M+
Grades K–2 • 100% Free Printable Worksheet

Basic Subtraction Facts Worksheet Generator

Foundational subtraction within 20 and within 100 for early learners. Generate unlimited practice worksheets with answer keys for home or school.

Free, no account, nothing leaves the visitor's browser: All problem generation and answer keys compute client-side on your device.
Quickly apply recommended classroom settings
Student Header Fields
Worksheet Code:

Tip: in the print dialog, choose 'Save as PDF' to keep a copy.

Answer keys verified by automated tests — how we check →
Worksheet Mill Code: 0028T5

Basic Subtraction Facts

Name: ________________________________ Date: ____________________ Score: _________

Find the difference for each subtraction problem.

1) 3 - 3 =     
2) 5 - 3 =     
3) 2 - 1 =     
4) 11 - 11 =     
5) 6 - 4 =     
6) 11 - 0 =     
7) 2 - 0 =     
8) 5 - 2 =     
9) 11 - 2 =     
10) 4 - 1 =     
11) 9 - 9 =     
12) 15 - 9 =     
13) 20 - 8 =     
14) 3 - 2 =     
15) 10 - 3 =     
16) 19 - 9 =     
17) 19 - 4 =     
18) 16 - 11 =     
19) 4 - 3 =     
20) 17 - 10 =     
21) 9 - 3 =     
22) 5 - 5 =     
23) 10 - 0 =     
24) 20 - 13 =     
25) 19 - 6 =     
Page 1 of 1 Free printable math worksheets at Worksheet Mill Code: 0028T5
Worksheet Mill ANSWER KEY Code: 0028T5

Basic Subtraction Facts — Answer Key

Find the difference for each subtraction problem.

1) 3 - 3 = 0
2) 5 - 3 = 2
3) 2 - 1 = 1
4) 11 - 11 = 0
5) 6 - 4 = 2
6) 11 - 0 = 11
7) 2 - 0 = 2
8) 5 - 2 = 3
9) 11 - 2 = 9
10) 4 - 1 = 3
11) 9 - 9 = 0
12) 15 - 9 = 6
13) 20 - 8 = 12
14) 3 - 2 = 1
15) 10 - 3 = 7
16) 19 - 9 = 10
17) 19 - 4 = 15
18) 16 - 11 = 5
19) 4 - 3 = 1
20) 17 - 10 = 7
21) 9 - 3 = 6
22) 5 - 5 = 0
23) 10 - 0 = 10
24) 20 - 13 = 7
25) 19 - 6 = 13
Page 1 of 1 Free printable math worksheets at Worksheet Mill Code: 0028T5

Ways to Use This Sheet

Morning Work

The first ten minutes while attendance is taken and students settle into the room.

Early Finishers

Quiet, independent drill ready in a binder for students who wrap up assignments ahead of schedule.

Homework

A clean, predictable practice sheet students can complete at home without adult coaching.

How to Use This Worksheet Generator

In the Classroom

Foundational subtraction facts bridge early counting and advanced arithmetic. In the classroom, teachers use these customizable worksheets for daily mental math warm-ups and exit tickets. Because problem generation is mathematically constrained to guarantee non-negative differences, every sheet provides clear, frustration-free practice for early learners.

At Home & Homeschool

For homeschool parents, practicing subtraction alongside related addition facts (fact families) builds relational understanding rather than rote memorization. A child who knows 8 + 6 = 14 can quickly reason that 14 - 6 = 8. These worksheets reinforce that connection with clean layouts and instant answer keys.

Step-by-Step Worked Example

Worked Example: Think-Addition Subtraction Strategy 13 - 7 = ?
  1. 1

    Reframe as a Missing-Addend Problem

    Instead of counting backwards 7 steps, ask: "7 plus what number equals 13?" (7 + ? = 13).

  2. 2

    Step Through Friendly Ten

    From 7 to 10 is 3. From 10 to 13 is 3 more.

  3. 3

    Combine the Steps (3 + 3 = 6)

    Since 7 + 6 = 13, it follows that 13 - 7 = 6.

Solution Result: 13 - 7 = 6

Difficulty Progression: Easy vs. Standard vs. Challenge

Preset Level Target Grade Configuration & Range Skill Focus & Mastery
Easy Kindergarten–Grade 1 20 problems, minuends within 10, horizontal layout Mastering foundational single-digit subtraction facts within 10.
Standard Grades 1–2 25 problems, minuends within 20, horizontal layout Mastering the full basic subtraction facts table (minuends up to 20).
Challenge Grade 2 25 problems, minuends within 100 (2-digit minus 1-digit/tens without borrowing) Applying basic facts to double-digit mental subtraction (e.g., 58 - 5, 76 - 20).

Frequently Asked Questions

Should children count backwards or count up when subtracting?

Counting backwards is effective when subtracting small numbers (like 12 - 2). However, when the subtrahend is close to the minuend (like 12 - 9), counting up from 9 to 12 is vastly faster and less prone to off-by-one errors. Teach both strategies so students can pick the most efficient one.

What is a fact family and why does it help subtraction?

A fact family is a group of four related math facts using the same three numbers (e.g. 4+5=9, 5+4=9, 9-4=5, 9-5=4). Teaching subtraction as the inverse of addition halves the number of facts a student needs to memorize.

Can these basic subtraction sheets be used for timed speed drills?

Yes. The 20 or 25-problem counts fit standard 1-minute or 2-minute "mad minute" classroom sprints. Simply hide the answer key before printing and track how many problems students complete accurately.

Understanding Your Unique Worksheet Code

Every worksheet generated on this site includes a unique 6-character alphanumeric Worksheet Code (such as 432VPD) printed in the header and footer.

This code represents the mathematical pseudo-random seed used to create your exact problem set. If you ever need to reprint the identical worksheet for absent students or retrieve the matching answer key at a later date, simply enter the code into the Worksheet Code box and click Load Code. All problems will instantly regenerate in identical order.