6 Times Table : multiplication, tricks and practice

The 6 times table is seen as one of the first hard tables. But several tricks make it far more approachable, especially its link to the 3 times table.

The full 6 times table, from 6×1 to 6×12

Here is the 6 times table in full. Read it both ways : 6×3 = 18, but also 18 = 3×6. It is the same operation, and it is what saves you time once you already know the earlier tables.

6 × 16
6 × 212
6 × 318
6 × 424
6 × 530
6 × 636
6 × 742
6 × 848
6 × 954
6 × 1060
6 × 1166
6 × 1272

Three tricks that make the 6 times table easier

1. Double the 3 times table

6×n = 2×(3×n). Example: 6×7 = 2×21 = 42. If you know the 3 times table, double the answer to get the 6.

2. Every answer is even

Like any even-number table, multiples of 6 end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. A first check to rule out wrong answers.

3. The 6 × even number trick

When you multiply 6 by an even number, the answer ends in the same digit as that number: 6×4 = 24, 6×8 = 48, 6×2 = 12. A surprising but reliable shortcut.

Worth knowing: 6×6 = 36 is one of the answers to memorise outright, because it comes up often and does not follow any simple pattern.

How to memorise the 6 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.

  1. Count in 6s out loud up to 72.
  2. Recite the table by doubling the 3 times table: 6×7 = 21 doubled = 42.
  3. Practise the answers you get stuck on (often 6×7 and 6×8).

Frequently asked questions about the 6 times table

How do you learn the 6 times table easily?

The fastest way is to go through the 3 times table: 6×n = 2×(3×n). Example: 6×8 = 2×24 = 48. Double the 3 times table you already know.

Why is the 6 times table hard?

Because it has no obvious visual pattern like the 2, 5 or 10 times tables. But the link to the 3 times table (it is its double) makes it far more manageable.

At what age do you learn the 6 times table?

The 6 times table is introduced in Year 3-4 (age 7-9) in the UK and Grade 3 in the US, with the group of harder tables (6, 7, 8, 9).