Factors of 12 – Definition With Examples
reviewed by Florence Khitsane
Updated on October 2, 2026
The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 — the whole numbers that divide 12 with nothing left over. Multiplying the right two of these numbers together always gives exactly 12, which is why factors are so useful for solving multiplication and division problems. This guide covers 12’s factor pairs, its prime factorization, and a few of its more unusual properties — solid grounding for students working with elementary math tutors on multiplication tables and factoring.
What Are Factors of 12?
Factors of 12 are whole numbers that can be multiplied by another whole number to get 12, with no remainder. Both numbers in the pair must be whole for it to count as a factor. All factors of 12 are as follows:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 6
- 12
Factors are key to multiplication tables, and they lead directly into more advanced topics like prime factorization, covered further down.
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What Makes 12? (Factor Pairs)
To get numbers that make 12, look at its factor pairs — numbers that combine to make 12:
- 1 × 12
- 2 × 6
- 3 × 4
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Properties of Factors
All factors share properties that make them useful to work with:
- Every whole number greater than 1 has at least two factors: 1 and itself
- Every factor of a number, other than the number itself, is smaller than that number
- If number x is a factor of y, and y is a factor of number z, then x is also a factor of z
Properties of the Number 12
There are a number of properties that relate specifically to the number 12:
- It’s an even number
- It’s divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12, which are also its factors
- Its two digits (1 + 2) add to 3, so it’s divisible by 3
- The above property means it’s a Harshad number — a number divisible by the sum of its own digits
Properties of the Factors of 12
Each factor of 12 has its own unique properties, too:
- 1 – a factor of every number (also known as the multiplicative identity)
- 2 – the only even prime number
- 3 – the other prime factor of 12
- 4 – a square number (2²)
- 6 – the smallest perfect number (its proper factors, 1 + 2 + 3, add up to 6 itself)
- 12 – a highly composite number, meaning it has more factors than any smaller positive integer
Difference Between Prime and Composite Factors
The difference between prime and composite factors comes down to how many factors they themselves have. Prime factors have only 2 factors — themselves and 1. Composite factors, meanwhile, have more factors within them. Among the factors of 12:
- 2 and 3 are prime factors
- 4 and 6 are composite factors
You might also be wondering, “Is 12 a prime number?” The answer is no, because it has more than two factors.
Prime Factorization of 12
Breaking 12 down into only its prime factors gives its prime factorization. Divide 12 by its smallest prime factor, 2, to get 6; divide 6 by 2 again to get 3; since 3 is already prime, the process stops there:
Prime factorization of 12 = 2 × 2 × 3, or 2² × 3.
Listing Factors of 12
Here’s a step-by-step guide to listing the factors of 12:
- Start with the number 1. Multiply 1 by 12 to get 12, so this is a factor pair.
- Move to number 2 and see if you can multiply it by another number to get 12 — here, you multiply it by 6.
- Repeat with all your numbers up to 6, since a number larger than half of 12 (other than 12 itself) cannot be a factor. Along the way, you’ll find 3 × 4 — that’s all the factor pairs found.
A faster shortcut for larger numbers: you only need to test up to the square root of the number (for 12, about 3.5, so up to 3) — every factor above that point has already turned up as part of an earlier pair.
Practice Problems on Finding the Factors of 12
- You have 12 chocolates to share among 4 friends. How many chocolates does each friend get?
- Identify the number that is not a factor of 12: 3, 5, 6.
- Identify the prime factors of 12 and show your working — how do you know this?
Answer Key
- 12 ÷ 4 = 3 chocolates each
- 5 is not a factor of 12 (12 ÷ 5 leaves a remainder)
- 2 and 3 — both only have two factors each (1 and themselves), while 4 and 6 have more
Factors of 12 Worksheets
Put this into practice with related Brighterly worksheets:
- Factor tree worksheets
- Prime and composite numbers worksheets
- Factors and multiples worksheets
- Greatest common factor worksheets
Frequently Asked Questions on Factors of 12
What Is a Factor of 12?
The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 — these are all the numbers that divide evenly into 12 with no remainder. If you’re wondering, “Is 3 a factor of 12?”, the answer is yes!
What Are the Prime Factors of 12?
The prime factors of 12 are 2 and 3. These are the only two factors of 12 that themselves have exactly 2 factors — 1 and themselves. The other factors, 4 and 6, have additional factors, making them composite factors instead.
Is 12 a Prime Number?
No, 12 is not a prime number. A prime number is only divisible by itself and 1. 12, meanwhile, has additional factors including 2, 3, 4, and 6, meaning it’s a composite number.
How Many Factors Does 12 Have?
12 has 6 factors in total: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. This is how many whole numbers can be multiplied in pairs to reach 12 with no remainder.
What Are All the Factors of 12?
All the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. The prime factorization of 12 is 2² × 3 — found by dividing 12 by its smallest prime factor, 2, to get 6, then dividing that by 2 again to leave 3, which is already prime.
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