Subtraction to 10 Worksheet – Free Printable PDF
This free subtraction to 10 worksheet covers the full range children are expected to master by the end of Kindergarten. Twelve numbered sums sit three to a row in a clean grid, each with a blue answer box — 7−2, 8−3, 9−4, 10−5, 6−1, 9−6, 8−4, 10−3, 7−5, 9−2, 10−8 and 8−7. The mix of small and large differences stops children falling into a single counting habit. Print it instantly — no login, no payment, no sign-up required.
- 📚 GRADE LEVEL → Nursery – LKG – 1st – 2nd
- 👶 AGE GROUP → 3–7 Years
- 📐 PAGE SIZE → A4 Size
- 🎯 DIFFICULTY → Beginner
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More about this worksheet
About This Free Subtraction To 10 Worksheet for Kids
Everything on this free subtraction to 10 worksheet sits on one page, with one kind of problem repeated. A name and date line runs across the top, a coloured title band names the activity, and one line of instructions sits beneath it. At Kidzolearn, every worksheet is 100% free to download and print — no login, no subscription, no payment required.
Twelve numbered problems in a grid three across and four down, laid out exactly like the previous sheet but with larger numbers and no visual support. The problems are 7 − 2, 8 − 3, 9 − 4, 10 − 5, 6 − 1, 9 − 6, 8 − 4, 10 − 3, 7 − 5, 9 − 2, 10 − 8 and 8 − 7. Starting numbers run from six to ten.
Only one thing changes from the sheet before it: the size of the numbers. The layout, the instruction and the number of problems are identical, so a child meeting bigger numbers is not also meeting a new format at the same time. Watch for 10 − 8 and 8 − 7. When the two numbers are close, counting back is quicker than counting up from zero, and noticing that is a real strategy rather than a trick. For more early maths in the same style, see our free alphabet tracing worksheets, and the full library sits on our free printable worksheets for kids.
What your child will learn from this worksheet
Short as the sheet is, it works on more than adding alone:
- Solve twelve written sums with every number staying within 10
- Handle differences of every size, from 8−7 to 10−3, without one fixed method
- Choose between counting back and counting up depending on the numbers
- Move from working each sum out to simply knowing the answer
- Build the fact recall that makes subtracting within 20 possible later
These are the early number objectives set in LKG, UKG, Reception, Year 1 and Grade 1. Subtraction rests on secure counting, so if any of these feel slow, our lowercase letter tracing worksheets are the place to rebuild that foundation before pushing on.
Who is this worksheet best for?
This free subtraction to 10 worksheet is perfect for:
- Kindergarten and Grade 1 children aged 5 to 7 years meeting subtraction for the first time
- Preschool and Kindergarten classroom maths centres and small-group teaching
- UK Reception and Year 1 KS1 children working on taking away within 10
- Homeschooling parents introducing subtraction gently before written sums
Browse the complete collection of Free Subtraction Worksheets for Kids on Kidzolearn for more free subtraction printables.
How to download and print this free worksheet
Click the “Download Free Worksheet” button on this page — the PDF downloads instantly with no sign-up or email required. Print on standard A4 paper for the best experience. Once your child no longer needs the pictures, move on to the Addition Worksheet for written practice in the same range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kidzolearn worksheets really free?
Yes! Every worksheet on Kidzolearn is 100% free — no subscription, no login and no payment required at any time. Simply click the download button, save the PDF and print it instantly at home or in the classroom.
At what age should children start using this subtraction to 10 worksheet?
Around five is typical, but go by what your child can already do. If they count a group of ten without losing track and can add small numbers, they are ready for this subtraction to 10 worksheet. If either is still shaky, work on that first — almost every error at this stage is a counting error rather than a subtraction one.
Should my child count back or count up to find the answer?
Whichever is fewer steps — and knowing when to switch is the real skill. For 10 − 8 counting back eight times is slow and error-prone, while counting up from 8 to 10 takes two hops. For 9 − 2 the opposite is true. This subtraction to 10 worksheet mixes both kinds on purpose, so ask your child which way they chose after each one.
Is subtraction within 10 part of the official early years curriculum?
Yes — subtraction within ten appears in early maths frameworks worldwide, always after addition rather than alongside it. What those frameworks share is the sequence: count securely, add with things you can see, then take away with things you can see, and only then work with numerals alone. Our shapes worksheets for kids cover the counting work that sits underneath all of this.
Can I use these worksheet at home?
Absolutely! This worksheet is completely free to download and print at home. All you need is a printer and a pencil — no cost, no sign-up and no login required. You can print it as many times as your child needs.