Free Subtraction Worksheets
Subtraction from facts to 20 up to three-digit numbers; answers stay non-negative unless the level says otherwise. Every worksheet has 20 problems and an answer key; press “New worksheet” for a fresh set.
How these worksheets work
Choose a level below. Each worksheet has new numbers every time you ask for one, so you can print as many different sheets as you need. Answers are worked out by the generator and printed on a separate page.
Start at the first level and move on when a sheet can be finished quickly with few mistakes. Short, regular practice (one sheet a day) builds fluency faster than long sessions, and timing a sheet now and then shows progress clearly.
Levels
Choosing the right level
- Subtraction within 20, usually grade 1. Typical problems: 16 − 3 = 13; 7 − 0 = 7; 13 − 0 = 13.
- Two-digit subtraction, usually grade 2. Typical problems: 80 − 77 = 3; 72 − 39 = 33; 69 − 57 = 12.
- Three-digit subtraction, usually grades 2 and 3. Typical problems: 744 − 517 = 227; 912 − 618 = 294; 834 − 689 = 145.
- Answers can be negative, usually grades 6 and 7. Typical problems: 12 − 13 = -1; 18 − 12 = 6; 46 − 13 = 33.
If a child gets more than a few problems wrong on a level, stay there for another sheet or two. If a sheet is finished quickly and almost all correct, move to the next level. Each level page has its own answer key and a button for a fresh set of numbers.
Worked example: 80 − 77
This problem comes from the two-digit subtraction level. The method is the same for every problem on that sheet:
- Ones column: 0 is less than 7, so borrow 1 from the tens column: 10 − 7 = 3.
- Tens column: 7 − 7 = 0.
- The answer is 3. Check by adding: 3 + 77 = 80.
Printing and reuse
Every level prints on plain paper with the answers on a separate page. Because the numbers change each time you press “New worksheet”, you can give a different sheet to each child or repeat a level many times without anyone memorising the answers.
The sample problems above are taken from the same generators as the printable sheets, so they show exactly the kind of numbers each level uses.
Teaching tips
- Write the larger number on top and line up the columns by place value.
- When the top digit is smaller, borrow from the next column to the left; across a zero, borrow from further along.
- Check every answer by adding it back to the number you took away; you should get the top number.
- Counting up from the smaller number is often quicker than counting back for facts within 20.
Questions
Are these subtraction worksheets free?
Yes. Every worksheet and answer key is free to print and to copy for a class; there is nothing to sign up for.
How many subtraction worksheets are there?
There are 4 levels, and each level can make an unlimited number of different sheets: press “New worksheet” on any level for new numbers.
Do I need to sign up or download anything?
No. Every worksheet opens in the browser and prints directly; nothing is installed and no account is needed.
Where are the answers?
Each sheet has an answer key on its own printed page, so you can hand out the problems and keep the answers back. You can also leave the key out.
What age are subtraction worksheets for?
The levels run from grade 1 to grades 6 and 7. Use the level descriptions above to pick a starting point.