15 Best Ways to Memorize Multiplication Facts: Proven Techniques 2025

Struggling with multiplication facts is a common hurdle for students. Whether it’s the sheer number of facts to learn or the frustration of forgetting them during tests, mastering times tables can feel like an uphill battle. As an educator specializing in math learning, I’ve seen these challenges firsthand. But here’s the good news: we’ve compiled 15 effective techniques that make memorizing multiplication facts faster than traditional rote methods.

These strategies are drawn from educational research and successful classroom applications. You’ll learn about powerful memory tools, including chunking strategies, visual aids, engaging games, clever mnemonics, and digital applications that transform multiplication from a dreaded chore into an achievable skill. By combining these techniques, students can build multiplication fluency that lasts well beyond the next quiz.

Why You Can Trust These Techniques

These multiplication strategies are backed by classroom results. In my years of teaching, I’ve seen these very methods turn math groans into “aha!” moments. Multi-sensory techniques, those that involve sight, sound, and touch, are particularly effective. Educational resources confirm that combining visual, auditory, and kinesthetic approaches increases math fact retention compared to memorization alone.

Educators using these mixed methods consistently report improvements. Classrooms that implement game-based practice alongside traditional instruction often see a significant increase in multiplication fact fluency scores. These evidence-based methods have helped struggling learners become multiplication masters in many different learning environments.

Technique	How It Works	Main Benefit
Chunking	Break facts into easy, medium, and hard sets	Reduces overwhelm
Short Daily Practice	10-15 minute focused sessions	Builds neural pathways efficiently
Visual Aids	Color-coded charts and arrays	Reveals patterns and relationships
Flashcards & Apps	Physical cards or adaptive digital tools	Provides focused, personalized practice
Songs & Rhymes	Set facts to simple tunes	Creates multiple memory pathways
Tricks & Shortcuts	Mental strategies for specific numbers	Reduces memorization load
Fact Families	Group related multiplication/division facts	Shows connections between operations
Manipulatives	Physical objects to model multiplication	Connects abstract to concrete
Games	Board, card, and digital math games	Makes practice engaging
Timed Drills	Brief speed challenges	Develops automaticity
Real-World Context	Authentic calculation situations	Demonstrates relevance
Reward Systems	Track and celebrate progress	Sustains motivation
Peer Teaching	Students quiz and explain to each other	Deepens understanding
Spaced Repetition	Strategic review intervals	Optimizes memory formation
Progress Tracking	Visual charts of mastery	Builds confidence through evidence

1. Break Down Tables into Bite-Sized Chunks

Memorizing all multiplication facts simultaneously overwhelms most students. Instead, break them down into manageable chunks:

• Start with the easiest facts: 0s, 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s
• Next, tackle: 3s, 4s, and 9s (which have helpful patterns)
• Finally, master: the trickier 6s, 7s, and 8s

This approach prevents cognitive overload and builds confidence through early successes. Students experience the satisfaction of mastering whole sets before moving to more challenging facts, creating momentum that carries them through the entire process.

2. Practice Daily with Short, Focused Drills

Brief, daily practice sessions dramatically outperform infrequent, long study sessions. Aim for 10–15 minute drills that target specific fact sets rather than attempting to cover everything at once. This method aligns with how our brains build automaticity, through consistent repetition spread over time. These short bursts prevent burnout while steadily building the neural pathways that enable instant recall.

3. Use Visual Aids: Charts, Arrays, and Color-Coding

Visual tools make abstract multiplication facts concrete and memorable. Color-coded multiplication charts highlight relationships between numbers and make patterns instantly visible. For example, coloring all products of 5 in blue reveals the alternating pattern of digits ending in 5 and 0.

Array diagrams (showing rows and columns of dots) help students picture why 3×4 equals 12, connecting the abstract equation to a physical grouping. These visual cues become mental anchors students can recall during tests when they’re stuck on a particular fact.

4. Quiz Yourself with Flashcards and Apps

Traditional flashcards remain powerful tools for building fluency, but today’s adaptive learning apps take this practice to new levels. Two highly effective options include:

App	Features	Subscription Model	Target Age
Reflex	Focuses on building quick recall of basic math facts, adapts to each student’s needs with personalized practice, and uses engaging games with real-time feedback.	Primarily sold to schools and districts with no widely available free tier for families (though some schools provide access through their license).	Elementary and middle school students (grades 2-8).
Prodigy (Facebook | Twitter)	Game-based math platform with RPG elements where students battle monsters by answering math questions. It covers concepts from grades 1-8 and adapts difficulty to each child’s level.	Core gameplay and educational content are available for free; paid memberships (starting around $6.25/month or $59.99/year) offer extra features like more pets and in-game items.	Students ages 5-14 (grades 1-8).

Alternative Apps Worth Trying:

SplashLearn: Features gamified lessons and adaptive practice for PreK-5 ($9.99/month, with free tier options).

Funexpected Math: Offers interactive lessons and logic games for ages 3-7 ($10.99/month).

Montessori Maths Multiplication: Uses visual and tactile exploration for concept-based learning for grades 1-4 (one-time purchase).

These digital tools provide immediate feedback and use spaced repetition, presenting facts at increasing intervals to optimize memory. The game-like elements keep students engaged while the adaptive technology ensures they’re always practicing at the edge of their ability.

Printable worksheets and interactive quizzes can also be found at multiplication.com/resources/more.

5. Turn Facts into Songs, Rhymes, and Movements

I’m no pop star, but I can even remember a catchy tune. Our brains are wired to remember musical and rhythmic patterns better than isolated facts. Setting multiplication tables to simple melodies creates multiple memory pathways, the tune, rhythm, and numbers become interconnected.

For example, the 3s facts can be sung to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”:
“3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36!”

For the more difficult tables, try these catchy lyrics:

6 Times Table (To “Deck the Halls”):

6, 12, 18, 24,

30, 36,

42 and 48,

54 and 60,

66 and 72,

These are the six times table for you!

7 Times Table (To “Frère Jacques”):

7, 14,

21, 28,

35, 42,

49, 56,

63, 70,

77, 84

8 Times Table (To “Jingle Bells”):

Eight, sixteen, twenty-four,

Thirty-two and forty,

Forty-eight and fifty-six,

Sixty-four and seventy-two,

Eighty, eighty-eight, ninety-six,

Sing the eights, we’re almost through!

Adding physical movements (like clapping or jumping) while reciting facts creates kinesthetic memory connections, which is particularly beneficial for active learners.

6. Apply Tricks and Shortcuts for Key Numbers

Strategic shortcuts dramatically reduce the mental load of memorizing multiplication facts:

Identity rules: Any number times 1 equals itself; any number times 10 equals that number with a zero added.

Doubles strategy: For 2s, just double the number; for 4s, double twice; for 8s, double three times.

5s pattern: All products end in either 0 or 5.

9s finger trick: Hold up all ten fingers, bend down the finger corresponding to the multiplier, and count the fingers to the left for the tens digit and to the right for the ones digit.

Commutative property: Understanding that 6×7 equals 7×6 instantly cuts the memorization load in half.

These shortcuts transform intimidating calculations into simple mental operations. For a visual demonstration of these shortcuts, check out this YouTube overview.

7. Group Related Facts into Fact Families

Organizing multiplication and division of facts into related “families” helps students see connections rather than memorizing isolated equations. For example, the fact family for 3, 4, and 12 includes:

3 × 4 = 12

4 × 3 = 12

12 ÷ 3 = 4

12 ÷ 4 = 3

This approach helps students understand the inverse relationship between multiplication and division while reducing the number of facts to learn. When students know 3×4=12, they automatically know three other math facts.

8. Explore Multiplication with Manipulatives

Physical objects make abstract multiplication concepts concrete. Using counters, blocks, or even small candies to build arrays helps students see why 4×6 equals 24, they can literally count the objects arranged in 4 rows of 6.

This hands-on experience creates a foundational understanding that supports memory. When students later recall “4×6,” they can visualize the rectangular array they built, connecting the abstract fact to a concrete experience. This multi-sensory approach is particularly effective for learners who struggle with abstract concepts.

9. Play Educational Games to Reinforce Learning

Games transform multiplication practice from a chore into an engaging challenge. Options include:

Multiplication War

• Materials: A standard deck of cards (remove Aces and face cards)
• Setup: Shuffle and divide the deck evenly between two players

Rules:

• Players simultaneously flip their top cards face up.
• The first player to correctly call out the product of the two cards wins both cards.
• If both players answer at the same time, declare “War”, place three cards face down and one face up, with the first correct answer winning all cards.
• Continue until one player has all the cards.

Multiplication Bingo

• Materials: Bingo cards with multiplication products, number cards (2-9), markers
• Setup: Give each player a bingo card and markers, shuffle number cards

Rules:

• Players take turns drawing two number cards.
• They multiply the numbers and call out the product.
• If the product appears on their card, they mark it.
• The first player to get four in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) wins.

Free Online Games:

Math Playground’s “Grand Prix Multiplication”: Race cars by solving multiplication problems correctly.

Khan Academy Multiplication Practice: Adaptive exercises that adjust to the student’s level with points and badges for progress.

Cool Math Games’ “Multiplication Grand Prix”: A timed racing game where speed and accuracy with multiplication facts determine success.

Other interactive multiplication games include Arcademics Grand Prix Multiplication, Multiplication.com Games, Math Play Multiplication Games, and Multiplication Duck (Timestables.com).

The competitive element boosts motivation, while the emotional engagement during games enhances memory formation, making facts learned through play more likely to stick.

10. Set Timed Drills to Boost Speed

Brief speed tests (1-2 minutes) develop automatic recall while creating a measurable way to track progress. Start with manageable goals (perhaps 20 facts in 2 minutes) and gradually increase expectations as fluency develops.

The key is to keep these challenges short and positive, they should feel like exciting opportunities to demonstrate a growing skill rather than stressful evaluations. Tracking improvement over time with simple graphs provides visual evidence of progress that motivates continued effort.

11. Embed Facts in Everyday Contexts

Real-world applications cement multiplication facts into memory while showing their relevance. I once had a student who loved baking; we calculated ingredients for doubling and tripling cookie recipes. He mastered his 2s and 3s tables in a weekend! Try asking questions like:

“If everyone gets 3 cookies and there are 4 of us, how many cookies do we need?”

“This recipe calls for 6 tablespoons per batch. If we make 7 batches, how many tablespoons is that?”

“Each row in the theater has 8 seats. How many people can sit in 9 rows?”

These authentic calculations build connections between abstract numbers and concrete situations, adding another layer to memory while building problem-solving skills.

12. Reward Progress to Stay Motivated

Strategic rewards sustain motivation during the sometimes difficult process of memorization. Create a visual tracking system where students earn stickers or points for mastering specific fact sets. These rewards can be tied to meaningful privileges or small prizes.

The key is linking rewards directly to effort and improvement rather than comparing students. This approach builds intrinsic motivation as students see multiplication mastery as personally rewarding and achievable through effort.

13. Partner Up for Peer Teaching Sessions

Having students teach each other multiplication facts activates deeper learning. When explaining concepts to a peer, a student must organize their knowledge clearly, think about the best way to explain patterns, and often find gaps in their own understanding.

Partner quizzing also introduces social accountability and support that solo practice lacks. Students can take turns being the “teacher” and “learner,” using flashcards, games, or verbal quizzing to reinforce each other’s learning in a supportive environment.

14. Incorporate Spaced Repetition Techniques

Spaced repetition optimizes memory by scheduling reviews at strategic intervals. After first learning a fact, review it within 24 hours, then 3 days later, then weekly, and finally monthly. This schedule works with how our brains form and strengthen long-term memories.

Digital apps often build this technique automatically, but you can create a simple calendar system for manual tracking. This scientific approach prevents the common pattern of learning facts for a test only to forget them weeks later.

15. Track Progress with Simple Charts and Journals

Visual tracking tools make progress concrete and motivating. A simple wall chart with multiplication tables colored in as they’re mastered gives students a clear picture of how far they’ve come. For older students, a math journal where they record strategies that work for them and track their speed and accuracy creates ownership of the process.

These tracking methods help identify which facts need more practice and which techniques work best for each learner. The visible record of improvement builds confidence.

A highly recommended resource is “Multiplication Facts That Stick,” written by Kate Snow and published by Well-Trained Mind Press. This curriculum emphasizes step-by-step mastery over ten weeks using hands-on activities, visual models (such as ten-by-ten arrays), games, and targeted practice pages. It avoids rote memorization in favor of strategies that help children understand number relationships. The official PDF and print editions can be purchased from the Well-Trained Mind Press website, Christianbook.com, Rainbow Resource Center, Barnes & Noble, and Grace School Associations.

Quick Reference Table

Technique	How It Works	Main Benefit
Chunking	Break facts into easy, medium, and hard sets	Reduces overwhelm
Short Daily Practice	10-15 minute focused sessions	Builds neural pathways efficiently
Visual Aids	Color-coded charts and arrays	Reveals patterns and relationships
Flashcards & Apps	Physical cards or adaptive digital tools	Provides focused, personalized practice
Songs & Rhymes	Set facts to simple tunes	Creates multiple memory pathways
Tricks & Shortcuts	Mental strategies for specific numbers	Reduces memorization load
Fact Families	Group related multiplication/division facts	Shows connections between operations
Manipulatives	Physical objects to model multiplication	Connects abstract to concrete
Games	Board, card, and digital math games	Makes practice engaging
Timed Drills	Brief speed challenges	Develops automaticity
Real-world Context	Authentic calculation situations	Demonstrates relevance
Reward Systems	Track and celebrate progress	Sustains motivation
Peer Teaching	Students quiz and explain to each other	Deepens understanding
Spaced Repetition	Strategic review intervals	Optimizes memory formation
Progress Tracking	Visual charts of mastery	Builds confidence through evidence

How to Choose the Best Techniques for Your Learner

Not every technique works equally well for every student. Consider these factors:

• Match to learning preferences: Visual learners benefit more from charts and arrays; auditory learners from songs and verbal practice; kinesthetic learners from movement and manipulatives.
• Consider age and attention span: Younger learners need more games and concrete experiences; older students might prefer digital tools and strategic approaches.
• Start with just 2-3 techniques to prevent overwhelm, then add more as comfort grows.
• Observe which methods generate enthusiasm and results, then emphasize those.
• Adjust the pace based on confidence levels and assessment results.

Conclusion

Mastering multiplication facts doesn’t have to be a painful memory marathon. By combining these proven techniques, students can build fluency through multiple pathways, visual, auditory, physical, contextual, and strategic. The key is consistency, starting with manageable chunks, and using a variety of approaches that engage different learning systems.

Take action today by selecting just two techniques from this guide to try immediately. With the right approach, multiplication facts transform from frustrating obstacles into confident knowledge that supports all future math learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the fastest way to memorize multiplication facts?

The fastest approach combines daily short practice (10-15 minutes) using techniques matched to the student’s learning style. It’s also important to break facts into manageable chunks and use memory shortcuts for specific numbers. For example, visual learners should use color-coded charts, while auditory learners might prefer songs.

2. How can I help my child learn multiplication facts?

Support your child by making practice consistent but brief, using games to maintain engagement, connecting multiplication to real-life situations (like calculating sports statistics or shopping costs), and celebrating progress rather than perfection. Partnering with their teacher to understand which specific facts need focus will make home practice more efficient.

3. What is the trick for learning multiplication?

The most powerful “trick” is understanding that different numbers have different shortcuts: use doubling for 2s, 4s, and 8s; look for visual patterns with 5s and 10s; try finger tricks for 9s; and use the commutative property (4×7 = 7×4) to cut memorization in half. Combining these specific tricks with consistent practice and engaging games makes learning much easier.

4. How to remember 9×7?

The most popular method is the finger trick: hold out both hands with fingers extended, then bend down the 7th finger from the left. The fingers to the left of the bent finger (6) are the tens digit, and the fingers to the right (3) are the ones digit, giving you 63. Alternatively, you can use the pattern 9×7 = (10×7) – 7 = 70 – 7 = 63.