Guide

Place Value Chart: Ones to Millions

A place value chart gives each digit a column. It makes regrouping, expanded form and decimals easier to see.

Columns and values

MillionsHundred thousandsTen thousandsThousandsHundredsTensOnes
1,000,000100,00010,0001,000100101

Each column is ten times the column to its right. That is why moving one place left multiplies by ten.

Decimals

To the right of the decimal point, the columns are tenths, hundredths and thousandths. The decimal point sits between ones and tenths. Write 4.27 with 4 in ones, 2 in tenths and 7 in hundredths.

Regrouping and expanded form

A chart makes carrying and borrowing visible: ten ones become one ten, ten tens become one hundred. It also supports expanded form, where 3,482 is written as 3,000 + 400 + 80 + 2. The place value chart generator prints whole-number and decimal versions.

In practice

A student writes 4.7 as 4.07. The place value chart shows that the first column after the decimal is tenths, not hundredths. Writing the digits into labelled columns before saying the number makes the decimal point meaningful.

Common mistakes

Problem Usually because What to do
The decimal point moves Columns are not labelled Write the point between ones and tenths first
A zero is omitted The empty place is skipped Use a zero placeholder
Regrouping loses a ten The exchange is done mentally Cross out and rewrite in the chart

Frequently asked questions

What is a place value chart?

A table with one column per place: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands and so on, continuing to decimals on the right.

How do I use it for regrouping?

Write each digit in its column. To regroup, move ten from one column into one unit of the next column to the left.

Where does the decimal point go?

Between the ones column and the tenths column. Digits to the right are tenths, hundredths and thousandths.

What is expanded form?

Writing a number as the sum of each digit’s value, such as 3,482 = 3,000 + 400 + 80 + 2.

Where can I print a place value chart?

Open the place value chart generator, choose whole numbers or decimals, then print or download a PDF.

Printables used in this guide