The full 3 times table, from 3×1 to 3×12
Here is the 3 times table in full. Read it both ways : 3×3 = 9, but also 9 = 3×3. It is the same operation, and it is what saves you time once you already know the earlier tables.
Three tricks that make the 3 times table easier
1. The digit sum reveals a multiple of 3
Trick: 21 → 2+1 = 3, so 21 is in the table. 27 → 2+7 = 9, so 27 is too. This rule lets you quickly check whether a number is a multiple of 3, even beyond the table.
2. Add 3 on each line
The 3 times table goes up in 3s. If you know that 3×6 = 18, then 3×7 = 18 + 3 = 21. Useful when you get stuck: start from the previous answer and add 3.
3. Break it into the 2 times table + 1
3×n = 2×n + n. Example: 3×8 = 16 + 8 = 24. If you know the 2 times table, the 3 times table becomes a simple addition.
How to memorise the 3 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 3s out loud up to 36.
- Recite in order, then use the digit-sum rule to check.
- Practise out of order on the ones you get stuck on.
Frequently asked questions about the 3 times table
How do you learn the 3 times table quickly?
Count in 3s up to 36 out loud, twice a day for three days. Then use the digit-sum rule to check your answers: a multiple of 3 always has a digit sum divisible by 3.
How can you tell if a number is in the 3 times table?
Add up the digits of the number. If the sum is in the 3 times table (3, 6, 9, 12, 15...), then the number is a multiple of 3. Example: 24 → 2+4 = 6, so 24 is a multiple of 3.
At what age do you learn the 3 times table?
The 3 times table is introduced in Year 2 (age 6-7) in the UK and Grade 2 in the US, after the 2, 5 and 10 times tables.