INT
Round a number down to the nearest integer with Excel's INT function.
Math & Trigonometry
| Excel All versions
| Google Sheets Supported
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Syntax
=INT(number)
Returns: Number Arguments
| Argument | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| number | Yes | The number you want to round down to the nearest integer. |
About
The INT function rounds a number down to the nearest whole number. For positive values like 7.9, it returns 7. For negative values like -3.2, it returns -4, because INT always rounds toward negative infinity, not toward zero.
Use INT when you need whole numbers from decimal data. It works well for extracting days from date calculations, grouping values into buckets, or stripping decimals from currency amounts. If you need to round toward zero instead, use TRUNC. For standard rounding to the nearest integer, try ROUND with 0 decimal places.
INT also pairs well with MOD for splitting numbers into whole and fractional parts. For example, you can use INT to get the hours from a decimal time value and MOD to get the remaining minutes.
Use INT when you need whole numbers from decimal data. It works well for extracting days from date calculations, grouping values into buckets, or stripping decimals from currency amounts. If you need to round toward zero instead, use TRUNC. For standard rounding to the nearest integer, try ROUND with 0 decimal places.
INT also pairs well with MOD for splitting numbers into whole and fractional parts. For example, you can use INT to get the hours from a decimal time value and MOD to get the remaining minutes.
Examples
INT vs TRUNC with negative numbers
Edit the negative values in column A and compare the INT and TRUNC results side by side. INT rounds toward negative infinity, so -3.7 becomes -4. TRUNC just drops the decimal.
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Grouping ages into decade buckets
Change any age and watch the age group update instantly. The formula divides by 10, applies INT to drop the remainder, then multiplies back. Age 37 becomes 30, age 45 becomes 40.
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Splitting decimal hours into hours and minutes
Try entering different decimal hour values in column B. INT extracts the whole hours, and subtracting the INT result from the original gives the fractional part you multiply by 60 for minutes.
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Watch out for
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Confusing INT with TRUNC for negative numbers
INT(-3.2) returns -4, not -3. Because INT rounds toward negative infinity, negative decimals move further from zero.
→ If you want to simply remove the decimal part and stay closer to zero, use TRUNC instead. TRUNC(-3.2) returns -3.
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Using INT when you need standard rounding
INT(2.8) returns 2, but you may have expected 3. INT always rounds down, it never rounds to the nearest whole number.
→ Use ROUND with 0 decimal places for standard rounding: =ROUND(2.8,0) returns 3.
Tips & notes
INT rounds toward negative infinity, not toward zero. This matters only for negative numbers. For positive values, INT and TRUNC give the same result.
Common questions
What is the difference between INT and TRUNC?
For positive numbers they return the same result. The difference shows up with negatives: INT(-3.7) returns -4 (rounds down toward negative infinity) while TRUNC(-3.7) returns -3 (drops the decimal toward zero).
Can I use INT to round up instead of down?
No. INT always rounds down. To round up to the nearest integer, use =CEILING(value,1) or =-INT(-value) as a quick trick.
Does INT work with dates and times in Excel?
Yes. Since Excel stores dates as whole numbers and times as decimal fractions, =INT(A1) on a date/time value strips the time portion and returns just the date serial number.