A to Z of Excel Functions: The ROUNDDOWN Function
13 January 2025
Welcome back to our regular A to Z of Excel Functions blog. Today we look at the ROUNDDOWN function.
The ROUNDDOWN function
The ROUNDDOWN function rounds a number down to a specified number of digits, towards zero [0]. It employs the following syntax to operate:
ROUNDDOWN(number, num_digits)
The ROUNDDOWN function has the following arguments:
- number: this is required and represents the value to be rounded
- num_digits: also required, this is the number of digits to which you wish to round the number.
It should be further noted that:
- ROUNDDOWN behaves like ROUND, except that it always rounds a number down, towards zero [0]
- ROUNDDOWNrounds up, away from zero. For example, ROUNDDOWN(3.5,0) equals 3, not 4, and ROUNDDOWN(-3.5,0) equals -3 (see image, below)
- the number can be a number, a cell reference or a named range
- this function operates on the actual value in the cell and rounds it so it is consistent with the value that is displayed
- using this function will change the underlying value and not just the value that is displayed
- you can use the ROUND function if you always want the number rounded to a specified number of digits
- you can use the ROUNDUP function if you always want the number rounded up to the nearest integer
- you can use the FLOOR.MATH function to round down to the nearest integer or significant figure
- you can use the CEILING.MATH function to round up to the nearest integer or significant figure
- you can use the MROUND function to round to a desired multiple
- you can use the EVEN function to round up to the nearest even integer
- you can use the ODD function to round up to the nearest odd integer
- the equivalent VBA function is VBA.ROUND.
Please see my examples below:
We’ll continue our A to Z of Excel Functions soon. Keep checking back – there’s a new blog post every other business day.