Enter your 6 numbers and target below, then hit Solve Numbers. The solver finds every possible route to the target — or the closest achievable result — and shows the complete working out for each solution. New to the game? Read the rules →
Numbers Game Solver
Enter 6 numbers (1–10, 25, 50, 75, 100; 0–4 large numbers allowed) and a target (100–999).
How the Countdown Numbers Solver Works
The Countdown numbers solver uses an exhaustive search algorithm to try every possible combination of your 6 numbers and the four arithmetic operations (+, −, ×, ÷). Here's how to use it:
- Enter your 6 numbers — choose from the valid Countdown pool: small numbers (1–10) and large numbers (25, 50, 75, 100). You can use up to 4 large numbers.
- Enter the target — a three-digit number between 100 and 999, just as in the real Countdown numbers game.
- Click Solve Numbers — the solver instantly calculates every possible solution and displays them with full step-by-step working out.
If the target is impossible to reach exactly, the solver finds the closest achievable result within ±10 — mirroring the real Countdown scoring system. All intermediate results are constrained to positive whole numbers, exactly as the rules require.
Some targets can be reached in dozens of different ways. Our countdown number game solver shows all of them so you can pick the most elegant route — or verify the approach you came up with under the clock.
Strategy Tips for the Countdown Numbers Game
Use a Large Number as an Anchor
Large numbers (25, 50, 75, 100) provide a quick shortcut. Multiply a large number by a small one to get close to the target, then use the remaining numbers to fine-tune. For example, if your target is 812 and you have 100, try 100 × 8 = 800, then 800 + 12.
Work Top-Down
Don't start with the smallest numbers. Get as close to the target as possible with two or three numbers first, then use the remaining ones to bridge the gap. This "rough cut then refine" approach is faster than building up from scratch.
Know When to Aim for Close
If you can see a route to within 5 of the target, declare it — that's 7 points. Spending the last 10 seconds chasing an exact solution and finding nothing scores zero. A guaranteed 7 beats a speculative 10.
Division is Your Secret Weapon
Division can produce numbers that are otherwise impossible to reach. Look for combinations where dividing creates a useful intermediate result. For instance, 75 ÷ 25 = 3 can free up other numbers for the final calculation.
Practise with the Solver
Use our Countdown numbers game solver after each practice round to see all the solutions you didn't find. Studying the working out trains you to spot these patterns faster under the 30-second clock.
About the Countdown Numbers Game
The Countdown numbers game is the arithmetic half of the Channel 4 TV show. Each round, a contestant selects 6 number tiles from two stacks — small numbers (1–10, two of each) and large numbers (25, 50, 75, 100, one of each). A random three-digit target between 100 and 999 is then generated.
Contestants have 30 seconds to reach the target using any of the four operations (+, −, ×, ÷). You don't have to use all 6 numbers. All intermediate results must be positive whole numbers — no fractions or negatives at any step.
Scoring
| Distance from target | Points |
|---|---|
| Exact (0 away) | 10 points |
| Within 5 (1–5 away) | 7 points |
| Within 10 (6–10 away) | 5 points |
| More than 10 away | 0 points |
Our countdown numbers solver is perfect for practising, checking your working, or finding solutions you couldn't crack in 30 seconds. Also try our Countdown letters solver for the word game, or read the full rules if you're new to Countdown.