How to Multiply by 25 in Your Head

Updated 4 October 2026

Multiply by 25 by quartering, then adding two zeros.

32 × 25 = 800

How do you multiply by 25 in your head?

To multiply by 25, divide by 4 and add two zeros, because four 25s make 100. For 32 × 25, divide first: 32 ÷ 4 = 8, so 32 × 25 = 800. It works because 25 is 100 ÷ 4, so multiplying by 25 is multiplying by 100 and dividing by 4, in either order. When the number does not divide by 4, each one left over adds another 25: 22 ÷ 4 is 5 remainder 2, so 22 × 25 is 500 + 50 = 550. A remainder of 1, 2 or 3 adds 25, 50 or 75, so the answer always ends in 00, 25, 50 or 75. Bigger numbers work the same way: 136 ÷ 4 = 34, so 136 × 25 = 3400. If dividing by 4 is awkward, halve twice instead: 64 halves to 32, then to 16, so 64 × 25 = 1600. Check by the ending, since any other last two digits mean a slip.

1. Four 25s make 100, so bundle the 32 into groups of four.

2. Quarter by halving twice: $32\to 16\to 8$32 → 16 → 8. Then 8 × 100 = 800.

3. 22 makes five groups of four with 2 left over, so 22 × 25 = 500 + 2 × 25 = 550.

All 36 shortcuts: the Magic Tricks library.