How to Memorize Numbers with a Memory Palace

Have you ever wondered how some people can memorize thousands of digits of pi or other really long numbers? In most cases they are using the memory palace technique. Check out the video and article below to learn how to do it!

Basically, you create a system that lets you convert each 2- or 3-digit number into a mnemonic image. Then each image is placed into a location inside of a memory palace.

The Basic Technique

The first step to remembering numbers is to create a memorable image for each number. There are many systems for converting numbers to images. For example, in the major system, the number 11 could be represented by a toadstool, and the number 99 could be associated with the image of a baboon.

You can see a quick example on the How to Memorize Pi page.

If you have limited time and want to give it a try before creating a full set of 100 Major System images, try the 10-image number shape system. The number shape system is probably too simple to memorize long numbers, but it’s good for short numbers and can give you a quick idea about how these kinds of systems work.

Step 2: Create a Memory Palace

Tip: see the How to Build a Memory Palace page for detailed instructions.

A memory palace (made famous by Sherlock’s mind palace and the book Moonwalking with Einstein) is an imaginary place in your mind where you store mnemonic images that represent numbers or other data. By walking through the imaginary location and converting the images back into numbers, you can recall very long numbers in order.

To create a memory palace, choose any place you know well — even your current location will probably work — and link 10 arbitrary points (locations) together into a journey.

The picture below shows an example memory palace created in the home village of Simonides of Ceos, who is famously associated with the method of loci. Each location in the memory palace holds one or more mnemonic images that each represent numbers or other facts.

Step 3: Place One Image in Each Memory Palace Location

Here’s a short example with the simplest possible system: if you’re using the number shape system, and you want to memorize the number 3.1415, create a mnemonic image for each number:

• 3 — a butterfly
• 1 — a candle
• 4 — a sailboat
• 1 — a candle
• 5 — a hook

Then place the images in your memory palace, making the images as vivid as possible:

1. In the first location of your memory palace, picture a butterfly.
2. In the second location of your memory palace, picture a candle.
3. In the third location of your memory palace, picture a sailboat.
4. In the fourth location of your memory palace, picture a candle.
5. In the fifth location of your memory palace, picture a hook.

To recall the images, close your eyes and walk through your memory palace in order. You should see a butterfly in the first place. Convert the butterfly back to the digit 3. Then walk to the second location in your memory palace, where you should see a candle. Convert the candle back into the digit 1. And so on.

The Number Shape System is too simple to use for long numbers, but for longer numbers you can use some of the other systems mentioned below.

Memory Systems for Numbers

Here are some pages where you can learn more about the memory systems that were mentioned in the video.

Image Generation Systems:

• Association System
• Dominic System (and Dominic System Examples)
• Major System (and Major System Examples)
• Ben System (advanced)
• The Shaper System (not mentioned in the video, because that page is newer than the video, but you should check it out)
• My modified Ben System which uses ideas from the Ben System to create images for 0-9 and 00-99 in addition to 000-999 (not mentioned in the video below)

Image Placement Systems:

• 1-, 2-, or 3-image System
• Person-Action System
• Person-Action-Object (PAO) System — made famous in Moonwalking with Einstein (see also the PAO System Examples page)

Though not mentioned in the video, for completeness you might want to also check out number shapes, number rhymes, and basic mnemonics.

If you want to compete in memory competitions, read the what is a mental athlete page.

See also our pages about photographic or eidetic memory.