9 Tricks to Memorize Multiplication Tables Fast
Memorizing multiplication tables doesn't have to be painful. The tricks below turn a wall of 100-plus facts into a handful of patterns your child can actually see, and they make practice a lot more fun.
Why Memorization Matters
While understanding is crucial, fluent recall of multiplication facts is essential for:
Think about simplifying 24/36. A child who knows 12 × 2 = 24 and 12 × 3 = 36 sees the answer, 2/3, right away. A child who has to count up by 6s on their fingers gets lost halfway through. When facts are automatic, attention is free for the new idea instead of the arithmetic.
Understanding still comes first. Before memorizing, your child should be able to show 3 × 4 as 3 groups of 4 and know it equals 4 + 4 + 4 = 12. Tricks work best on top of that picture.
The Strategic Order
Don't memorize 1-12 in order. This sequence works well because each step leans on the one before:
By the time you reach the last row, most of those facts are already known from the other direction. 7 × 5 was learned as 5 × 7. What's left is a small set, like 6 × 7, 7 × 8 and 8 × 8, and those get the near-fact strategies below.
9 Powerful Tricks
1. The 9s Finger Trick
Hold up both hands. For 9×N, put down finger N from the left.
Example: 9×7 — Put down finger 7. See 6 fingers left, 3 right. Answer: 63!
Try 9 × 4 together: put down the fourth finger. Three fingers on the left, six on the right. 36. Kids love that their hands "know" the answer, and it's a good confidence builder for a child who has decided multiplication is hard.
2. The 9s Digital Root
From 9 × 1 to 9 × 10, the digits of each product add up to 9:
Pair it with a second pattern: the tens digit is one less than the number you're multiplying by. For 9 × 8, the tens digit is 7, and 7 plus what makes 9? 2. So the answer is 72. These two checks let a child build any 9s fact without fingers.
3. Double-Double for 4s
4× anything = double it, then double again
Go one step further for 8s: double three times. 8 × 6 = 6→12→24→48.
4. Half-Then-10 for 5s
5× anything = half of 10×
This also shows why 5s answers always end in 0 or 5.
5. Use Commutative Property
If you know 7×3, you know 3×7! This cuts the facts nearly in half.
Show it with an array. Three rows of 7 dots, turned sideways, becomes seven rows of 3 dots. Nothing was added or taken away, so the total stays 21.
6. Near-Facts Strategy
For hard facts, use easier facts:
The 6s have a bonus pattern with even numbers. When 6 is multiplied by 2, 4, 6 or 8, the answer ends in that same number, and the tens digit is half of it: 6 × 4 = 24, 6 × 6 = 36, 6 × 8 = 48.
7. Rhymes and Songs
Memory hooks stick:
Let your child invent their own for the facts they keep missing. A silly rhyme they made up beats a clever one they were handed. "5, 6, 7, 8: 56 is 7 times 8" is another favorite, since the digits line up in order: 56 = 7 × 8.
8. Skip Counting Patterns
Practice counting by 3s, 4s, 6s, 7s, 8s aloud. The rhythm builds memory.
Make it physical: count by 3s while bouncing a ball, or climb stairs counting by 4s. When your child can say the 7s sequence (7, 14, 21, 28, 35...), they can always find 7 × 5 by counting five steps, even on a day the fact won't come.
9. The Multiplication Table Patterns
Print a blank 10 × 10 grid and let your child fill it in. As they go, ask what they notice. The square numbers (1, 4, 9, 16, 25...) run corner to corner. The chart is symmetrical across that diagonal, which is the commutative property again. Even × odd is always even too, so if either number is even, the answer must end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. That's a quick way to catch a wrong answer like 4 × 7 = 27.
What to Do When a Fact Won't Stick
Every child has a few stubborn facts. Common ones are 6 × 7, 7 × 8 and 6 × 8.
If your child freezes or guesses wildly, slow down. Say, "No rush. What fact do you know that's close?" Speed comes after accuracy, not before.
Practice for Fluency
After learning tricks, practice for speed:
Aim for instant recall (under 3 seconds per fact).
Keep timed practice short and private. Have your child race their own last score instead of a clock, and stop while they still want to keep going. A few minutes every day beats a long session once a week.
MyMathKid has free printable multiplication worksheets organized by level, and the daily Today's Math session gives your child about 10 minutes of practice matched to their level.