2-digit subtraction worksheets
Subtracting 2-digit numbers, like 58 − 23 or 52 − 27. The sheet includes problems that need borrowing, where the top ones digit is smaller than the bottom one.
Download the free 2-digit subtraction worksheet (PDF)
2-digit subtraction worksheet
What’s on the worksheet
- 50 questions on 2-digit subtraction, sized for US Letter paper
- 2 pages of questions plus an answer key on the last page
- Written for grade 2, matching Common Core 2.NBT.B.5
- Name and date lines at the top, and room to show the work
Sample questions from this worksheet
- 48 − 1 =
- 45 − 35 =
- 18 − 1 =
- 36 − 15 =
- 41 − 16 =
- 41 − 12 =
Preview the worksheet and answer key
Make a new 2-digit subtraction worksheet
Need another page for extra practice, a retake or a second group in class? The free Mathify Kids test maker builds a fresh 2-digit subtraction worksheet with different numbers every time. Choose Core, Standard or Challenge level, print it with its own answer key, or let your child take it on screen and see the score straight away.
2-digit subtraction: a worked example (52 − 27)
52 − 27 ──── 25
- Ones: 2 is less than 7, so borrow 1 ten. The 5 tens become 4 tens and the 2 ones become 12 ones.
- 12 − 7 = 5.
- Tens: 4 − 2 = 2. The answer is 25.
How to use it at home and in class
At home
Check each answer by adding back: 25 + 27 should give 52. Ten problems a day works better than a whole sheet at once. Mark them together with the answer key, then ask your child to explain one they got wrong: finding the mistake themselves is where the learning happens.
In class
Use the first row as a warm-up, a full page for independent practice, or five questions as an exit ticket. For a retake or a second group, make a new version with the test maker so every child gets different numbers.
Mistakes to watch for
- Taking the smaller digit from the bigger one in each column (7 − 2 = 5) instead of borrowing.
- Borrowing but forgetting to reduce the tens digit.
What to practice before and after 2-digit subtraction
- Before: subtraction facts. If this sheet is a struggle, go back a step.
- After: 3-digit subtraction, once this one is mostly right.
- Learn it first: the 2-digit subtraction lesson and the subtraction chart.
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Questions parents ask
What is the difference between borrowing and regrouping?
They mean the same thing. Regrouping is the term most US schools use; borrowing is the older name.
What grade is this 2-digit subtraction worksheet for?
It is written for grade 2 and matches Common Core standard 2.NBT.B.5.
Can I get a different version of this 2-digit subtraction worksheet?
Yes. Use the free Mathify Kids test maker to make a new 2-digit subtraction worksheet with different numbers every time, at Core, Standard or Challenge level, with its own answer key.