# QUOTIENT function in Excel

> QUOTIENT divides one number by another and returns only the whole-number part, dropping the remainder.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/quotient · Updated October 28, 2026 · Formulas and results on this page were run by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on October 30, 2026

## Quick answer

- **What it does:** QUOTIENT divides one number by another and returns only the whole-number part, dropping the remainder.
- **Syntax:** `=QUOTIENT(numerator, denominator)`
- **Most common use:** `=QUOTIENT(B2,C2)` returns 10 (250 pens fill 10 boxes of 24)
- **Available in:** Every current version
- **Category:** [Math functions](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/category/math)
- **Returns:** A whole number; #DIV/0! if the denominator is 0.
- **Google Sheets:** Works the same in Google Sheets.

## What it does

QUOTIENT divides one number by another and returns only the whole-number part, dropping the remainder. Use it for how many full boxes, full hours or full weeks fit, and pair it with MOD for what's left over. It truncates toward zero, so for negative results it differs from INT, which rounds down.

## Syntax

`=QUOTIENT(numerator, denominator)`

| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| `numerator` | Required | The number to divide. |
| `denominator` | Required | The number to divide by. |

## Examples

Each result was calculated by running the formula on the sample sheet.

| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | `=QUOTIENT(B2,C2)` | 10 | 250 pens fill 10 boxes of 24 |
| D3 | `=QUOTIENT(B3,C3)` | 7 | 90 mugs fill 7 boxes of 12 |
| E2 | `=MOD(B2,C2)` | 10 | MOD gives the 10 pens left over |

### The sample sheet

Every formula above runs on this data:

|  | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Units | Per box | Full boxes | Left over |
| 2 | Pens | 250 | 24 | 10 | 10 |
| 3 | Mugs | 90 | 12 | 7 |  |
| 4 | Pads | 44 | 10 |  |  |

## Common mistakes

| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| #DIV/0! | The denominator is 0 or blank. Guard it: =IF(C2=0,"",QUOTIENT(B2,C2)). |
| A negative result is one higher than expected | QUOTIENT(-7,2) is -3 because it truncates toward zero, while INT(-7/2) is -4. Pick the one that matches what you mean. |

## Tips

- =QUOTIENT(A2,60)&"h "&MOD(A2,60)&"m" turns 135 minutes into 2h 15m.

## Related functions

- [MOD](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/mod): MOD returns the remainder after dividing one number by another.
- [INT](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/int): INT rounds a number down to the nearest whole number.
- [TRUNC](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/trunc): TRUNC cuts a number off at a set number of decimals without rounding.

## Questions

### How do I divide without a remainder in Excel?

=QUOTIENT(A2,B2) gives the whole number of times B2 fits into A2. =MOD(A2,B2) gives the remainder.

### Is QUOTIENT the same as INT(A2/B2)?

For positive numbers, yes. For negative results QUOTIENT truncates toward zero while INT rounds down, so they differ by 1.

## Practice

A graded QUOTIENT exercise ("Full crates") is on [the QUOTIENT page](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/quotient). It is checked instantly, then re-checked on changed data.

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