These free printable worksheets give preschool and kindergarten children practice comparing two amounts. Each box holds two rows of pictures. The child counts the first row and writes how many there are in the box beside it, counts the second row and writes that number too, and then circles the larger of the two numbers they have just written.
Nothing is printed for the child to compare – the numbers on the page are the ones they put there. That matters more than it sounds. A worksheet that shows 4 and 7 and asks which is bigger tests whether a child can read numerals and recall their order. These pages test something earlier and more important: whether a child can turn a pile of things into a number in the first place, and then use that number to make a decision.
What Is in This Free Compare Numbers Worksheet Pack
- Five printable worksheets, three comparisons on each page.
- Two rows of pictures in every box, with a box to write each count in.
- Groups of about one to five, so the counting stays achievable.
- Everyday pictures – fruit, animals, vehicles, furniture – that a child can name.
- A name and date line at the top, ready for classroom use.
- A separate PDF for every page – no sign-up, no email address, no cost.
The 5 Worksheets
One page is a complete session for most five year olds. There is no need to work through them in order, though they do get slightly harder as they go.
Worksheet 1 – Count Both Rows and Circle the Larger Number
Apples against bananas, then bears against cats, then bicycles against a car. The groups are small enough that most children can see the answer before they finish counting, which is exactly what you want on a first page.
Worksheet 2 – Count Both Rows and Circle the Larger Number
Books and pencils, fridges and washing machines, carrots and corn. Household objects this time, and the two rows are closer in size than on page 1, so guessing starts to fail.
Worksheet 3 – Count Both Rows and Circle the Larger Number
Chairs and tables, elephants and foxes, grapes and oranges. On the middle pair the smaller group is drawn with the larger pictures, which catches children who are judging by how much ink is on the page rather than by counting.
Worksheet 4 – Count Both Rows and Circle the Larger Number
Pigs and pandas, juice and milk, whales and frogs. The pictures here are spaced further apart, so the rows look longer than they are.
Worksheet 5 – Count Both Rows and Circle the Larger Number
Ants and butterflies, bread and spaghetti, glasses and hats. The last page of the set, with the closest pairs.
Why Children Write the Numbers Themselves
Comparing is the point of the page, but counting is the work. By the time a child has written 6 and 4 in the two boxes, the comparison is usually obvious to them – and if it is not, you have learned something useful, because it means the numerals are not yet connected to the amounts they stand for.
If your child writes the right numbers but then circles the wrong one, do not treat it as a careless mistake. Ask them to point to the row with more pictures. Almost every child gets that right, and the gap between the two answers is exactly what needs practice.
When Children Are Ready for These Worksheets
These pages suit children from about four to six years old. A child needs to be able to count a small group of objects reliably and to write the numerals 1 to 5, though wobbly or reversed numbers are completely normal at this stage and should not hold anyone back.
In American classrooms this sits inside the kindergarten counting and comparison standards: counting objects to say how many there are, and comparing two groups to tell which has more (Common Core K.CC.B.5 and K.CC.C.6). It is the step that comes before the greater-than and less-than symbols, which are easier to teach once a child already knows what the comparison means.
How to Use These Worksheets
- Print one page on ordinary paper.
- Count the first row out loud together, touching each picture once.
- Write the number in the box before moving on. Doing both rows first and then writing is where children lose track.
- Once both numbers are down, ask “which one is more?” and let them circle it.
- Ask “how do you know?” on one box per page. The explanation is worth more than the circle.
Three Things to Watch For
Circling the row with the bigger pictures
Size and quantity are easy to confuse at this age. Some boxes in this pack deliberately draw the smaller group larger. If your child falls for it, count both rows together and let the numbers settle the argument.
Circling the longer row
A row of four spread out can look longer than a row of six packed together. This is one of the most reliable early-counting mistakes there is, and it disappears with practice rather than with explanation.
Writing the number but not using it
Watch for a child who counts, writes the numbers correctly, and then goes back to looking at the pictures to decide which is bigger. That is a sign the numerals are still just shapes, and it is worth a few sessions of counting games away from paper.
Printing Tips
- Choose Actual size or Fit to page so the boxes stay big enough for a young child to write in.
- Each page fills one sheet and works on both US Letter and A4 paper.
- Printing in greyscale saves ink, though the pictures are easier to tell apart in color.
- Slip a page into a plastic wallet and use a dry-wipe pen to reuse it with more than one child.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age are these comparing numbers worksheets for?
About four to six years old.
Are the numbers printed on the page?
No. The child counts each row and writes the number themselves, then circles the larger one.
Does my child need to write numbers already?
It helps, but reversed or wobbly numerals are normal and fine. What matters is that the number they write matches what they counted.
Is there an answer key?
No separate key – the pictures are the answer. Counting the row again together settles any disagreement.
Do I need to sign up to download these?
No. Every PDF downloads immediately, with no account and no cost.
Can I use these in my classroom?
Yes, they are free to print for home and classroom use. Please do not sell them or re-host the files elsewhere.
More Free Comparing and Counting Worksheets
- Free Circle the Larger Number Worksheets – Set 2, numbers to 10
- Free More or Fewer Worksheets for Kindergarten – Compare Two Groups
- Free How Many More Worksheets for Kindergarten – Compare
- Free Counting 1 to 10 Worksheets – Count and Write
- Count and Color the Circles 1-5
- Free Learn the Numbers 1 to 10 Worksheets – Ten Frames and Tracing