Number Line Generator
Set the start, end and step. Hide some labels for a fill-in-the-blanks sheet, or mark points with letters. The answer key is made for you.
With fractions, set the step to 1 divided by the number of parts (for example 0.25 for quarters, or 0.5 for halves) and the start and end to whole numbers. Mixed numbers such as 1 1/4 are used above 1.
Worked examples
Tenths
Start 0, end 1, step 0.1
Labels 0, 0.1, 0.2 ... 1
Eleven labelled marks.
Quarters
Start 0, end 2, step 0.25, quarters
0, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 1 3/4, 2
With simplify on, 2/4 is shown as 1/2.
About Number Line Generator
A number line is one of the most useful pictures in primary maths. It puts whole numbers, decimals, negative numbers and fractions in order along one line, and helps children see that a fraction or a decimal is a number between whole numbers. This generator draws one to your settings, with arrow ends and even spacing, so you do not need to rule it by hand.
Set the start, the end and the step between labels, and add small marks between the labels if you want to show halves, quarters or tenths. Label with whole numbers, decimals or fractions. To make a worksheet you can hide some of the labels, or mark points with letters and ask what number each shows. The answer key is made at the same time, with the hidden labels in colour. Save the line as an image file, or print it.
How to use Number Line Generator
- Type the start, end and step, for example 0, 1 and 0.1.
- Choose small marks and whether to label with decimals or fractions.
- Hide some labels, and add marked points such as 0.35 or B=0.8 if you want.
- Check the answer key, then print or save the line.
Common uses
- Fill-in-the-missing-number sheets
- Teaching decimals as numbers between whole numbers
- Showing fractions on a line from 0 to 2
- Negative numbers, for example -5 to 5
Frequently asked questions
How do I draw a number line for fractions?
Choose the fraction label option, such as quarters, and set the start and end to whole numbers and the step to 0.25. Labels like 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 1/4 are then written for you.
Why does the step need to fit exactly?
Every label must land on a mark, so the distance from the start to the end has to be a whole number of steps. If not, the tool tells you.
How many labels can a line have?
Up to 60 labelled marks. After that the numbers would be too small to read.
Can I use negative numbers?
Yes. Type a negative start such as -5 and an end such as 5. The line is drawn with the zero in the right place.
How are decimal labels kept exact?
The marks are worked out with whole-number arithmetic and then written as decimals, so a step of 0.1 gives 0.3 and not 0.30000000000000004.