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How to learn the 5 times table

Times Tables

How to learn the 5 times table

Child-friendly steps for learning the 5 times table using hands, clocks, nickels and answers ending in 0 or 5.

Quick answer

You can learn the 5 times table by counting in 5s, using your hands, looking at a clock, or thinking about nickels. The answers always end in 0 or 5.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will know your 5 times table from 0 to 12, and you will be able to use it to solve problems quickly and easily. Success signs:

You can count in 5s up to 60
You can say 5 × 7 = 35 without counting
You can solve a word problem using the 5 times table
You can spot that 5 times any number ends in 0 or 5

Why this matters

Learning the 5 times table helps you do maths faster and easier. You use it when telling time, counting money, sharing snacks, and solving puzzles. It's one of the easiest tables to learn, so it builds your confidence in maths.

How it works

To learn the 5 times table, start by counting in 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60. Each number is 5 more than the last. You can also think of it as adding 5 each time or making groups of 5. You can use your fingers to help. For example, to find 5 × 3, put up 3 fingers on each hand and count the fingers: 5, 10, 15. So 5 × 3 = 15. Another way is to look at a clock. The minute hand moves in 5-minute jumps. When it points to 1, it’s 5 minutes. When it points to 2, it’s 10 minutes. When it points to 3, it’s 15 minutes.

Examples you can see

Let’s look at how 5 × 4 works using a real-life example. Imagine you have 4 boxes, and each box has 5 apples. To find the total number of apples, you can count them:

Box 1 has 5 apples
Box 2 has 5 apples
Box 3 has 5 apples
Box 4 has 5 apples

That’s 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20 apples. So 5 × 4 = 20. You can also make an array. Draw 4 rows with 5 stars in each row:

Star Row 1	Star Row 2	Star Row 3	Star Row 4
★ ★ ★ ★ ★	★ ★ ★ ★ ★	★ ★ ★ ★ ★	★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Count all the stars: 20. So 5 × 4 = 20.

Try it as a mini adventure

Let’s go on a fun adventure to learn the 5 times table! Adventure: The Treasure Hunt You are going on a treasure hunt. Each clue leads you to a new place. You need to count in 5s to find the next clue.

1st time: You find a clue at 5 steps
2nd time: You find a clue at 10 steps
3rd time: You find a clue at 15 steps
4th time: You find a clue at 20 steps
5th time: You find a clue at 25 steps
6th time: You find a clue at 30 steps
7th time: You find a clue at 35 steps
8th time: You find a clue at 40 steps
9th time: You find a clue at 45 steps
10th time: You find a clue at 50 steps
11th time: You find a clue at 55 steps
12th time: You find a clue at 60 steps

You have walked 60 steps to find all the clues. That’s 12 times 5. So 12 × 5 = 60.

Common mistakes

Mistake: Thinking 5 × 6 = 36.
Why it happens: Confusing 5 × 6 with 6 × 6.
Fix: Remember that 5 × 6 = 30 because 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 30.
Mistake: Forgetting that 5 × 0 = 0.
Why it happens: Thinking you can’t multiply by 0.
Fix: Any number times 0 is 0. So 5 × 0 = 0.
Mistake: Counting wrong when using fingers.
Why it happens: Getting confused with how many fingers to count.
Fix: Use one hand for each group of 5, and count carefully.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:

Practising counting in 5s together every day
Using a clock to show 5-minute intervals
Playing a game where you ask, “What is 5 × 7?” and see if they can answer quickly
Using nickels to show how 5 × 4 = 20 cents
Encouraging them to notice that 5 times any number ends in 0 or 5

If your child gets stuck, remind them that 5 × 5 = 25 and 5 × 6 = 30. These are easy to remember. Keep it fun and keep practising!

Practice questions

What is 5 × 3?
What is 5 × 8?
What is 5 × 11?
What is 5 × 0?
What is 5 × 12?

Answers:

FAQ

How can I remember the 5 times table?

You can remember it by counting in 5s, using your fingers, or looking at a clock. The answers always end in 0 or 5, so that’s a helpful clue!

Why does 5 × 0 = 0?

When you have 0 groups of 5, you have nothing. So 5 × 0 = 0.

What’s the easiest way to learn 5 × 7?

You can think of it as 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 35. Or, if you know 5 × 6 = 30, just add 5 more to get 35.

Can I use the 5 times table for money?

Yes! If you have 4 nickels, that’s 4 × 5 = 20 cents. If you have 10 nickels, that’s 10 × 5 = 50 cents.

What if I forget 5 × 9?

You can think of 5 × 9 as 5 × 10 = 50, minus 5 = 45. So 5 × 9 = 45.

Full 5 times table facts

5 × 0	5 × 1	5 × 2	5 × 3	5 × 4	5 × 5	5 × 6	5 × 7	5 × 8	5 × 9	5 × 10	5 × 11	5 × 12
0	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60