Hundred Board
The hundred board is a 10 by 10 board with 100 tiles numbered 1 to 100 and a control chart, for children of about 5. Sets cost $33.95 to $98.15 at the three US sellers we checked on October 2, 2026. Two printed sheets, one cut into tiles, make a homemade version in under an hour.
The first lesson with it is Hundred Board. Not sure your child is ready for it? Two minutes of questions place your child on the sequence.
| Area | Math |
|---|---|
| Used in | |
| From age | 5 to 7 years |
| Make it | Easy to make at home |
| Buy it | About $34 to $98 (noted ) |
What the hundred board is for
The child places the tiles in order and sees 1 to 100 as ten rows of ten. Every row starts with a number ending in 1, and every column shares a last digit, so the pattern itself helps the child spot a misplaced tile.
The wooden board is a later form. Montessori's 1917 book has the same square on paper: test sheets with 1 to 100 in rows of ten, where children underlined the multiples of each number.
| Part | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Board | 100 squares, 10 by 10. Alison's is 10 inches square; The Montessori Room's 34 cm |
| Tiles | 100, numbered 1 to 100 |
| Box | For the tiles; two compartments at Montessori Outlet and Alison's premium set |
| Control chart | Included at Alison's ($39.60 set); extra on some others |
The lessons that use the hundred board
Hundred Board
5 to 7 yearsPlacing 100 numbered tiles on a 10 by 10 board in order, so the child sees the numbers 1 to 100 as rows of ten.
Buying one: 5 listings checked October 2, 2026
| Seller and set | Made of | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Montessori OutletHundred Board (510500210)Framed board, tiles 1 to 100 and a two-compartment box. Market price shown $96.25. In stock. | Wood | $33.95 |
| Alison's MontessoriHundred Board (M13)Sale price; regular $44.00. Board, tiles 1 to 100 and a wooden control chart. 10 by 10 inches. Made in Thailand. | Wood | $39.60 |
| Alison's MontessoriHundred (100) Board, Premium Quality (PM53)Board and tiles in a two-compartment box; control chart $10.00 extra. 13.5 inches square. Made in Sri Lanka. | Wood | $98.00 |
| NienhuisHundred BoardBoard printed with 100 squares and a lidded box of chips 1 to 100. | HDF, birch plywood, beech | $98.15 |
| The Montessori RoomHundred BoardCanadian store. Board and tiles, 34 cm square; the control chart is $3.99 CAD extra. Sold as a budget version. | Beechwood | $49.99 CAD |
- Alison's $39.60 set is the only one in the table with a control chart in the price. Otherwise, print one.
- The two premium boards, $98.00 and $98.15, are larger and heavier. A child working at home gets the same lesson from the $33.95 board.
- Montessori Services had a hundred frame and a chain mat but no board, and Amazon's search page wouldn't load.
- This is one of the easiest materials to make well; see the build below.
Making the hundred board at home
What to gather
- Two sheets of card stock, letter size
- A ruler and a pencil
- A fine marker, or a printer
- A paper cutter or scissors
- Laminating sheets or clear tape, if the set has to last
- An envelope or small box for the tiles
| Piece | Size and marking | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Board | A 10 by 10 grid of 2 cm squares, 20 cm across | 1 |
| Tiles | 2 cm squares numbered 1 to 100 | 100 |
| Control chart | A second grid printed 1 to 100 | 1 |
- 1Draw or print a 10 by 10 grid of 2 cm squares on the first sheet. A letter-size sheet, 21.6 cm wide, fits 20 cm with a margin.
- 2On the second sheet, print or write 1 to 100 in the same grid, in order. Make a copy of it to keep as the control chart.
- 3Laminate both sheets if you can.
- 4Cut the numbered sheet into 100 tiles along the grid.
- 5Store the tiles sorted by tens, ten to an envelope or a section of a box.
Keeping a full set on the shelf
- Count the tiles back after each use; a missing 47 shows up as a hole in the board.
- Keep wooden tiles dry. A warped tile won't lie flat on the board.
Questions parents ask about the hundred board
Is a hundred board the same as a hundred chart?
The idea is the same: 1 to 100 in ten rows of ten. A chart is printed; the Montessori board has loose tiles the child places, which makes it work rather than a poster.
Do I need the control chart?
It lets the child check alone. If your set lacks one, print a 1 to 100 grid the same size.
Can I make a hundred board?
Yes, in under an hour with two sheets of card stock. The build above has the sizes.
Before the hundred board, make sure the work before it is solid. The short bead chains (squaring chains) lesson lists the signs that a child is ready to move on.