How to Use the Math Worksheet Generator
The settings are numbered 1–6 in the order you use them; steps 1–3 are all you need for a good worksheet. Prefer to learn by doing? Press ? Guide → Practice on the generator page — it walks you through a whole worksheet, from choosing the grade to the downloaded PDF.
Step 1: Choose a Grade Level
The grade level dropdown is the most important setting. It controls which problem types are available. The options are Kindergarten through Grade 5.
Pick the grade that matches what the student is currently working on — not necessarily their school grade. If a third-grader is struggling with Grade 2 subtraction, select Grade 2. The tool doesn't lock you into age-based content.
| Grade | Focus areas available |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Counting, number sequences, simple addition/subtraction within 10 |
| Grade 1 | Addition/subtraction within 20, place value, number ordering |
| Grade 2 | Addition/subtraction with 2–3 digits, intro multiplication, basic fractions |
| Grade 3 | Multiplication facts, division, fractions, area/perimeter |
| Grade 4 | Multi-digit multiplication, long division, fraction operations, decimals |
| Grade 5 | Fraction and decimal arithmetic, equations, measurement |
Step 2: Choose the Topic and Skill
After selecting a grade, choose the Category (the broad topic, like "Basic Operations" or "Fractions") and the Skill. The skill narrows it down (like "Addition" or "Equivalent Fractions").
If you're not sure which sub-type to pick, generate with one, check the preview, and change it if it's not what you wanted. Generation is instant, so there's no penalty for experimenting.
Step 3: Set the Number Range
The Smallest number and Largest number fields (step 3, for topics that use them) control the size of numbers that appear in the problems. For example:
- Min: 1, Max: 10 — single-digit problems only
- Min: 1, Max: 100 — problems can include numbers up to 100
- Min: 10, Max: 50 — numbers are all between 10 and 50
A common mistake is setting the max too high for a student's level. If a second-grader is working on two-digit addition without regrouping, keep the max at 99 and consider limiting to numbers below 50. If regrouping isn't introduced yet, even Max: 50 might produce problems that require carrying.
Tip: For subtraction, the generator ensures the answer is never negative. You don't need to worry about setting a special minimum.
Step 4: Set the Number of Problems
The default is 20 questions. Here's a rough guideline based on grade level and session length:
- Kindergarten: 8–12 problems. Short sessions work better at this age.
- Grades 1–2: 15–20 problems for a 10-minute practice session.
- Grades 3–5: 20–30 for standard homework, up to 50 for timed fluency practice.
For timed drills (common with multiplication facts), some teachers use 50–100 problems in a 3–5 minute window. The generator handles this — just set the number high and let the layout split across pages automatically.
Step 5: Paper, Title and Name Line (Optional)
On the right panel, you can set a title, subtitle, and choose whether to include Name and Date fields. The defaults are reasonable for most use cases. The subtitle field is useful for instructions like "Show all your work" or "No calculator."
Step 6: Answers, Versions, Spacing (Optional)
The layout section controls how problems are arranged on the page:
- Paper Size: US Letter or A4. US visitors get Letter automatically.
- Column format: For multi-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication and long division, problems are stacked in columns (and long division gets the division bracket) — the way US schools teach them. Untick it for one-line problems.
- Columns: 1–5 columns. Two columns is the default and works well for most problem types. Use 1 column for word problems or long equations; 4–5 columns for quick single-digit drills.
- Font Size: Larger fonts make the worksheet easier to read and leave more room for handwriting. For Kindergarten and Grade 1, 18–22px is more comfortable than the default 16px.
- Vertical Spacing: Controls the gap between problems. Increase this if students need more room to show their work below each problem.
- Margins: Adjust if your printer cuts off the edges.
Step 7: Generate, Preview, and Download
Click Generate (on a phone it is in the bar at the bottom of the screen). The preview updates immediately in the center panel. If the worksheet spans multiple pages, use the arrow buttons to flip through them.
Before exporting, look through the preview — especially the last page, which may have fewer problems. Want different numbers? Click Generate again for a fresh set. Every answer is checked by an automated test that re-solves more than 100,000 generated problems.
Click Download PDF. The window shows both versions side by side. The Free PDF (a few seconds' wait, supported by ads) has up to 30 problems, one version and a light watermark. The Pro PDF has up to 200 problems, up to 10 versions (A, B, C … each with its own answer key) and is a sharp vector PDF without watermark — buy this download or 24 hours unlimited right in the window, and the PDF downloads as soon as the payment goes through. More than 200 problems? Make a second worksheet. See how passes work.
Answer key tip: Tick "Add an answer key page" (step 5) before downloading if you want an answer page at the end of the PDF. You can also use this to check your work if you're reviewing by hand.
Tips for Teachers
- Use "Mix up the order" to randomize problem order — useful for creating unique worksheets for multiple students from the same settings.
- For warmup sets, 10–12 problems in 2 columns takes about 5 minutes for most elementary students.
- Save your PDFs — the generator doesn't store anything, so re-generating with the same settings will produce different problems each time.
Tips for Parents
- Match the problem type to what's in the current homework or unit test, not just the grade level.
- If your child makes consistent errors on a specific type, narrow the number range to make that type easier to practice in isolation.
- Short daily sessions (10 minutes, 15 problems) beat one long weekly session for building fluency.
Ready to Make Your First Worksheet?
Free to use in any browser — no sign-up needed. Pro is a one-time pass, only when you need it.
Open the Generator