How to Learn the 4 Times Table: Double, Then Double Again

The 4 times table is usually the first table children learn by building on another one. If your child knows the 2 times table, they already have everything they need: four is just two twos. Once the "double, then double again" idea clicks, the 4s are quick to learn, and they open the door to the 8 times table as well.

What is the 4 times table?

Fact	Answer	Fact	Answer
1 × 4	4	7 × 4	28
2 × 4	8	8 × 4	32
3 × 4	12	9 × 4	36
4 × 4	16	10 × 4	40
5 × 4	20	11 × 4	44
6 × 4	24	12 × 4	48

Trick 1: How does doubling the 2s work?

Every 4s answer is double the matching 2s answer, because four groups is two groups twice:

2s fact	Double it	4s fact
2 × 3 = 6	6 + 6	4 × 3 = 12
2 × 6 = 12	12 + 12	4 × 6 = 24
2 × 7 = 14	14 + 14	4 × 7 = 28
2 × 9 = 18	18 + 18	4 × 9 = 36

You can see it in a dot array of 4 × 7: the top two rows are 2 × 7, and the bottom two rows are another 2 × 7. If your child isn't secure with the 2s yet, start there with the 2 times table.

Trick 2: What is double-double?

To multiply any number by 4, double it, then double the answer. Say it as a rhythm: "7, 14, 28." This works well beyond the times table too, which is why it's such a useful mental maths habit:

• 4 × 8: 8 → 16 → 32
• 4 × 12: 12 → 24 → 48
• 4 × 15: 15 → 30 → 60
• 4 × 25: 25 → 50 → 100

Add one more double and you get the 8 times table: 7, 14, 28, 56. That's the heart of how to learn the 8 times table.

Trick 3: What is the 4, 8, 2, 6, 0 pattern?

Look at the last digit of each answer: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40. The last digits go 4, 8, 2, 6, 0, then repeat. Every answer is even, and every second answer is in the 8 times table. If your child says 4 × 7 = 27, the pattern tells them straight away that an odd number can't be right.

How do you work out the tricky 4s facts?

• 4 × 7: double-double: 14, then 28. Or 4 × 5 = 20, plus two more fours: 28.
• 4 × 8: double-double: 16, then 32.
• 4 × 9: 4 × 10 = 40, take away one four: 36.
• 4 × 12: 4 × 10 = 40, plus 4 × 2 = 8, so 48.

Remember that 7 × 4 is the same as 4 × 7. Seeing the pairs together on the times table grid halves the number of facts to learn.

Where do children use the 4 times table?

Fours are everywhere: legs on a chair or a dog, wheels on a car, quarters of an hour. Ask real questions: "How many legs on 6 dogs?" There are 4 quarter hours in an hour, so the 4s help with the clock too. Later, the 4s are used for the perimeter of squares and in finding quarters, because dividing by 4 is halving and halving again.

How can you practise the 4 times table at home?

• A few minutes a day on the 4 times table practice page, with no timer to start with.
• Play double-double ping-pong: you say a number, your child doubles it, you double that.
• Try the 3s, 4s and 8s together, the way Year 3 teaches them.
• Use a quick speed round only once the facts are secure.

For a plan covering every table, see how to learn times tables.