How to Learn the 8 Times Table: Double, Double, Double
By the TimesTable.co team · Updated · 3 min read
The 8 times table has big answers, which makes it feel harder than it is. In fact it's one of the most predictable tables once you see how it's built: every 8s fact is a 2s fact doubled twice more. Here's how to use that, plus the pattern hidden in the answers.
What is the 8 times table?
| Fact | Answer | Fact | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × 8 | 8 | 7 × 8 | 56 |
| 2 × 8 | 16 | 8 × 8 | 64 |
| 3 × 8 | 24 | 9 × 8 | 72 |
| 4 × 8 | 32 | 10 × 8 | 80 |
| 5 × 8 | 40 | 11 × 8 | 88 |
| 6 × 8 | 48 | 12 × 8 | 96 |
How does "double, double, double" work?
Eight is 2 × 2 × 2, so multiplying by 8 is the same as doubling three times:
- 8 × 6: 6 → 12 → 24 → 48
- 8 × 7: 7 → 14 → 28 → 56
- 8 × 9: 9 → 18 → 36 → 72
Each step is a 2s fact, 4s fact, then 8s fact. So learning the tables in the order 2 → 4 → 8 means every new table is one small step on. See what order to learn times tables in.
What is the 8, 6, 4, 2, 0 pattern?
Look at the last digit of each answer: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, then again 48, 56, 64, 72, 80. The ones digit counts down in 2s and repeats every five facts. It's a quick way to check an answer: if 8 × 7 ends in anything other than 6, it's wrong. The pattern stands out clearly on the times table grid.
Is there a quick way using the 10s?
Yes: 8 lots is 10 lots take away 2 lots. 8 × 7 = 70 − 14 = 56. This is useful for older children who are good at subtracting.
How do you remember the hard 8s facts?
- 8 × 7 = 56: "5, 6, 7, 8": 56 = 7 × 8.
- 8 × 8 = 64: "I ate and I ate and got sick on the floor, 8 times 8 is 64."
- 8 × 6 = 48: the tens digit is half of 8 (see the 6s even-number trick).
How should my child practise the 8 times table?
- Make sure the 4s are secure first.
- Practise doubling from the 4s aloud: "4 × 7 is 28, so 8 × 7 is 56".
- Use 8 times table practice in mixed order.
- Add the 8s to smart practice so the tricky ones keep coming back.
- Finish with a round of times table bingo on the 8s.
For the facts that won't stick, see what to do when your child can't remember times tables.
What comes after the 8s?
With 2, 4 and 8 done, the 6 times table follows the same doubling idea from the 3s. For more ideas, see times tables tricks for every table or print some 8s flashcards.
Frequently asked questions
What is the trick for the 8 times table?
Double three times. For 8 × 7: double 7 is 14, double 14 is 28, double 28 is 56.
What is the 8 times table up to 12?
8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96.
What pattern is in the 8 times table?
The last digits repeat 8, 6, 4, 2, 0, going down by 2 each time. Every answer is even.
How do I remember 8 × 8?
8 × 8 = 64 is a square number. A popular rhyme is: "I ate and I ate and got sick on the floor: 8 times 8 is 64."
Which 8s facts are most often wrong?
8 × 7 = 56, 8 × 6 = 48 and 8 × 8 = 64, which are easily swapped for each other. Practise them side by side.
Should the 4s be learnt before the 8s?
Yes. The 8s are double the 4s, so an 8s fact is just one more doubling once the 4s fact is known.