16 Times Table
Sixteen is 2 × 2 × 2 × 2, which means every fact in this table is just three doublings away from a fact in the 2 times table. It looks big; it is built from something small.
Counting up in 16s: 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160
Visual Explorer
Click any line in the table on the left to see it visualised below!
Choose objects:
16 × 1 = 16
1 group of 16 = 16 stars!
Test Yourself
Fill in every answer, then press Check Answers to see how you did.
The clever bit
Double, double, double again
Sixteen is built entirely from twos: 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16. That means any fact in this table can be reached by doubling a number four times — or, more practically, by doubling the other number three times.
- 16 × 3 → 3 → 6 → 12 → 24
- 16 × 5 → 5 → 10 → 20 → 40
- 16 × 9 → 9 → 18 → 36 → 72
Each step is a simple doubling, the same skill used for the 2 and 4 times tables — just applied three times in a row.
The shortcut through the 8 times table
If the 8 times table is already comfortable, there is a faster route: work out the 8-times fact, then double it once.
- 16 × 7 → 8 × 7 = 56 → double it → 112
One reassurance
Nothing here is new arithmetic — it is the same doubling skill from the early tables, just repeated. Three doublings feels long the first few times and then becomes automatic.
Step one
Practise the 16 times table
Pick the answer you think is right. Nothing is timed and nothing is scored — this part is just for getting comfortable.
Practice needs JavaScript switched on. You can still read the whole table above — it works everywhere.
Step two
Take the 16 times table quiz
Ten questions, typed in. Get any wrong and you can practise just those straight afterwards.
The quiz needs JavaScript switched on. You can still read the whole table above — it works everywhere.
The ones people trip on
Most mistakes in the 16 times table land on these. Each one has a way in.
16 × 7 = 112
16 × 7 → double 7 three times: 7 → 14 → 28 → 56. So 16 × 7 = 112.
16 × 8 = 128
16 × 8 → double 8 three times: 8 → 16 → 32 → 64. So 16 × 8 = 128.
16 × 9 = 144
16 × 9 → double 9 three times: 9 → 18 → 36 → 72. So 16 × 9 = 144.
Where the 16 times table shows up
A standard pack of crayons often has 16 colours, and there are 16 ounces in an American pound. Three packs of 16 crayons is 3 × 16 = 48 crayons.
Questions parents ask
What is the trick for the 16 times table?
Double the other number three times in a row, since 16 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2. For 16 × 5: 5 → 10 → 20 → 40, so 16 × 5 = 40. It sounds slow but each step is simple.
Why does doubling three times work for 16?
16 is 2 multiplied by itself four times (2⁴), but since one factor of 2 is "used up" turning n into the answer, you need three more doublings on top of the number itself, matching 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16.
Is there a faster way using the 8 times table?
Yes — if the 8 times table is solid, just double the 8-times answer once. 16 × 6 = double (8 × 6 = 48) = 96. This is often quicker than three separate doublings.
What is 16 × 16?
256. Using double-of-8: 8 × 16 = 128 (double 16 four times, or use the split method), and double 128 is 256.