Printable Subtracting Decimals Worksheets

Printable subtracting decimals worksheets for 5th grade, with an answer key on every sheet. The sets below cover 5 different skills, so you can start where your child actually is. Available as speed drills and word problems.

Targeted Practice by Skill

About Subtracting Decimals

What this skill is

Subtracting decimals extends column subtraction to tenths, hundredths, and thousandths, requiring decimal point alignment and placeholder zero padding.

When children learn it

Subtracting decimals is taught in 4th and 5th grade, aligned to 5.NBT.B.7.

Teaching Tips

  • Always append trailing placeholder zeros before subtracting (5.40 - 2.18).
  • Line up decimal points vertically in grid columns.

Common Mistakes

  • Subtracting without adding placeholder zeros in empty decimal places (for 5.4 - 2.18, bringing down 8 instead of subtracting 8 from 0).
  • Misaligning decimal points.