number - Required. The numeric value to round down toward zero.
num_digits - Required. Number of decimal places. Positive = decimals (2 = 12.34), Zero = whole (0 = 12), Negative = left of decimal (-1 = 10).
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Value | Precision | Result |
| 2 | 3.9 | 0 | |
| 3 | 1234.567 | 2 | |
| 4 | -5.8 | 0 | |
| 5 | =ROUNDDOWN(A2, B2) 3 |
Removes all decimals, rounds toward zero
3.9 → 3, -5.8 → -5
Keeps 2 decimals, truncates rest
1234.567 → 1234.56
Negative precision rounds left of decimal
847 → 840, 153 → 150
Create $.99 pricing psychology
24.99 → $23.99
Use this Excel function to create conservative budget forecasts that never exceed available funds. Financial planners and CFOs use this formula to ensure budget estimates stay below targets, providing a safety margin for unexpected costs. This rounding approach is essential for grant applications, project proposals, and departmental budgets where exceeding limits could cause compliance issues or funding rejection. Round down 90% of forecast to whole dollars for a built-in buffer that protects against cost overruns while maintaining realistic planning figures.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Category | Forecast | Conservative |
| 2 | Marketing | $52,780 | |
| 3 | Safe Estimate: | =ROUNDDOWN(B2*0.9, 0) $47,502 |
Calculate complete packs only with this Excel function, eliminating partial pack quantities. Warehouse managers and procurement teams use this formula to determine how many full cases or packs can be created from available inventory, preventing shipment of incomplete units. This technique is critical for wholesale distribution, bulk packaging operations, and manufacturing scenarios where partial packs cannot be sold or shipped. Round down total quantity divided by pack size to get complete packs, ensuring accurate order fulfillment and inventory planning without remainder units.
| A | B | C | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Quantity | Pack Size | Full Packs |
| 2 | Widgets | 157 | 12 | |
| 3 | Complete: | =ROUNDDOWN(B2/C2, 0) 13 |
❌ The Problem:
✅ Solution:
=ROUNDDOWN(3.9, 0)Use ROUNDDOWN when you need values to never exceed a threshold. This function always truncates toward zero, making it perfect for conservative estimates, compliance calculations, and scenarios where rounding up could violate limits or budgets. ROUND uses standard rounding rules (0.5 and above rounds up), while ROUNDDOWN provides predictable floor behavior.
❌ The Problem:
✅ Solution:
=ROUNDDOWN(-5.8, 0) → -5The function rounds toward zero for both positive and negative numbers. For -5.8, toward zero means -5 (less negative). If you need to always round down in absolute terms regardless of sign, use the <Link href="/formulas/floor">FLOOR</Link> function instead. This function is named for its behavior with positive numbers, but think "toward zero" for accurate mental model.
❌ The Problem:
✅ Solution:
=IF(B1=0, 0, ROUNDDOWN(A1/B1, 2))Wrap the function with error-checking logic when dividing. Use <Link href="/formulas/if">IF</Link> to test for zero divisor, or <Link href="/formulas/iferror">IFERROR</Link> to catch all errors: =IFERROR(ROUNDDOWN(A1/B1, 2), 0). This ensures your formula returns a sensible default instead of propagating errors through your calculations.
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