Round numbers in Excel using the ROUND DOWN function

The ROUNDDOWN function is used to decrease a value by a specified number of decimal places or digits. It keeps the rounded number, changes the value of the data in the cell, and rounds to zero.

The information in this article applies to Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, Excel 2019 for Mac, Excel 2016 for Mac, Excel for Mac 2011, and Excel Online.

ROUNDDOWN function syntax and arguments

The syntax of the ROUNDDOWN function is as follows

= ROUND DOWN(number, num_digits)

The arguments to this function are:

number – (mandatory) the value to be rounded. This argument can contain the actual data to be rounded, or it can be a cell reference to the location of the data in the worksheet.

number_digits – (required) the number of digits to which the number argument is rounded.

• If num_digits is set to 0, the function rounds the value to the nearest whole number.
• If num_digits is set to 1, the function leaves only one digit to the right of the decimal point and rounds it down.
• If num_digits is negative, all decimals are removed and the function rounds the number of digits to the left of the decimal to zero. For example, if the value of the num_digits argument is set to -2, the function removes all digits to the right of the decimal point and rounds the first and second digits to the left of the decimal point to the nearest hundred.

The image above shows examples and explanations of several results returned by the Excel ROUNDDOWN function for data in column A of the worksheet. The results (shown in column C) depend on the value of the num_digits function argument.

The following instructions describe the steps to be taken to reduce the number in cell A2 of the image above to two decimal places using the ROUND DOWN function. Because the function always rounds down, the rounded number doesn’t change.

Enter the ROUNDDOWN function

Options for entering the function and its arguments include:

• Enter the full function: =ROUND(A2,2) in cell C3 of the worksheet;
• Selection of the function and arguments via the function dialog box.

Using the dialog simplifies entering function arguments. This method eliminates the need to include commas between each function argument.

The following steps show how to enter the ROUND DOWN function from the dialog box in Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010 and Excel for Mac.

Select a cell C3 to make it the active cell. The results of the ROUNDDOWN function are shown here.

Choose formulas.

Choose Math & Trig to open the drop-down list of functions.

Choose ROUND in the list to bring up the function dialog box.

In the dialog box, select the number Line.

Select a cell A2 in the table to enter that cell reference in the dialog box as the position of the number to round.

Choose number_digits Line.

Come in ” 2 to reduce the number A2 from 5 to 2 decimal places.

Choose OK to close the dialog box and return to the worksheet.

The answer 567.96 appears in cell C3.

When you select cell C2, the full function =ROUNDDOWN(A2,2) appears in the formula bar above the worksheet.

excel online does not have a Formulas tab. To use the FILL DOWN function in Excel Online, use the formula bar.

Select a cell C3 to make it the active cell. The results of the ROUNDDOWN function are shown here.

Choose insert function next to the formula bar.

Choose Math & Trig from the “Select Category” drop-down list.

Choose ROUND from the “Select a function” list.

Choose OK.

Select a cell A2 to select it for the Number argument.

Come in ” 2 to reduce the number A2 from 5 to 2 decimal places.

To press Enter.

When you select cell C2, the full function =ROUNDDOWN(A2,2) appears in the formula bar above the worksheet.