The Six Times Table

The 6 times table sits right in the middle of the multiplication tables, and it can feel a little trickier because six is neither especially small nor especially neat. The good news is that the 6 times table is closely linked to tables children already know: it is double the 3 times table, and it shares many facts with the 2 times table. Spotting these connections turns a daunting table into a manageable one.

Sixes crop up in surprising places, from the six sides of a honeycomb cell to the six eggs in half a box. Learning the 6 times table well strengthens a child overall multiplication fluency and removes one of the common stumbling blocks on the way to knowing every table by heart.

Patterns in the six times table

Every answer is even, ending in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8.
Each answer is double the matching answer in the 3 times table.
When you multiply 6 by an even number, the answer ends in the same digit as that even number (6 x 4 = 24, 6 x 6 = 36, 6 x 8 = 48).
The answers increase in steps of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and so on.

Handy tricks

Double the 3 times table — 6 x 7 is double 3 x 7, so double 21 to get 42.
For 6 times an even number, the answer ends in that even digit, which gives an instant check.
Split a fact: 6 x 8 = (6 x 4) + (6 x 4) = 24 + 24 = 48.
Use the fact that 6 x 6 = 36 as a fixed landmark to work outwards from.

Worked examples

6 x 3 = 18. Break it down: (6 x 2) + 6 = 12 + 6 = 18.
6 x 6 = 36. Break it down: (6 x 5) + 6 = 30 + 6 = 36.
6 x 8 = 48. Break it down: (6 x 7) + 6 = 42 + 6 = 48.
6 x 11 = 66. Break it down: (6 x 10) + 6 = 60 + 6 = 66.

Where you see it in real life

Counting eggs in half-dozen boxes.
Working out the legs on a group of insects, which have six each.
Counting sides on hexagons in a honeycomb.
Buying drinks or snacks sold in packs of six.

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing 6 x 7 (42) with 6 x 8 (48); these neighbours are easy to muddle.
Forgetting that the answer must be even.
Only doubling the 3 times table once when a second step is needed elsewhere.

Practice questions

6 x 4 = ? (answer: 24)
6 x 7 = ? (answer: 42)
6 x 2 = ? (answer: 12)
6 x 9 = ? (answer: 54)
6 x 5 = ? (answer: 30)
6 x 12 = ? (answer: 72)
6 x 3 = ? (answer: 18)
6 x 8 = ? (answer: 48)
6 x 6 = ? (answer: 36)
6 x 11 = ? (answer: 66)

Frequently asked questions

What is a good trick for the 6 times table?

Use the 3 times table and double it. Since 6 is double 3, 6 x 8 is double 3 x 8, which is double 24, giving 48.

Why is the 6 times table considered tricky?

Six is a middle-sized number without an obvious shortcut like fives or nines, so children rely on connections to the 2 and 3 times tables instead.

Is there a pattern when multiplying 6 by even numbers?

Yes. The answer ends in the same digit as the even number: 6 x 2 = 12, 6 x 4 = 24, 6 x 6 = 36, 6 x 8 = 48.