Grade 4
Column Subtraction Worksheets
Multi-digit subtraction in columns with borrowing, place by place.
Free printable PDF · answer key included · new problems every time
Preview · page 1
- 1.6053 − 1086 =
- 2.1260 − 1026 =
- 3.7340 − 5201 =
- 4.3710 − 1416 =
- 5.7995 − 2239 =
- 6.6144 − 1379 =
- 7.8640 − 2715 =
Show answers
1) 4967 · 2) 234 · 3) 2139 · 4) 2294 · 5) 5756 · 6) 4765 · 7) 5925
How to explain it to your child
Start on the right; when the top digit is too small, borrow from the next column.
- Write the numbers underneath each other. — 6420 - 1875
- Ones: 0 - 5 doesn't work — borrow 1 ten. — 10 - 5 = 5
- Keep going column by column, borrowing whenever the top digit is too small. — 11 - 7 = 4; 13 - 8 = 5
- Finish with the thousands. — 5 - 1 = 4
Example: 6420 - 1875 = 4545 (column by column, borrowing as needed).
We show the take-away (decomposition) method — the German KMK standard since 2022. Some schools still use the counting-up method; both are correct.
Every sheet has a QR code: if your child gets stuck, they scan it and get this explanation step by step — without giving the answer away.
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Start the 5-minute check →More Grade 4 worksheets
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- Fractions: Half of a Number
- Fractions: A Quarter of a Number
- Adding Decimals
- Multiplying by 11 to 20
- Reading Timetables
- Negative Numbers with Temperature
- Order of Operations
- Calendar Math
- Map Scale
- Area and Perimeter of Rectangles
- 3D Shapes: Faces, Edges, Vertices
- Types of Angles
- Coordinate Grids
- Multiplying and Dividing by 10, 100 and 1000
- Combinations with Three Choices
- Factors and Multiples
Questions parents ask
Are these column subtraction worksheets really free?
Yes. Your first three downloads need no sign-up; after that a free account lets you print as many as you like. No subscription. Every PDF has an answer key at the back.
Can I get new problems once my child has done this sheet?
Yes. “New problems” makes a fresh sheet on the same topic every time — different numbers, same level.
How do I know which topic my child should practise?
Take the free 5-minute check: your child solves a few problems on the phone, and you get a printable workbook built for exactly their gaps.