How to find the factors of 12
Test every whole number from 1 up to the square root of 12 (√12 ≈ 3.464). Each number that divides evenly gives you two factors at once: the divisor and the quotient.
- 12 ÷ 1 = 12 — so 1 and 12 are factors
- 12 ÷ 2 = 6 — so 2 and 6 are factors
- 12 ÷ 3 = 4 — so 3 and 4 are factors
Collecting both numbers from every successful division gives the complete list: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12.
Prime factorization of 12
Divide by the smallest prime that fits, and keep going until the quotient is 1:
The primes you divided by give 12 = 2² × 3. From the exponents you can also count the factors without listing them: (2 + 1) × (1 + 1) = 6.
Properties of 12
- 12 is a composite number.
- The sum of all its factors is 28; the sum of its proper factors (excluding 12) is 16, which makes it a abundant number (its proper factors add up to more than itself).
- 12 is not a perfect square, so its factors pair up evenly.
- Multiples of 12 include 24, 36, 48, 60 and so on.
Factors vs. multiples
Factors of 12 are the numbers that divide into it; multiples of 12 are the numbers it divides into. Every number has a limited set of factors but infinitely many multiples. To work with any other number, use the factors calculator, or find shared factors with the GCF calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What are the factors of 12?
The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12. Each of these divides 12 with no remainder.
How many factors does 12 have?
12 has 6 positive factors, which form 3 factor pairs. Counting negative factors as well doubles that to 12.
What is the prime factorization of 12?
12 = 2² × 3. Its distinct prime factors are 2 and 3.
Is 12 a prime number?
No. 12 is composite because it has 6 factors, more than the two a prime number has.