Excel ROUND, ROUNDUP and ROUNDDOWN: round numbers the right way
=ROUND(number, digits) rounds to the number of decimal places you choose. =ROUND(AVERAGE(B2:B7),0) turns 1,207.5 into 1,208. Use ROUNDUP or ROUNDDOWN to always go one direction.
The examples use the same sales table as the practice box below.
| A Rep | B Sales | E Region | H Hired | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Dana | 1,250 | East | 3/12/2018 |
| 3 | Luis | 830 | West | 7/1/2021 |
| 4 | Priya | 2,100 | East | 11/20/2016 |
| 5 | Marcus | 475 | North | 2/15/2023 |
| 6 | Jen | 990 | West | 9/3/2019 |
| 7 | Omar | 1,600 | East | 1/27/2020 |
Syntax
=ROUND(number, num_digits)
=ROUNDUP(number, num_digits)
=ROUNDDOWN(number, num_digits)
Examples
| Formula | Result | Why |
|---|---|---|
=ROUND(AVERAGE(B2:B7),0) | 1,208 | Whole number |
=ROUNDUP(1207.5,0) | 1,208 | Always up |
=ROUNDDOWN(1207.5,0) | 1,207 | Always down |
=ROUND(B2*0.0375,2) | 46.88 | To the cent |
=ROUND(1207.5,-2) | 1,200 | To the nearest hundred |
Formatting is not rounding
The Decrease Decimal button changes what you see, not the value. A cell showing 1,208 might still hold 1,207.5, and totals built on it will be off by a few cents. When a test says "round," use ROUND.
Negative digits
A negative num_digits rounds to the left of the decimal: -1 to tens, -2 to hundreds, -3 to thousands. Handy for budgets and estimates.
Other rounding functions
MROUND(B2,25)rounds to the nearest 25.INT(B2)drops the decimals, always rounding down for positive numbers.CEILINGandFLOORround up or down to a multiple.
Try it: Rounded average
Show the team's average sale in B8, rounded to a whole number.
Graded live, like a real Excel test. Press New numbers to prove you didn't memorize the answer. More practice
Questions people ask
Does Excel round 0.5 up?
Yes. ROUND rounds halves away from zero, so 2.5 becomes 3 and -2.5 becomes -3.
How do I round to the nearest dollar?
Use =ROUND(B2,0).
Practice on a real spreadsheet
CellReady grades your formula the moment you press Enter and tells you why a wrong answer is wrong. The first 7 lessons are free, with no sign-up to start.
Related guides
How AVERAGE works in Excel, how it treats blanks and zeros, how to round the result, and a live exercise to practice.
How MIN and MAX work in Excel, how to find the spread, the top three with LARGE, conditional MINIFS and MAXIFS, and a live exercise.
How to use SUM in Excel with a real example, the mistakes that cost points on Excel tests, and a live exercise to practice.