# Why doesn't my total match the sum of the rounded numbers?

The cells show rounded values but store every decimal. Round each line with ROUND: =ROUND(B2*$F$1,2), and the total adds what you see.

**Excel:** `=ROUND(B2*$F$1,2)` (Every current version)

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

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D | E | F |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Item | Price | Tax |  | Tax rate | 0.0825 |
| Notebook | 12.99 |  |  |  |  |
| Pens | 8.49 |  |  |  |  |
| Backpack | 23.75 |  |  |  |  |
| Folders | 6.29 |  |  |  |  |
| Eraser | 4.18 |  |  |  |  |
| Total | =SUM(B2:B6) | =SUM(C2:C6) |  |  |  |

Formula in C2, filled to C6: `=ROUND(B2*$F$1,2)`

Result: $1.07; $0.70; $1.96; $0.52; $0.34

## How it works

Unrounded, each tax amount is stored with all its decimals (1.071675) but displayed in cents (1.07). The total adds the stored values, 4.59525, and displays 4.60, while the lines you see add up to 4.59. ROUND makes each stored value match what is shown, so the lines and the total agree.

## Other ways

- `=B2*$F$1`: The unrounded tax. (Keeps every decimal, so the lines shown add up to 4.59 while the total shows 4.60.)

## Common mistakes

- A number format changes only what you see, never the value. Only ROUND changes it.
- Round where the money is fixed, usually each line. Rounding only the total still leaves lines that don't add up to it.
- Avoid the option "Set precision as displayed": it rounds every value in the workbook permanently.

## Questions

**Should I round the total too?**

When the lines are rounded, their sum is already in whole cents. Round the total only if it includes other calculations.

**What is the difference between ROUND and a number format?**

A format changes how a value looks; ROUND changes the value other formulas use.

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/total-does-not-match-rounded-values