Last updated on July 15th, 2025
Addition means combining two or more numbers to find the sum. Four-digit numbers consist of thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones. In this article, we will be learning about 4-digit addition.
Column addition is a method of adding numbers by writing them one under the other so that digits with the same place value (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands) are in the same column. This makes it easier to add large numbers.
Example:
Add 2,458 + 3,679
One's place: 8 + 9 = 17
→ Write 7, carry 1 to the tens place.
Tens place: 5 + 7 = 12, plus 1 = 13
→ Write 3, carry 1 to the hundreds place.
Hundreds place: 4 + 6 = 10, plus 1 = 11
→ Write 1, carry 1 to the thousands place.
Thousands place:
2 + 3 = 5, plus 1 = 6
Final Answer:
2,458 + 3,679 = 6,137
4-digit Addition Using Different Numbers:
Question: Add 1,245 + 3,612 + 2,134
1,245
+ 3,612
+ 2,134
Ones: 5 + 2 + 4 = 11 → write 1, carry 1
Tens: 4 + 1 + 3 = 8, then add the carried 1= 9
Hundreds: 2 + 6 + 1 = 9
Thousands: 1 + 3 + 2 = 6
Answer:
6,991
A 4-digit addition is when you add two or more numbers with four digits. For example, 2,345 and 6,789 are both four-digit numbers.
For example, numbers like 1,234, 2,500, or 8,901 are all 4-digit numbers. When we add two 4-digit numbers, we carefully add each place value, starting from the right place and moving left. Sometimes, we need to carry over to the next column if the total in one place is 10 or more.
4-digit addition without regrouping is when you add two numbers with four digits, and none of the digits add up to 10 or more in any column. That means you don’t need to carry over or regroup any numbers to the next place value.
Example:
Add 3,421 + 2,134
3421
+ 2134
Now we will add column by column:
Ones: 1 + 4 = 5
Tens: 2 + 3 = 5
Hundreds: 4 + 1 = 5
Thousands: 3 + 2 = 5
Final Answer: 5,555
When we add two four-digit numbers, sometimes the total in a place value (like ones, tens, or hundreds) is 10 or more. When that happens, we can’t put both digits in one place because each place can only hold a single digit (from 0 to 9). So, we keep the digit in one place and carry the other digit to the next column on the left. This is called regrouping or carrying. It helps us add big numbers correctly by moving the extra value to the next place.
Example:
Add 3,478 + 2,659
3478
+ 2659
Now we will add column by column, right to left:
Ones: 8 + 9 = 17
→ Write down 7, and carry 1 to the tens place.
Tens: 7 + 5 = 12, plus the carried 1 = 13
→ Write down 3, and carry 1 to the hundreds place.
Hundreds: 4 + 6 = 10, add the carried 1 = 11
→ Write down 1, and carry 1 to the thousands place.
Thousands: 3 + 2 = 5, add the carried 1 = 6
Final answer: 6,137
Let us see how 4-digit addition is applied in real life.
When working with 4-digit addition, especially with regrouping, it's easy to make small mistakes. Here are some of the most common ones and simple tips to avoid them:
What is 2,341 + 1,452?
3,793
Start from one's place: 1 + 2 = 3
Then, add tens: 4 + 5 = 9
hundreds: 3 + 4 = 7
and thousands: 2 + 1 = 3
No regrouping is needed.
What is 3,768 + 2,475?
6,243
Start from the right and regroup where needed.
Add ones: 8 + 5 = 13 → write 3, carry 1
then tens: 6 + 7 = 13 + 1 = 14 → write 4, carry 1
After this, we add hundreds: 7 + 4 = 11 + 1 = 12 → write 2, carry 1,
And at last, we will be adding thousands: 3 + 2 = 5 + 1 = 6
Answer: 6,243’
Add 1,024 + 3,650
4,674
Ones: 4 + 0 = 4
Tens: 2 + 5 = 7
Hundreds: 0 + 6 = 6
Thousands: 1 + 3 = 4
No regrouping is needed.
The final answer is 4,674
Add 3,476 + 2,859
6,335
Now we will be adding Ones: 6 + 9 = 15 → write 5, carry 1, then add Tens: 7 + 5 = 12, plus 1 = 13 → write 3, now we will add carry 1, also will add Hundreds: 4 + 8 = 12, plus 1 = 13 → write 3, carry 1 at last will add Thousands: 3 + 2 = 5, plus 1 = 6
Answer: 6,335
A sports store sold 2,167 items in January and 3,984 items in February. How many items were sold in total?
6,151 items
Now we will be adding these first we will be adding Ones: 7 + 4 = 11 → write 1, carry 1,then add Tens: 6 + 8 = 14, plus 1 = 15 → write 5, carry 1
Now add Hundreds: 1 + 9 = 10, plus 1 = 11 → write 1, carry 1, at last
we will add Thousands: 2 + 3 = 5, plus 1 = 6
Total items sold: 6,151
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
: She loves to read number jokes and games.