How to find the factors of 6
Test every whole number from 1 up to the square root of 6 (√6 ≈ 2.449). Each number that divides evenly gives you two factors at once: the divisor and the quotient.
- 6 ÷ 1 = 6 — so 1 and 6 are factors
- 6 ÷ 2 = 3 — so 2 and 3 are factors
Collecting both numbers from every successful division gives the complete list: 1, 2, 3 and 6.
Prime factorization of 6
Divide by the smallest prime that fits, and keep going until the quotient is 1:
The primes you divided by give 6 = 2 × 3. From the exponents you can also count the factors without listing them: (1 + 1) × (1 + 1) = 4.
Properties of 6
- 6 is a composite number.
- The sum of all its factors is 12; the sum of its proper factors (excluding 6) is 6, which makes it a perfect number — a rare case where the proper factors add up exactly to the number.
- 6 is not a perfect square, so its factors pair up evenly.
- Multiples of 6 include 12, 18, 24, 30 and so on.
Factors vs. multiples
Factors of 6 are the numbers that divide into it; multiples of 6 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 6?
The factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3 and 6. Each of these divides 6 with no remainder.
How many factors does 6 have?
6 has 4 positive factors, which form 2 factor pairs. Counting negative factors as well doubles that to 8.
What is the prime factorization of 6?
6 = 2 × 3. Its distinct prime factors are 2 and 3.
Is 6 a prime number?
No. 6 is composite because it has 4 factors, more than the two a prime number has.