Math
ROUNDDOWN
Definition
ROUNDDOWN returns a number rounded toward zero to a given number of digits.
Syntax
=ROUNDDOWN(number, num_digits)
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
number |
The value to round, or the cell holding it. |
num_digits |
How many digits to keep. 0 rounds to a whole number; 2 keeps two digits after the decimal point. |
Worked example
A mill records lengths that must always round down to two decimal places. Lengths are in B2:B4.
| A: Piece | B: Length |
|---|---|
| A | 3.141 |
| B | 2.999 |
| C | 5.010 |
Formula: =ROUNDDOWN(B2,2)
Result: 3.14. The extra digit 1 is dropped, and the second decimal stays 4.
Practice
Cell A2 holds 12.9. In B2, write a formula that rounds it down to 0 decimal places.
- In B2, write a ROUNDDOWN formula that rounds A2 down to 0 decimal places.
- B2 should show A2 rounded down to 0 decimal places.
Step 1 of 2
Enter =ROUNDDOWN(A2,0) in B2.
A2 is 12.9, so rounding down to 0 decimal places gives 12.
Formulas here use English function names, such as SUM, and a period as the decimal separator, in every language.
Loading the sheet…
B2 uses ROUNDDOWN.
B2 now shows 12.
Related functions
ROUND follows ordinary rounding, so 2.999 to two digits becomes 3.00. ROUNDUP always moves away from zero. ROUNDDOWN always moves toward zero.
Common mistake
Using ROUND when a value must never go up: ROUND(2.999,2) is 3.00, while ROUNDDOWN(2.999,2) is 2.99.