Interactive number line for kids

This free number line goes from 0 to 10, 0 to 20 or 0 to 100. Tap to place a marker on a number, or switch to Jumps to hop forward and add or hop back and take away. Each hop is drawn on the line, and the number sentence appears below it.

Tap the line to drop a marker.

How to use the number line

Tap to place a marker on a number, or switch to Jumps to hop forward and add or hop back and take away. Each hop is drawn on the line, and the number sentence appears below it.

Choose a line: 0 to 10, 0 to 20 or 0 to 100.
In Marker mode, tap the line to drop the marker on a number. The arrow buttons move it one step at a time.
Switch to Jumps. Tap the line to pick where you start.
Press Add or Take away, then press how many to jump. A hop is drawn on the line and the number sentence appears below it: 3 + 2 = 5.
Keep hopping from where you landed, press Undo to remove the last hop, or press Clear to start again.
Press Hide numbers to blank the line between the ends, and guess where the marker is.

What is a number line?

A number line is a straight line with equal steps marked in order, so each number has its own place and bigger numbers sit farther right. Counting becomes a walk along a path: adding moves right and taking away moves left.

Teachers use a number line to compare numbers, to count on and back, and later to show sums and differences as hops. This one lets you pick a range that fits your child, from 0 to 10 up to 0 to 100.

Ideas to try at home

Drop the marker on 7 and ask which number is just before it and which is just after.
Pick two numbers and ask which one is farther to the right. That is the bigger one.
Start at 8 and hop 5 forward. Say it together: "8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13."
Ask for a take-away story: "You have 9 stickers and give away 4." Hop back 4 and read the answer.
On the 0 to 100 line, hop by 10s and count aloud: 10, 20, 30.
Hide the numbers, place the marker, and ask your child to name the number it is on.

What it helps with

Number order: knowing which number comes next, which comes before, and which is bigger.
Counting on and back: starting at any number, not only at 1.
Addition and subtraction: seeing a sum as a hop forward and a difference as a hop back.

Common Core standards that fit this tool, in the standards' own words:

K.CC.A.2: Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1).
1.OA.C.5: Relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2).
2.MD.B.6: Represent whole numbers as lengths from 0 on a number line diagram with equally spaced points corresponding to the numbers 0, 1, 2, ..., and represent whole-number sums and differences within 100 on a number line diagram.

Games that use the same idea

Hop Back

Hop back along the number line to find the answer.

Ages 5–8
Subtraction within 10 and 20
Counting back on a number line

Number Path

Help Mathumo cross the stones by stepping on the numbers in order.

Ages 4–6
Number order to 20
Reading numerals

Sum Rockets

Give each rocket the right fuel number and light up the sky.

Ages 5–7
Addition facts to 10 and 20
Counting on

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More free math tools

100 chart

Color numbers on a 1–100 or 1–120 grid and see the patterns in counting by 2s, 5s and 10s.

Ages 5–8
Counting to 100 and 120

Ten frame

Fill one or two ten frames with counters in two colors and see how many more make 10.

Ages 4–7
Counting to 10 and 20

Analog clock

Watch the real time on a big clock face, or turn the hands to set any time.

Ages 5–8
Telling time to the hour and half hour

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Questions about the number line

What is a number line used for?

A number line is used to show the order of numbers and to add and subtract by hopping. Children place a number, count forward or back from it, and compare which of two numbers sits farther right. Seeing the hops helps children picture what adding and taking away do.

How do you use a number line to add?

Start at the first number, then hop forward the size of the second number. For 6 + 3, start at 6 and make 3 hops to land on 9. In Jumps mode this tool draws the hops and writes the sum below the line.

How do you use a number line to subtract?

Start at the bigger number and hop back. For 9 − 4, start at 9 and hop back 4 to land on 5. Choose Take away in Jumps mode to see it drawn on the line.

Which range should my child start with?

Start with 0 to 10 if your child is learning to count and add small numbers. Move to 0 to 20 once 10 feels easy, and use 0 to 100 for hopping by 10s and for numbers like 47 and 63.