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Skip counting worksheets — fill in the missing numbers

Count in 2s, 5s, 10s and more, forwards and backwards. Print a new sheet every click.

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Skip counting

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Free printable worksheets© Kids Learning Hub · VS MEDIA

Skip counting is the bridge between counting and multiplying. A child who can say "5, 10, 15, 20, 25" without thinking already knows half the five-times table, and one who counts back in tens is ready for subtraction with larger numbers. Finding the rule of a sequence is also a first taste of algebra: noticing what stays the same while the numbers change.

Best for ages 5–9

How to get the most from these sheets

Practise out loud first, with movement: jump on every number in 2s, clap in 5s. Rhythm makes the sequence stick before it is written.
Use a hundred square: colour every fifth number and look at the pattern it makes. Patterns are easier to remember than lists.
Ask "how did you know?" for each missing number. "I added 5" is the reasoning you want, rather than "it sounded right".
Do the backwards level only after forwards is secure. Counting back is genuinely harder, even for adults.

Frequently asked questions

What is skip counting?

Counting forwards or backwards by a number other than one, such as 2, 4, 6, 8 or 50, 40, 30. It prepares children for the times tables and for mental subtraction.

Which skip counting should come first?

Tens first, then fives, then twos. Tens and fives follow the patterns of our number system and of the clock, so they are the easiest to hear and see.

How does skip counting help with multiplication?

Each sequence is a times table in order: counting in 3s up to 30 lists the three-times table. Children can use it to find any fact they have not yet memorised.

MathoKids

Prefer practising on a tablet? Adaptive maths practice — offline, safe and free on Google Play.

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