Free printable practice
Subtract Within 20 No Borrow Practice Activities
Printable preschool and kindergarten subtraction practice for taking away within 20 without regrouping or crossing a ten.
Practice that builds confidence
What “no borrow” subtraction means
These preschool and kindergarten subtraction worksheets help children practise taking away numbers within 20 when no regrouping is needed. Children build confidence with simple subtraction facts, teen-number equations, and problems where the ones can be subtracted directly.
The printable activities include clear number sentences and practice layouts suited for early learners. Children may solve by counting back, crossing out objects if shown, using fingers or counters, and checking that the answer is smaller than the starting number.
In this collection, children subtract within 20 without needing to regroup a ten, sometimes called borrowing. Problems such as 16 - 4 or 18 - 3 let students work with the ones directly and keep the teen number structure clear. The goal is not speed first; it is understanding that subtraction means take away, compare, or find what is left.
Skill progression within 20
Practice can begin with smaller facts such as 8 - 2, then move to teen numbers such as 14 - 2 and 19 - 7. Children see that 17 is 1 ten and 7 ones, and taking away 5 ones leaves 12. This helps connect counting, number sense, and early place value before harder subtraction with regrouping is introduced.
Parent routine for at-home practice
Choose a short set of problems and place 20 small objects nearby, such as buttons, cereal pieces, or blocks. Read one equation aloud: “Sixteen minus four.” Have your child build 16, remove 4, then say the full sentence: “16 minus 4 equals 12.” After a few hands-on examples, ask your child to try the printed equations and use the objects only when needed.
Classroom uses for teachers
Teachers can use these pages for morning work, math centers, small-group reteaching, or quick independent practice after a subtraction lesson. The no-regrouping format is useful for checking whether students understand the minus sign, write answers in the correct place, and can subtract from teen numbers without reversing the numbers.
Common errors to watch for
Some children add instead of subtracting because they focus only on the two numbers. Others count the starting number again when counting back, so 15 - 3 becomes 13 instead of 12. Students may also confuse digits in teen numbers and write 21 for 12. Encourage them to touch each object removed, or to say “start, count back, stop” before writing an answer.
Free printable PDF download
Use this subtract within 20 no borrow worksheet page to preview the activity, print it, or download it as a PDF for quick practice. It works well for homework, homeschool lessons, tutoring, morning work, revision, and classroom centers.
Answers and answer key support
After the child completes the worksheet independently, parents and teachers can use the answer support or answer key information to check the work, review mistakes, and choose the next practice step.
Why iBloom worksheets help
These iBloom worksheets keep the number range focused so children can practise one important skill at a time. A child-friendly strategy is: circle the starting number, count back the number being subtracted, then check, “Did my answer get smaller?” That simple check builds accuracy and prepares learners for subtraction across ten later.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
What does subtract within 20 with no borrow mean?
It means children solve subtraction problems using numbers up to 20 without regrouping a ten. For example, 18 - 5 and 16 - 4 can be solved by subtracting the ones directly.
Are these worksheets suitable for kindergarten?
Yes. They are designed for preschool and kindergarten learners who are ready to practise simple take-away problems, especially with numbers up to 20.
Should my child use counters for these problems?
Counters are helpful at first. Children can build the starting number, remove the amount being subtracted, and count what is left before moving toward mental counting-back strategies.
What mistake is most common in no-borrow subtraction?
A common mistake is counting back incorrectly, especially counting the starting number as the first count. For 15 - 3, children should say 14, 13, 12, not 15, 14, 13.
How is this different from subtraction with regrouping?
In these worksheets, children do not need to break apart a ten to subtract. Regrouping problems, such as subtracting when there are not enough ones, come later after this foundation is secure.
Is this subtract within 20 no borrow worksheet free?
Yes. You can preview it for free and use the printable worksheet for home or classroom practice.
Can I download this subtract within 20 no borrow worksheet as a PDF?
Yes. Use the worksheet download option to save a printable PDF, or print the worksheet directly from the page.
Does this subtract within 20 no borrow worksheet include answers or an answer key?
When the activity has fixed answers, iBloom includes answer support so parents and teachers can check the completed worksheet.