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How to learn the 8 times table

Child-friendly steps for learning the 8 times table using double-double-double thinking and cube-like groups.

Quick answer

You can learn the 8 times table by thinking of it as doubling a number twice, or by seeing it as groups of 8 objects. It’s like building a cube with 8 layers, each with 8 blocks.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will know your 8 times table from 0 to 12, and you will understand how to use doubling and grouping to help you remember. Success signs:
  • You can say the 8 times table from 0 to 12 without stopping
  • You can solve 8 × 4 or 8 × 7 quickly in your head
  • You can show 8 × 6 using 6 groups of 8 objects
  • You can explain how doubling twice gives you the 8 times table

Why this matters

Knowing your 8 times table helps you solve bigger maths problems quickly. It’s useful when you are sharing 8 sweets with friends, counting the legs of 7 spiders, or working out how many wheels are on 5 cars (since each car has 4 wheels, and 4 × 8 = 32 wheels). It also helps you understand bigger ideas like area, volume, and scaling in maths later on.

How it works

The 8 times table is based on adding 8 groups of something. You can think of it as:
  1. Double a number
  2. Double that answer again
  3. You now have 8 times that number!
For example:
  • 5 × 8 = ?
  • Double 5 = 10
  • Double 10 = 20
  • Double 20 = 40
  • So 5 × 8 = 40
This is a great trick because it uses numbers you already know well!

Examples you can see

Let’s look at the full 8 times table and how to think about it using doubling and grouping.
8 × Answer How to think about it
0 × 8 0 No groups of 8 = 0
1 × 8 8 One group of 8 = 8
2 × 8 16 2 groups of 8 = 8 + 8 = 16
3 × 8 24 3 groups of 8 = 8 + 8 + 8 = 24
4 × 8 32 Double 4 = 8, double 8 = 16, double 16 = 32
5 × 8 40 Double 5 = 10, double 10 = 20, double 20 = 40
6 × 8 48 Double 6 = 12, double 12 = 24, double 24 = 48
7 × 8 56 Double 7 = 14, double 14 = 28, double 28 = 56
8 × 8 64 Double 8 = 16, double 16 = 32, double 32 = 64
9 × 8 72 Double 9 = 18, double 18 = 36, double 36 = 72
10 × 8 80 Double 10 = 20, double 20 = 40, double 40 = 80
11 × 8 88 Double 11 = 22, double 22 = 44, double 44 = 88
12 × 8 96 Double 12 = 24, double 24 = 48, double 48 = 96

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The 8-Block Cube Builder You are a builder in a magical world where you can make cubes using 8-block pieces. Each layer of your cube must have exactly 8 blocks.
  • 1st time: You build a cube with 1 layer. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 8)
  • 2nd time: You build a cube with 2 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 16)
  • 3rd time: You build a cube with 3 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 24)
  • 4th time: You build a cube with 4 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 32)
  • 5th time: You build a cube with 5 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 40)
  • 6th time: You build a cube with 6 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 48)
  • 7th time: You build a cube with 7 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 56)
  • 8th time: You build a cube with 8 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 64)
  • 9th time: You build a cube with 9 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 72)
  • 10th time: You build a cube with 10 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 80)
  • 11th time: You build a cube with 11 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 88)
  • 12th time: You build a cube with 12 layers. How many blocks do you use? (Answer: 96)
This is your journey to mastering the 8 times table using cubes!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 8 × 7 = 54 or 55. Why it happens: Confusing 7 × 8 with 8 × 7 or forgetting the pattern. Fix: Use the doubling trick: 7 × 2 = 14, 14 × 2 = 28, 28 × 2 = 56.
  • Mistake: Counting on fingers instead of using a strategy. Why it happens: Not yet trusting memory or a pattern. Fix: Practice doubling a few times until it feels automatic.
  • Mistake: Forgetting that 0 × 8 = 0. Why it happens: Thinking that “nothing times anything” must be something. Fix: Remember that zero groups of 8 = 0.
  • Mistake: Mixing up 8 × 9 and 8 × 10. Why it happens: Both answers are close (72 and 80). Fix: Use the doubling trick to check: 9 × 2 = 18, 18 × 2 = 36, 36 × 2 = 72.

Parent and carer guide

Learning the 8 times table can be fun and easy with a few simple tips:
  • Use the doubling strategy often. It's a strong pattern that builds confidence.
  • Ask your child to show you how they think about 8 × 6 using cubes or blocks.
  • Play a quick game: say a number, and ask “What’s 8 times that?”
  • Don’t worry if they get it wrong at first. Practice helps!
  • Use real-life examples like “If you have 8 boxes, and each box has 5 toys, how many toys are there?”

Practice questions

  1. What is 8 × 3? Answer: 24
  2. What is 8 × 5? Answer: 40
  3. What is 8 × 9? Answer: 72
  4. What is 8 × 11? Answer: 88
  5. What is 8 × 12? Answer: 96
  6. What is 8 × 0? Answer: 0
  7. What is 8 × 7? Answer: 56
  8. What is 8 × 4? Answer: 32
  9. What is 8 × 10? Answer: 80
  10. What is 8 × 6? Answer: 48

FAQ

What is the easiest way to learn the 8 times table?

Using the doubling trick is the easiest way. Start with a number, double it, double it again, and double it one more time.

How can I remember 8 × 8?

Think of 8 × 8 as 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 64. Or use doubling: 8 × 2 = 16, 16 × 2 = 32, 32 × 2 = 64.

Why does doubling work for the 8 times table?

Because 8 = 2 × 2 × 2, so multiplying by 8 is the same as doubling a number three times.

Can I use the 8 times table to solve bigger problems?

Yes! For example, if you need to find 8 × 25, you can think of it as 8 × (20 + 5) = (8 × 20) + (8 × 5) = 160 + 40 = 200.

Is the 8 times table harder than others?

Not really! It’s just a bit longer to memorise. But using patterns like doubling makes it easier than many other tables.