The fastest way to learn times tables is to tackle them in a specific order, use pattern shortcuts to cut memorization in half, and then drill the remaining facts through quick daily practice. Most kids (and adults brushing up) can reach solid fluency within a few weeks using this approach. Here’s exactly how to do it.
Start With the Easiest Tables First
Jumping straight into 7s and 8s is a recipe for frustration. Instead, build confidence by learning tables in this order: 2s, 5s, 10s, then 3s and 4s, then 6s and 9s, and finally 7s and 8s. Each stage relies on skills from the one before it, so the harder facts feel more manageable by the time you reach them.
The 2s are just doubling. The 5s always end in 0 or 5. The 10s are the number with a zero tacked on. Those three tables alone knock out a huge chunk of the grid, and most learners can nail them in a day or two. Don’t move to the next group until the current one feels automatic.
Use Shortcuts That Actually Work
You don’t need to memorize every fact from scratch. Many tables follow patterns that let you calculate the answer almost as fast as recalling it, and over time, the calculation becomes true memory.
The 9s Trick
The 9 times table is one of the most pattern-rich in all of math. For any single-digit number multiplied by 9, the tens digit goes up by one and the units digit goes down by one: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90. Notice that the two digits of every product add up to 9 (for example, 2 + 7 = 9, 5 + 4 = 9). There’s also a finger trick: hold out all ten fingers, bend down the finger that matches the number you’re multiplying by 9, and read the answer. For 9 × 7, bend your seventh finger. Six fingers to the left, three to the right: 63.
The 4s: Double, Then Double Again
Any number times 4 is the same as doubling it twice. For 4 × 7, double 7 to get 14, then double 14 to get 28. If your learner already knows the 2s table, this takes almost no new effort.
The 8s: Double Three Times
The same logic extends to 8s. Multiply by 8 by doubling a number three times. For 8 × 6: double 6 is 12, double 12 is 24, double 24 is 48.
The 6s: Triple, Then Double
For 6 times a number, multiply by 3 first, then double the result. For 6 × 7: triple 7 is 21, double 21 is 42. Every answer in the 6s table is even and also a multiple of 3, so if your answer is odd, you know something went wrong.
The 5s: Half of the 10s
Since 5 is half of 10, you can multiply any number by 10 and then halve it. For 5 × 13: 13 × 10 = 130, half of 130 is 65. This trick scales well beyond the basic table.
The 3s Digit-Sum Check
Every multiple of 3 has digits that add up to 3, 6, or 9. This won’t help you find an answer, but it’s a fast way to check one. If someone says 3 × 8 = 26, add the digits: 2 + 6 = 8. That’s not 3, 6, or 9, so the answer is wrong. (It’s 24: 2 + 4 = 6.)
The Commutative Rule Cuts the Work in Half
Multiplication works in both directions: 3 × 7 and 7 × 3 give the same answer. A full 12 × 12 grid has 144 squares, but once you account for this rule, there are only 78 unique facts. And once you subtract the easy tables (1s, 2s, 5s, 10s), the truly “hard” facts most people struggle with number fewer than 20. Knowing this makes the whole project feel far less overwhelming.
Tackle the Hardest Facts Head-On
A handful of facts trip up almost everyone: 6 × 7, 6 × 8, 7 × 8, 7 × 7, and 8 × 8. These deserve extra attention. Rhymes can help. “Six times eight is forty-eight” has a natural rhythm that sticks. For 7 × 8 = 56, some people remember the sequence 5, 6, 7, 8: 56 = 7 × 8. These little hooks sound silly, but they work precisely because they’re memorable.
Another approach is to build off known facts. If you know 7 × 7 = 49, then 7 × 8 is just one more 7: 49 + 7 = 56. Anchoring a tough fact to a nearby easy one is often faster than trying to memorize it cold.
Practice for Speed, Not Just Accuracy
Knowing that 6 × 9 = 54 after thinking for five seconds is different from knowing it instantly. Fluency means the answer arrives in under two seconds, which only comes from regular retrieval practice. Short, frequent sessions beat long, occasional ones. Five to ten minutes a day is far more effective than a weekend cram session.
Reciting a table in order (7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63) builds familiarity, but it can become a crutch where learners always start from the beginning and count forward. Mix in random-order practice early. Flashcards, whether paper or digital, force the brain to recall each fact independently rather than riding the sequence.
Games That Build Fluency
Drilling flashcards gets boring fast, especially for kids. Games create the same rapid-fire recall practice in a more engaging package. You don’t need to buy anything special.
- Multiplication War. Remove face cards from a standard deck. Two players each flip two cards simultaneously, multiply them, and call out the product. Whoever answers first wins the pile. It’s fast, competitive, and forces dozens of calculations in a few minutes.
- Dice Dash. Roll two dice, multiply the numbers, and race to call the product first. With standard six-sided dice you’re drilling 1 through 6; swap in 12-sided dice to cover the full table.
- Product Pair Match. Write multiplication problems (like 4 × 5) on some slips of paper and answers (like 20) on others. Place them face down and play a memory-matching game, flipping two at a time and keeping pairs that match.
- Array Builder. Draw grids on graph paper that represent each fact. Three rows of four squares show 3 × 4 = 12. This connects the abstract number to a visual pattern, which helps some learners more than pure memorization.
Apps Worth Trying
Two digital tools stand out among teachers. Reflex is a game-based platform where kids solve rapid-fire multiplication problems during animated missions, with difficulty increasing as they improve. Math Fact Lab takes a more conceptual approach, using visual models to help learners understand why multiplication works rather than relying on pure memorization. Both focus specifically on building fact fluency rather than teaching broader math concepts, which makes them well-suited for this goal.
A Realistic Timeline
With daily practice of five to ten minutes, most learners can master the full times table through 12 × 12 in four to six weeks. The first week or two covers the easy tables (2s, 5s, 10s, 3s, 4s). Weeks three and four tackle 6s, 9s, and 11s. The final stretch focuses on 7s, 8s, and the handful of stubborn facts that need extra repetition. Some people move faster, some slower, but consistency matters far more than session length.
Once you can answer any random fact within a couple of seconds, shift to maintenance mode. A quick game or a few minutes with flashcards two or three times a week keeps the facts sharp without feeling like a chore.