What is the 2 times table?

The 2 times table is: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24. These are the products of multiplying 2 by each number from 1 to 12.

What is the trick for the 2 times table?

The simplest trick is that multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling the number. Every product in the 2 times table is even, and the products follow a simple skip-counting pattern: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and so on.

When do children learn the 2 times table?

Children in England typically learn the 2 times table in Year 2 (age 6–7), alongside the 5 and 10 times tables. It is usually the first multiplication table children encounter and forms the foundation for learning the 4s and 8s through doubling.

Why is the 2 times table important?

The 2 times table is the foundation of the doubling chain: 2s lead to 4s (double 2s) and then to 8s (double 4s). It also introduces children to the concept of even numbers and helps build confidence before tackling harder tables.

2 Times Table — Tips, Tricks & Practice for the Two Times Table | Times Tables Check

The 2 times table is typically the first multiplication table children learn. It is straightforward — multiplying by 2 simply means doubling — and mastering it early builds the foundation for the 4s and 8s through the doubling chain.

The 2 Times Table in Full

Fact	Product
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

Patterns in the 2 Times Table

Every Product Is Even

Every answer in the 2 times table is an even number — it ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8. If a child gets an odd answer, they know straight away that something has gone wrong. This is the simplest self-check in all the times tables.

Doubling

Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. Children often learn to double before they formally learn multiplication, so the 2 times table connects naturally to something they already know:

2 × 3 = double 3 = 6
2 × 7 = double 7 = 14
2 × 9 = double 9 = 18

Skip Counting by 2

The 2 times table follows the simplest skip-counting pattern: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20… Many children learn this as a chant or song in Reception and Year 1, well before they connect it to multiplication. Once the counting is fluent, linking it to “2 × 6 means the 6th number in the sequence” is a small step.

The 2 → 4 → 8 Doubling Chain

The 2 times table is the starting point of a powerful doubling chain that unlocks two more tables:

2 times table	Double it	4 times table	Double again	8 times table
2 × 6 = 12	12 × 2	4 × 6 = 24	24 × 2	8 × 6 = 48
2 × 7 = 14	14 × 2	4 × 7 = 28	28 × 2	8 × 7 = 56
2 × 8 = 16	16 × 2	4 × 8 = 32	32 × 2	8 × 8 = 64

When your child knows the 2s thoroughly, learning the 4s and 8s becomes much more manageable.

The Tricky Facts

The 2 times table is one of the easiest tables, and most facts are picked up quickly through doubling. The ones that occasionally cause hesitation in younger children:

Fact	Product	Strategy
2 × 7	14	Double 7: think 7 + 7
2 × 8	16	Double 8: think 8 + 8
2 × 9	18	Double 9: think 9 + 9
2 × 12	24	Double 12: think 12 + 12

These are not truly difficult — they simply involve doubling larger single-digit or two-digit numbers, which becomes automatic with a little practice.

Practice Ideas

Start with skip counting: chant the 2 times table sequence aloud (2, 4, 6, 8, 10…) until it flows naturally, then link the counting to multiplication facts.
Use pairs of objects — socks, shoes, gloves — to show that groups of 2 are everywhere in daily life.
Play a doubling game: call out a number and have your child double it as fast as they can.
Once the 2s are secure, introduce the 4s alongside them to show the doubling connection.
Use Times Tables Check to practise the 2 times table specifically, then mix it with 5s and 10s.

3 Times Table — often learned next after the 2s, 5s and 10s
4 Times Table — double the 2s, the next step in the doubling chain
5 Times Table — typically learned alongside the 2s in Year 2
8 Times Table — double the 4s, completing the doubling chain
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