ROUNDDOWN function
ROUNDDOWN always rounds toward zero, dropping the extra digits whatever they are. Use it for counts that must be complete, such as full cases you can ship or whole years of service, and for prices that should never round in the customer's disfavor.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Math functions
- Returns
- The number rounded toward zero to the digits you chose.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=ROUNDDOWN(number, num_digits)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | The number or calculation to round down. |
num_digits | Required | How many digits to keep: 0 for whole numbers, 1 for one decimal, -2 for hundreds. |
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 | =ROUNDDOWN(B2,1) | 7.8 | One decimal: 7.86 becomes 7.8 |
| D3 | =ROUNDDOWN(B3,0) | 3 | A whole number, even when it's 3.99 |
| D4 | =ROUNDDOWN(B4,0) | -4 | Negative numbers move toward zero: -4.75 becomes -4 |
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
| Reading | Value | Rounded down | |
| Pressure | 7.86 | 7.8 | |
| Age in years | 3.99 | 3 | |
| Temperature change | -4.75 | -4 |
Practice ROUNDDOWN
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Full cases to ship
D2, use ROUNDDOWN to work out how many full cases each product's stock fills. Fill down to D6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| Expected -5 but got -4 | ROUNDDOWN moves toward zero. To always round to the lower number, use INT, which turns -4.75 into -5. |
| Excel says too few arguments | num_digits is required. Use 0 to drop all decimals. |
| A whole number came out one lower | The cell held something like 4.9999 that the format displayed as 5. Round the calculation feeding it, or check the value in the formula bar. |
Tips
- For whole numbers from positive values, ROUNDDOWN(A2,0), INT(A2) and TRUNC(A2) give the same answer. They differ only for negative numbers.
Questions
What is the difference between ROUNDDOWN and INT?
They match for positive numbers. For negatives, ROUNDDOWN goes toward zero (-4.75 to -4) and INT goes to the lower number (-4.75 to -5).
How do I round down to the nearest hundred?
Use =ROUNDDOWN(A2,-2), or =FLOOR(A2,100).
How do I remove decimals without rounding up?
Use =ROUNDDOWN(A2,0) or =TRUNC(A2). Both drop the decimals without looking at them.
Lessons that use ROUNDDOWN
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.