How to Learn the 12 Times Table: 10 Plus 2
By the TimesTable.co team · Updated · 3 min read
The 12 times table has the biggest numbers in the grid, all the way up to 144, so children often assume it's the hardest. It isn't. Twelve splits beautifully into 10 and 2, two of the easiest tables, and many 12s facts will already be familiar from other tables.
What is the 12 times table?
| Fact | Answer | Fact | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × 12 | 12 | 7 × 12 | 84 |
| 2 × 12 | 24 | 8 × 12 | 96 |
| 3 × 12 | 36 | 9 × 12 | 108 |
| 4 × 12 | 48 | 10 × 12 | 120 |
| 5 × 12 | 60 | 11 × 12 | 132 |
| 6 × 12 | 72 | 12 × 12 | 144 |
How does the 10 + 2 trick work?
Twelve lots of something is ten lots plus two lots:
- 12 × 6 → 60 + 12 = 72
- 12 × 8 → 80 + 16 = 96
- 12 × 9 → 90 + 18 = 108
This splitting idea is the same one schools use in the grid method, so practising it helps with bigger multiplication later.
Can you use the 6s to get the 12s?
Yes. 12 is double 6. If your child knows 6 × 7 = 42, then 12 × 7 = 84. Likewise the 12s are four times the 3s. Children who have learnt the 6 times table can double their way through.
Where does the 12 times table show up in real life?
Twelve is everywhere, which gives lots of chances to practise naturally:
- Eggs: 3 boxes of a dozen is 36 eggs.
- Months: 5 years is 60 months.
- Clocks: 12 hours on the face; the minute hand passes 12 numbers every hour. Our clock activities use these facts too.
- Inches: 3 feet is 36 inches.
How many new facts are in the 12 times table?
If the 12s are learnt near the end, most facts are already known from other tables: 12 × 2 from the 2s, 12 × 5 from the 5s, and so on (because 5 × 12 is the same as 12 × 5). Usually only 12 × 12 = 144 is completely new.
How should my child practise the 12s?
- Say the 10 + 2 split aloud for each fact a few times.
- Spot the 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 ending pattern on the times table grid.
- Practise out of order with 12 times table practice.
- Keep the 12s in the mix with smart practice, especially before the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check.
Frequently asked questions
What is the trick for the 12 times table?
Split 12 into 10 and 2. Multiply by 10, multiply by 2, then add: 12 × 7 is 70 + 14 = 84.
What is the 12 times table up to 12?
12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, 120, 132, 144.
Why do children learn up to 12 × 12?
Twelve is common in everyday life (months, hours, inches in a foot, eggs in a dozen), and the UK curriculum expects all tables to 12 × 12 by the end of Year 4.
What is 12 × 12?
12 × 12 = 144, sometimes called a gross. It is the largest fact in the standard 1 to 12 times table grid.
Is the 12 times table in the Year 4 check?
Yes. The Multiplication Tables Check in England covers the 2 to 12 times tables, and the 12s come up relatively often.
Is there a pattern in the 12 times table?
The last digits repeat 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 (the same as the 2s), and every answer is even. Answers are also double the 6s.