, not the facts. The test that matters is whether a single fact, pulled out at random, can be answered in about a second — which is why the drill above shuffles.
Narrow it down. A row of twelve facts is almost never twelve problems — usually two or three facts are doing all the damage and the rest are fine. Time each fact individually and drill only the slow ones.
Then attach each slow fact to a neighbour that is solid. If 6 × 7 keeps slipping but 6 × 6 = 36 is instant, the route in is 36 + 6 = 42. That is slower than recall at first and becomes recall with repetition.
The 1, 2, 5 and 10 rows first, then 4, 3, 9 and 11, then the hard middle — 6, 7 and 8. The rows above 12 are better split into tens and units than memorised.
It depends on how often the facts are retrieved rather than how long is spent. A minute a day of shuffled drilling typically moves one row to automatic recall within a couple of weeks.
The 7 row, closely followed by 6 and 8. They have no digit pattern to lean on, so they have to be learned by retrieval rather than by rule.
Not for everyday arithmetic. The 13 to 20 rows are quick if you split them into tens plus units, which is a more transferable skill than memorising the extra rows.
91. Split it: 10 × 7 = 70 and 3 × 7 = 21, and 70 + 21 = 91. The same split works for every row from 13 to 20.
Six times, because 6 × 6 = 36. Any "how many times does a go into b" question is a times-table fact read backwards: find b in the a row and the step number is the answer.
Open the multiplication chart to see the whole grid at once, or read how to learn the times tables without chanting.