Subtraction Worksheets
Master subtraction worksheets with unlimited practice problems. Customize difficulty and generate fresh worksheets every time.
Master Addition First
Ensure students have solid addition skills before introducing subtraction, as they're inverse operations.
Teach Borrowing Systematically
Use column format to teach borrowing/regrouping step-by-step with place value understanding.
Connect to Real Life
Use real-world scenarios (money, time, measurements) to make subtraction meaningful and practical.
Free Subtraction Worksheets for All Grade Levels
Our free printable subtraction worksheets help students master the inverse of addition. From basic facts to multi-digit problems with borrowing, we have worksheets for every skill level.
Subtraction by Grade Level
- Kindergarten-1st: Single digit subtraction within 20
- 2nd Grade: Two-digit subtraction without borrowing
- 3rd Grade: Two-digit subtraction WITH borrowing (regrouping)
- 4th Grade: Three-digit and four-digit subtraction
Understanding Borrowing (Regrouping)
Borrowing is needed when the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit. You "borrow" 10 from the next column:
Example: 52 - 28
2 is less than 8, so borrow: 12 - 8 = 4
4 - 2 = 2 (remember we borrowed 1)
Answer: 24
Benefits of Mastery
🧠 Mental Math
Encourages students to solve problems mentally, strengthening number sense.
⚡ Computational Fluency
Ideal for timed practice, helping students build automatic recall.
🔄 Inverse Operation
Helps students understand the relationship between addition and subtraction.
📊 Differentiated Learning
From single-digit to three-digit problems, meeting each student where they are.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grade level is this worksheet for?
Suitable for grades 1-4. Easy mode for grades 1-2, Medium for 2-3, and Hard for 3-4.
Horizontal vs Vertical subtraction?
Horizontal emphasizes mental math, while vertical is better for teaching the borrowing algorithm.