# How to remove decimals without rounding in Excel

Use TRUNC: `=TRUNC(A2)` drops everything after the decimal point, so 12.86 becomes 12 and -3.75 becomes -3.

**Excel:** `=TRUNC(A2)` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B |
| --- | --- |
| Reading | Whole part |
| 12.86 |  |
| 7.2 |  |
| -3.75 |  |
| 0.99 |  |
| 105.5 |  |
| -18.6 |  |

Formula in B2, filled to B7: `=TRUNC(A2)`

Result: 12; 7; -3; 0; 105; -18

## How it works

TRUNC cuts the number at the decimal point and keeps the whole-number part with its sign. 0.99 becomes 0, not 1, because nothing is rounded. Give it a second argument to keep some decimals: `=TRUNC(A2,1)` turns 12.86 into 12.8.

## Other ways

- `=ROUNDDOWN(A2,0)`: The same result: ROUNDDOWN also moves toward zero.
- `=INT(A2)`: INT rounds down to the next lower whole number. (Negative numbers go further from zero: -3.75 becomes -4 and -18.6 becomes -19.)

## Common mistakes

- Setting the cell format to 0 decimals only hides them, and it rounds the display: 0.99 shows as 1. The value used in sums is still 0.99.
- INT and TRUNC agree for positive numbers only. Use TRUNC when negatives should simply lose their decimals.

## Questions

**How do I keep two decimals without rounding?**

Use `=TRUNC(A2,2)`.

**How do I get only the decimal part?**

Subtract the whole part: `=A2-TRUNC(A2)`.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/remove-decimals-without-rounding