Free Blank Number Lines

Download Free Printable Number Lines for All Grade Levels

The number line is a visual tool where a straight line is used to place real numbers in order from smallest to largest as you move from left to right.

In math, number lines are incredibly useful tools for developing number sense, performing operations, and comparing numbers—including positive numbers, negative numbers, and fractions.

If you want to use number lines to help you practice and learn math, you can use the quick links below to download a free blank number line for a variety of grade levels and topics. Simply click on the link to jump to section you want. From there, you will be able to download a variety of number lines as printable PDF files.

• Blank Number Line (with and without notches)
• Number Line to 10
• Number Line to 20
• Number Line to 100
• Number Line with Negatives Only
• Number Line Negative and Positive Values
• Fraction Number Line
• Bonus:Number Lines in the Real World

What is a Number Line?

In math, a number line is a straight line on which numbers or values are marked at intervals that increase as you move from left to right.

If you imagined all of the numbers deciding to line up in a single file line from smallest to largest, then the result would be pretty close to what we call a number line in math. Number lines can be infinite, meaning that they never end (these types of number lines will have arrows on each side, meaning that they continue on forever and ever in both directions) or they can be finite, meaning that they only contain a certain range of numbers (these types of number lines are capped on each side and do not include arrows). Number lines with arrows do not have a starting point or an ending point (they continue on forever in both directions). Number lines without arrows have a starting point and ending point (they are a segment of an infinite number line).

Figure 01 below shows the difference between a number line with arrows and a number line without arrows. Note that both types of number lines will be featured in this guide, but number lines with arrows are much more common and will be featured more often.

No matter what types of numbers you are dealing with, number lines can be an incredibly useful visual tool for understanding numbers, comparing numbers, and performing operations with numbers, whether they be positive numbers, negative numbers, fractions, or decimals.

Here a few examples of how number lines can be used to help students to learn math:

• Number Lines Support Visual Learning: Math can often be an abstract subject and many students need to be able to visualize difficult concepts in order to understand them. When it comes to learning about numbers and operations, a number line is an awesome visual tool that allows students to see numbers in relation to each other, which makes comparing numbers and performing operations on them much easier.
• Add and Subtract by Jumping: At the elementary level, number lines make adding and subtracting numbers a simple process. For example, if you wanted to add 4 to a number, you could simply place your finger on that number on a number line and then “jump” four spaces to the right. Whatever number you land on is your end result. Conversely, if you wanted to subtract 4 from a number, you would instead “jump” four spaces to the left. Figure 02 below shows an example of how students can use a number line to perform addition.
• Easily Compare Numbers: When it comes to comparing numbers in terms of being greater than (>) or less than ( <), the number line is the best tool you can use. To make comparisons, simply visualize the numbers in question on a number line. The number that is furthest to the left will always be the smaller number.
• Operations with Negatives: Many students struggle with understanding how to work with negative numbers. Number lines that include negative and positive numbers help students develop a strong number sense of negative values and how they relate to their positive counterparts. In fact, many teachers choose to utilize the number line whenever they first present their students with the concept of negative numbers.
• Fractions and Decimals: The number line is not just for integers. In fact, fractions, decimals, and even irrational numbers like πcan all be expressed and explored using a number line, which is why it is such a useful and versatile tool for practicing, exploring, and learning mathematics at all grade levels.

Now that you have a better understanding of how number lines work and how they can be used to help students with a variety of math concepts and topics, you can use the links below to download a variety of free number lines.

Blank Number Lines

Blank Number Lines

This reference sheet includes five number lines. The first version is completely blank and the second version includes notches where students can input their own numbers.