How do I make and use a rekenrek?

Describe the rekenrek you want, choosing a 20-bead or 100-bead rack, blank or showing a number, then pick a style and click Generate. To use it, start with beads on the right, slide beads to the left to show a number, and read the count as red and white groups of five. Slide beads over to add and back to subtract.

What is the difference between a 20-bead and a 100-bead rekenrek?

A 20-bead rekenrek has two rows of ten and is ideal for numbers to 20, making ten, and early addition and subtraction. A 100-bead rekenrek has ten rows of ten for larger work, counting by tens, and place value. Teachers usually start with the 20-bead rack, then move to the 100-bead rack as numbers grow.

Can I get a printable rekenrek or rekenrek clipart?

Yes. Ask for a blank rekenrek, one showing a number, or a flat clipart graphic, and Figviz produces a clean image you can print or drop into slides and worksheets. The five red and five white beads are drawn in, so every copy stays consistent and easy to read for students.

Is the rekenrek generator free?

Yes. Every Figviz account starts with free credits you can use right away, no credit card required. A pay-as-you-go credit pack removes the watermark and unlocks 4K export for large printing. Credits never expire.

Can I print the rekenrek for my classroom?

Yes. Figviz exports rekenrek images at up to 4K resolution, sharp enough for full-page handouts or larger posters. Download the image and print at home or school. For a wall display, choose a landscape aspect ratio, and for clipart on slides the square option works well.

AI-Powered

Rekenrek Generator Rekenreks

Create clean, printable rekenrek images in seconds. Build a 20-bead arithmetic rack with 5 red and 5 white beads per row, show any number, or make a 100-bead rekenrek for larger work. Free for teachers, parents, and students.

Last updated: 2026-06-24

✓20-bead and 100-bead rekenreks✓Five red plus five white beads per row✓Classic, colorful and minimal styles✓Print-ready 4K output and clipart

Rekenrek Generator

Style

Describe your rekenrek

Free to try ·

Not what you expected? Tell us

Preview

Your rekenrek will appear here

Describe your rekenrek and click Generate

Rekenrek Examples

Browse rekenreks made with Figviz, or generate your own above

View

Blank 20-Bead Rekenrek

A 20-bead arithmetic rack at the starting position, with all beads slid to the right, ready for students to slide over and model a number.

blank rekenrek20 bead rekenrekprintable

Rekenrek Showing 7

A 20-bead rekenrek modeling 7 as five red and two white beads on the top row, showing 7 as 5 plus 2 for quick subitizing.

rekenrek mathnumber 7subitizing

100-Bead Rekenrek

A 100-bead arithmetic rack with ten rows of ten beads, each row split into five red and five white, for work with larger numbers and place value.

100 bead rekenrekplace valuearithmetic rack

Rekenrek Make-Ten Strategy

A 20-bead rekenrek modeling a make-ten strategy, with eight beads on the top row and a few on the bottom to show how a number bridges to ten.

making tenaddition strategyrekenrek activities

Rekenrek Clipart

A clean flat-style rekenrek clipart graphic of a 20-bead rack, ready to drop into worksheets, slides, or anchor charts.

rekenrek clipartclip artteaching resource

Rekenrek Activity Sheet

A printable activity sheet with several blank 20-bead rekenreks and number labels, ready for students to color or slide beads and practice.

worksheetrekenrek activitiesprintable

What is a rekenrek?

A rekenrek, also called an arithmetic rack, is a counting frame with rows of ten beads on horizontal rods. Each row of ten is split into five red beads and five white beads so students can read quantities in groups of five rather than counting one by one. The standard 20-bead rekenrek has two rows, while a 100-bead rekenrek has ten. Developed for early number sense, it helps children in kindergarten through grade 2 subitize, make ten, and build addition and subtraction strategies. A rekenrek generator turns a short description into a clean, labeled bead rack image so you can skip the drawing and go straight to teaching.

How to use a rekenrek

Start with all beads pushed to the right so each row begins empty, then slide beads to the left to show a number.

Use the 5 and 5 structure: the first five beads on each rod are red and the next five are white, so 7 is read as five red and two white.

Show a number in one push when you can, sliding all needed beads at once so students see the quantity instead of counting by ones.

Flash a number quickly, then hide it, and ask students to name how many they saw to build subitizing.

Model addition by sliding more beads over, and model subtraction by sliding beads back to the right.

For numbers above ten, fill the top row of ten completely and add beads on the bottom row to show a teen number.

20-bead vs 100-bead rekenrek

A 20-bead rekenrek has two rows of ten and is the right tool for building fluency with numbers to 20, including pairs that make ten and early addition and subtraction. A 100-bead rekenrek has ten rows of ten, giving one hundred beads in total. It extends the same five-and-five structure to larger numbers, supporting counting by tens, place value, and two-digit addition and subtraction. Many teachers introduce the 20-bead rack first in kindergarten and grade 1, then move to the 100-bead rack in grade 2 as numbers grow and students are ready to work with tens and ones.

Classroom strategies and activities

Subitizing: flash a number on the rekenrek for a moment, hide it, and have students say how many they saw without counting.

Making ten: show a number on the top row and ask how many more beads are needed to fill the ten, building the make-ten strategy.

Addition and subtraction: act out number stories by sliding beads over and back, then read the new total.

Doubles and near doubles: show the same number on both rows to model doubles, then adjust one row for near doubles.

Place value: use the 100-bead rekenrek to count by tens and to show two-digit numbers as full rows plus extras.

Printable and clipart rekenrek uses

Beyond a physical rack, a printable rekenrek is useful for worksheets, anchor charts, slides, and assessments. Generate a blank 20-bead rekenrek for students to color beads on, or one already showing a number to model a strategy on a handout. Rekenrek clipart drops cleanly into lesson slides, task cards, and learning platforms where you need a tidy bead rack graphic. Print on card stock and laminate for a reusable mat, or export the image and post it online so students can annotate it from home. Because the five-and-five coloring is drawn in, every copy stays consistent and easy to read.

Frequently asked questions

A rekenrek, or arithmetic rack, is a counting frame with rows of ten beads, each row split into five red and five white beads. Students slide beads to show numbers and read them in groups of five. It builds number sense, subitizing, and making-ten strategies. Figviz can generate 20-bead or 100-bead rekenrek images in seconds.

Related math tools

All tools →

Make your own rekenrek with Figviz

Create a free account and get starter credits to generate your own. No credit card required.