ROUND function
ROUND rounds a number to the number of digits you choose. Positive digits round to the right of the decimal point (2 for cents), 0 rounds to a whole number, and negative digits round to the left (-3 for the nearest thousand). Halves round away from zero.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Math functions
- Returns
- The rounded number. Unlike cell formatting, the stored value changes.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=ROUND(number, num_digits)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | The number or calculation to round. |
num_digits | Required | How many digits to keep: 2 for cents, 0 for whole numbers, -2 for the nearest hundred. |
Examples
Each result below is calculated from the sample sheet by our formula engine, the same one that grades the practice.
| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | =ROUND(B2,2) | 23.46 | To the cent: 23.4567 becomes 23.46 |
| D3 | =ROUND(B3,0) | 1288 | A half rounds away from zero, so 1287.5 becomes 1288 |
| D4 | =ROUND(B4,-2) | 200 | Negative digits round to the left: the nearest hundred |
Try it live
This is the sample sheet. Change any number or text, or edit a formula, and the results update.
Show the sample data as a table
| Item | Amount | Rounded | |
| Price with tax | 23.4567 | 23.46 | |
| Units shipped | 1287.5 | 1288 | |
| Budget estimate | 249.95 | 200 |
Practice ROUND
From lesson 22, ROUND, ROUNDUP & ROUNDDOWN. Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Round to cents
B2, round each raw cost to 2 decimal places. Fill down to B6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| Totals are off by a cent | Formatting a cell to two decimals only changes what you see; SUM still adds the hidden decimals. Round each amount with ROUND(…,2) before totaling. |
| Expected 2.5 to become 2 | Excel rounds halves away from zero (2.5 to 3, -2.5 to -3). It doesn't use the banker's rounding found in some programming languages. |
| Excel says too few arguments | num_digits is required. Use 0 to round to a whole number. |
Tips
- Round at the step where the number becomes money, such as each invoice line, so totals match what customers see.
- ROUND(A2,-3) rounds to the nearest thousand, which is handy for summary reports.
Questions
How do I round to the nearest 5 in Excel?
Use =MROUND(A2,5). With ROUND alone, divide, round and multiply back: =ROUND(A2/5,0)*5.
How do I round to 2 decimal places in Excel?
Use =ROUND(A2,2). Changing the number format only hides the extra decimals; it doesn't round the value.
How do I round to the nearest thousand?
Use a negative num_digits: =ROUND(A2,-3) turns 48,650 into 49,000.
Lessons that use ROUND
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.