The full 2 times table, from 2×1 to 2×12
Here is the 2 times table in full. Read it both ways : 2×3 = 6, but also 6 = 3×2. It is the same operation, and it is what saves you time once you already know the earlier tables.
Three tricks that make the 2 times table easier
1. Doubling is multiplying by 2
Multiplying by 2 is the same as adding a number to itself. 2×8 = 8 + 8 = 16. That is the very definition of doubling, which is why the 2 times table underpins all mental math.
2. Every answer is even
Multiples of 2 always end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. It is a handy check: if you get an odd number when multiplying by 2, something has gone wrong.
3. The bridge to the 4 and 8 times tables
Once you know the 2 times table, multiplying by 4 is doubling twice (4×7 = 7×2×2 = 14×2 = 28), and multiplying by 8 is doubling three times. A whole family of tables unlocks at once.
How to memorise the 2 times table in two weeks
Learning a times table is not about being clever, it is about spaced repetition. The brain holds on to information long-term when it reviews it just before forgetting, not by repeating it fifty times in one evening.
- Count in 2s out loud (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24).
- Recite the table in order, without looking.
- Play at giving the double of random numbers.
Frequently asked questions about the 2 times table
How do you learn the 2 times table easily?
The 2 times table is the same as doubling a number. To memorise it, count in 2s out loud (2, 4, 6, 8...). Within three to five days, the sequence becomes automatic for most children.
At what age do you learn the 2 times table?
The 2 times table is introduced in Year 1 (age 5-6) in the UK and Grade 1 in the US, usually after basic addition skills.
Why is the 2 times table easy to remember?
Because it matches an operation that is easy to picture: doubling. The answers are all even and follow a regular pattern (+2 each line), which helps memorisation.