10 Times Table — Tips, Tricks & Practice for the Ten Times Table
Learn the 10 times table with tips, patterns and practice ideas. The complete ten times table from 10×1 to 10×12, with strategies to help children master it.
The 10 times table is usually the first table children master. The pattern is simple and consistent, making it a natural starting point. More importantly, the 10s form the foundation for strategies used across other tables — especially the 5s and 9s.
The 10 Times Table in Full
| Fact | Product |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Patterns in the 10 Times Table
Add a Zero
For whole numbers, multiplying by 10 simply means adding a zero to the end: 3 becomes 30, 7 becomes 70, 12 becomes 120. This is the most well-known trick in primary maths and it works reliably for every whole number.
A note for later: as children progress to decimals, “add a zero” needs refining. Multiplying 2.5 by 10 gives 25, not 2.50. The more precise rule is that every digit shifts one place to the left. For whole-number times tables, though, “add a zero” is perfectly sound.
Every Product Ends in Zero
Every product in the 10 times table ends in 0. If the answer does not end in zero, it is wrong. This is one of the simplest self-checks in all the times tables.
The Place Value Connection
Multiplying by 10 is a core part of understanding place value. When children know that 10 × 4 = 40, they are also understanding that 4 tens make 40. This connection reinforces both times table knowledge and number sense.
Building from the 10s to Other Tables
The 10 times table is the foundation for several strategies used across harder tables:
Foundation for the 5 Times Table
The 5 times table is exactly half of the 10 times table:
| 10 times table | Halve it | 5 times table |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 6 = 60 | 60 ÷ 2 | 5 × 6 = 30 |
| 10 × 7 = 70 | 70 ÷ 2 | 5 × 7 = 35 |
| 10 × 8 = 80 | 80 ÷ 2 | 5 × 8 = 40 |
| 10 × 9 = 90 | 90 ÷ 2 | 5 × 9 = 45 |
Foundation for the 9 Times Table
The 9 times table can be found by multiplying by 10 and then subtracting one group:
- 9 × 6 = (10 × 6) − 6 = 60 − 6 = 54
- 9 × 8 = (10 × 8) − 8 = 80 − 8 = 72
This “multiply by 10, then subtract” strategy is one of the most reliable approaches to the 9 times table, and it only works if the 10s are fluent.
The Tricky Facts
The 10 times table is the easiest table to learn, and there are essentially no tricky facts. Even so, the larger products can occasionally catch younger children:
| Fact | Product | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 11 | 110 | Add a zero: 11 becomes 110 |
| 10 × 12 | 120 | Add a zero: 12 becomes 120 |
| 10 × 10 | 100 | A landmark number worth knowing by heart |
For very young children in Year 1 or Year 2, the jump from two-digit answers (90) to three-digit answers (100, 110, 120) can feel unfamiliar. A little extra practice with these facts is usually all that is needed.
Practice Ideas
- Begin with counting in 10s: 10, 20, 30, 40… This is often one of the first counting activities children do in school.
- Use coins: counting 10p coins is a practical, hands-on way to practise the 10 times table.
- Connect the 10s to place value work: ask “how many tens in 70?” to reinforce the link between multiplication and number structure.
- Once the 10s are secure, introduce the 5 times table as “half the 10s” to build on this foundation.
- Use Times Tables Check to practise the 10 times table, then mix it with 5s and 2s to reinforce the easiest tables together.
Related Guides
- 5 Times Table — half of the 10s, with its own patterns
- 9 Times Table — the “multiply by 10 then subtract” strategy
- 2 Times Table — another early table, often learned alongside the 10s
- 11 Times Table — the next step after the 10s
- Times Tables 1 to 12 — all tables with tips for each
- Multiplication Chart — the full grid with patterns explained
- Times Tables Games — in-person games for practising at home