Number pad finger placement, for either hand
The number pad has its own home row, and it isn't on the letter keys. It's 4 5 6. Once a child's fingers know that spot, every other key is a short reach up, down, or to the side. Below is the finger chart we teach, for right-handed typists and for left-handed typists who put a plug-in number pad on their left side.
The chart is the common PC-style number pad. Apple's full-size keyboard keypad is arranged a little differently. Its top row is clear, =, /, and *. Minus and plus sit down the right side, and plus is a normal-size key. It has its own = key. Most PC-style pads have no = key, so use = on the main keyboard.
Find home first
Look for the small raised bump on the 5 key. Most number pads have one, just like the bumps on F and J. Your middle finger rests on it. Your fingers start on 4 5 6 and come back there after every key.
Right hand chart
| Key | Finger | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Index | Home key |
| 5 | Middle | Home key (the bump) |
| 6 | Ring | Home key |
| 7 | Index | Straight up from 4 |
| 8 | Middle | Straight up from 5 |
| 9 | Ring | Straight up from 6 |
| 1 | Index | Straight down from 4 |
| 2 | Middle | Straight down from 5 |
| 3 | Ring | Straight down from 6 |
| 0 | Thumb | Rests on 0 |
| . (decimal) | Ring | Down from 3 |
| Enter | Pinky | Rests along the side of the pad on Enter |
| + | Pinky | Up from Enter |
| - | Pinky | One more key up from + |
| * | Ring | Up from 9 |
| / | Middle | Up from 8 |
The plus and minus reaches are long for small hands. If it's easier, the ring finger can tap + or - instead. That's a fine choice for kids.
Left hand chart
Some left-handed kids (and grown-ups) put a separate number pad on the left. The keys are in the same places, so the fingers flip:
| Key | Finger | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Ring | Home key |
| 5 | Middle | Home key (the bump) |
| 6 | Index | Home key |
| 7 / 8 / 9 | Ring / Middle / Index | Straight up |
| 1 / 2 / 3 | Ring / Middle / Index | Straight down |
| 0 | Pinky | Reaches down from beside the 4 |
| . (decimal) | Index | Reaches down |
| Enter | Thumb | Rests near Enter |
| + and - | Index | Over from 6 to +, up to - at the top |
| * | Index | Reaches up |
| / | Middle | Reaches up |
The one rule that matters
Reach, tap, come home. Only the reaching finger moves. The other fingers stay on their home keys so they always know where they are. It's the same rule as the letter keys, which is why kids who already touch type letters tend to pick this up quickly.
Practice lines for the chart
Print this with the chart. The out-and-back groups, like 474, 585, and 414, start and end on a home key. The last two lines are mixed practice, and the fingers still come back home after each reach.
5 456 654 5 456 654
474 585 696 474 585 696
414 525 636 414 525 636
40 50 60 4.5 0.5
147 258 369 147 258 369
Then try one number per line, pressing Enter after each:
45
60
78
Tips that help kids
- Find the bump before every session. It takes two seconds and saves a lot of looking.
- Light taps. No pounding. The keys only need a tap.
- No pad on your laptop? Read how to practice 10-key without a number pad.
- Want more practice? The number pad practice sheets have whole numbers, decimals, and mixed lines.
In Home Row Mojo
This chart comes straight from the Meet the Number Pad lesson in Home Row Mojo. The lesson shows each finger on an on-screen keyboard, and a Number pad hand button switches between right-hand and left-hand placement, so a lefty sees their own fingers. After the lesson, Drills Level 13: Number Pad practices whole numbers, decimals, and mixed numbers.
One note: the number pad lessons only work on a keyboard that has a number pad. If your keyboard doesn't have one, an inexpensive plug-in USB number pad works.
Try Home Row Mojo free as a guest. If it fits your family, $29 once unlocks everything for all your kids.