Cards and Counters
Cards and counters is a box of numeral cards 1 to 10 and 55 red counters, used at about 4 to 5.5 to check numbers and show odd and even. Sets cost $13.95 to $53.20 at the US sellers we checked on October 5, 2026, though the cheapest was sold out. Ten cards and 55 buttons make a homemade set.
The first lesson with it is Cards and Counters: Odd and Even. Not sure your child is ready for it? Two minutes of questions place your child on the sequence.
| Area | Math |
|---|---|
| Used in | |
| From age | 4 to 5.5 years |
| Make it | Easy to make at home |
| Buy it | About $14 to $53 (noted ) |
What the cards and counters are for
The child lays the cards in order and puts the matching number of counters under each, in pairs. Odd numbers leave one counter alone at the bottom. With exactly 55 counters, a leftover or a shortage shows a mistake.
Montessori's 1912 book gives the game with colored counters under the figures, in columns of two, after Séguin. Her 1917 book uses red cubes for even numbers and blue for odd.
| Part | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Numeral cards | 1 to 10, cut out or printed on wood |
| Counters | 55, usually red wooden discs |
| Box | Holds both; some sets have a divided box |
The lessons that use the cards and counters
Cards and Counters: Odd and Even
4 to 5.5 yearsLaying out the numerals 1 to 10 in order and placing the right number of red counters under each in pairs, which shows odd and even.
Buying one: 4 listings checked October 5, 2026
| Seller and set | Made of | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Montessori OutletCut-Out Numeral and Counters, USA Print (510500090)55 counters and numerals 1 to 10. Market price shown $53.20. Sold out when checked. | Red wooden counters and numerals | $13.95 |
| Alison's MontessoriCut-out Numerals with Counters and Wooden Cards (M03)Sale price; regular $44.00. 55 counters and numerals 1 to 10. Made in Thailand. | Wood | $39.60 |
| NienhuisCut-Out Numerals And Counters: US Version (003603)US store price. The page doesn't state the piece count. | PMMA, birch plywood, beech | $53.20 |
| The Montessori RoomCards and Counters (C043)Canadian store. Sold as a budget version: 55 counters and numerals 1 to 10 in a wooden box. | Red wooden counters, wooden cards | $33.99 CAD |
- Montessori Outlet's $13.95 set was sold out when we looked, so plan on Alison's at $39.60 or Nienhuis's at $53.20.
- Count the counters on arrival. The lesson depends on exactly 55.
- This is one of the easiest materials to make well. Any 55 identical small tokens work.
- Montessori Services had no cards and counters set we could find.
Making the cards and counters at home
What to gather
- Ten small cards or wooden tiles and a thick marker
- Fifty-five identical tokens: buttons, red poker chips or wooden discs
- A small box or jar with a lid
| Piece | Size and marking | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Numeral cards | About 6 by 6 cm, one numeral each, 1 to 10 | 10 |
| Counters | About 1.5 to 2 cm across, all the same | 55 |
- 1Write the numerals 1 to 10 large and clear, one per card, in the same print as your sandpaper numerals.
- 2Count out 55 tokens twice to be sure.
- 3Write 55 inside the lid as a reminder.
- 4Keep cards and counters together in the box.
Keeping a full set on the shelf
- Count all 55 counters back after each use. A missing counter turns the control into a false alarm.
- Keep the counters away from toddlers; they are choking-size.
Questions parents ask about the cards and counters
How many counters are in Montessori cards and counters?
Fifty-five, the sum of 1 to 10. Every counter is used when the work is right.
Can I make cards and counters?
Yes, in about 15 minutes: ten numeral cards and 55 identical tokens. Red ones make the pairs easy to see.
What comes after cards and counters?
The golden beads, where the child meets tens, hundreds and thousands, and then the teen and tens boards.
Before the cards and counters, make sure the work before it is solid. The spindle boxes lesson lists the signs that a child is ready to move on.