How to Make a Multiplication Chart (Free, Printable)

A multiplication chart is one of those tools that pays dividends for years. Students who keep a filled chart on their desk while learning their times tables develop number sense faster than students who memorize facts in isolation. Teachers who post a classroom-sized chart on the wall give every student a low-anxiety reference point during seat work. And parents who print a blank version for practice give kids an active way to rehearse facts rather than passively reading them.

This guide covers every common approach: using a free AI generator to produce a chart in seconds, building one manually on paper, and setting one up in Excel or Google Sheets so you can customize it however you like.

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What Is a Multiplication Chart?

A multiplication chart is a grid that shows the products of two numbers. The rows list one factor, the columns list the other, and each cell contains their product. To find 7 x 8, you find row 7 and column 8 and read the number at their intersection: 56.

The most common size is the 12x12 multiplication chart, which covers the times tables from 1 through 12 and is the standard reference in elementary school classrooms across the US. Larger variants such as 1-100 charts (sometimes called a 100s chart) or 20x20 charts appear in more advanced curricula, competitions, or specialized classroom settings.

Multiplication charts come in two main forms:

• Filled charts: Every cell already contains the product. These are reference tools for checking work, introducing new concepts, or posting on a classroom wall.
• Blank charts: The grid structure is printed but the cells are empty. Students fill in the products themselves as a practice exercise.

Both formats are useful, and the best approach is to have both on hand.

How to Make a Multiplication Chart Fast with Figviz

The quickest way to produce a print-ready multiplication chart is to use the Multiplication Chart Generator. Here is the full process:

1. Go to the tool. Navigate to the Multiplication Chart Generator. No account or sign-in is required.
2. Choose your size. Select 12x12 for the standard times table chart, or pick a larger size if your curriculum needs it.
3. Choose filled or blank. A filled chart works for reference and posting. A blank chart works for student practice worksheets.
4. Download or print. Export the chart as an image or PDF, then print at home, at school, or at a copy shop. Letter size prints cleanly without scaling.

The entire process takes under a minute. For teachers who need to produce a dozen differentiated worksheets before Monday, that speed matters.

How to Make a Multiplication Chart by Hand

Sometimes you want a student to build the chart themselves as part of the learning process. Drawing a multiplication chart from scratch is a productive exercise that reinforces both the structure of multiplication and the individual facts.

Supplies

• Graph paper or a ruler and blank paper
• A pencil
• A colored marker for the header row and column (optional but helpful)

Steps

1. Draw the grid. On graph paper, mark out a 13x13 grid (one extra row and column for the labels). Each cell should be large enough to write a two-digit number comfortably.
2. Label the header row. Write 1 through 12 across the top row, starting in the second column. Leave the first cell in the first row empty.
3. Label the header column. Write 1 through 12 down the first column, starting in the second row.
4. Fill in the products. Work row by row. For row 1, multiply 1 by each column header. For row 2, multiply 2 by each column header. Continue until all 144 cells are filled.
5. Highlight patterns. Use a colored pencil to shade the diagonal (1x1, 2x2, 3x3, and so on). These are perfect squares and stand out as landmarks in the chart.

If you are making a blank practice version instead, complete steps 1 through 3 and leave the body cells empty.

How to Make a Multiplication Chart in Excel or Google Sheets

Spreadsheets are ideal when you need a customizable chart you can reformat, resize, or reuse. The method works identically in both Excel and Google Sheets.

Step-by-Step

1. Open a new spreadsheet. In cell A1, type an "x" or a multiplication symbol to label the corner.
2. Fill the header row. In cells B1 through M1, type the numbers 1 through 12.
3. Fill the header column. In cells A2 through A13, type the numbers 1 through 12.
4. Enter a formula in B2. Type =$A2*B$1 and press Enter. The dollar signs lock the column for the row factor and the row for the column factor, so the formula works correctly when copied.
5. Copy the formula across the grid. Select B2, then copy it. Select the range B2:M13 and paste. The formula adjusts automatically for each cell.
6. Format the headers. Select row 1 and column A. Apply a bold font and a background color so the labels stand out from the product cells.
7. Adjust cell size. Select all cells and resize columns and rows to equal widths so the grid looks like a table rather than a standard spreadsheet.
8. Print or export. In Google Sheets, use File > Download > PDF to export a print-ready file. In Excel, use File > Print and adjust the page layout to fit the grid on one page.

To make a blank practice version in Excel or Google Sheets, delete the formula values after formatting the grid. Students then fill in the cells by hand after printing, or type directly into the sheet as a digital exercise.

Blank vs. Filled: Which Should You Use?

Both formats serve real instructional purposes, and most teachers use both.

A common approach is to introduce new times tables with a filled chart visible, then gradually cover sections of it as a student's confidence grows, and finally use a blank chart to test full recall.

Multiplication Chart Sizes

12x12 Multiplication Chart

The 12x12 chart covers products from 1x1=1 through 12x12=144 and is the standard for US elementary schools. Most state math standards expect students to fluently recall all 144 facts by the end of third or fourth grade.

1-100 Multiplication Chart (10x10)

A 10x10 chart covers facts through 10x10=100. This is sometimes called a "1-100 chart" because all the products from 1 through 100 appear in it. It is slightly simpler than a 12x12 and is useful for students who are just beginning to learn times tables.

20x20 Multiplication Chart

A 20x20 chart extends the grid through 20x20=400. This larger format appears in competition math preparation, middle school enrichment programs, and contexts where students need to recognize products of larger factors quickly.

Classroom Tips for Using Multiplication Charts

Laminate and use dry-erase markers. A laminated filled chart posted at each desk lets students reference facts immediately, reducing frustration. As students memorize a row, they can use a dry-erase marker to cross it out temporarily.

Run "race the chart" drills. Give students a blank chart and a timer. Each day, they try to fill in more cells than the day before. Progress is visible and motivating.

Use color coding for families. Color all the 2s facts one color, the 5s another, and the 10s a third. Students quickly see that these families have obvious patterns, which builds confidence before tackling harder facts.

Post a large version on the wall. A poster-sized chart at the front of the room gives students a shared reference point during lessons without requiring them to dig through a binder.

Connect to related tools. A multiplication chart pairs well with a number line for skip-counting practice and a hundreds chart for seeing multiplication patterns in the context of all numbers 1 through 100. For students working on place value alongside multiplication, a place value chart makes a helpful companion resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

A multiplication chart is one of the most versatile math tools a classroom or home can have. Whether you print a filled 12x12 chart as a permanent desk reference, hand out blank charts for timed practice drills, or build a custom version in a spreadsheet for a specific student's needs, the format is flexible enough to serve almost any multiplication learning goal.

The fastest way to get a print-ready chart today is the Multiplication Chart Generator. In under a minute you can choose your size, pick filled or blank, and download a clean printable file.

For related math reference tools, explore the Number Line Generator, the Hundreds Chart Generator, and the Place Value Chart Generator.