Quick Answer

FLOOR Function

Rounds a number down to the nearest multiple of significance.

✓ Excel✓ Google SheetsExcel All versions

Syntax

FLOOR
(number, significance)

Parameters

ParameterDescriptionRequired
numberThe value you want to round.Required
significanceThe multiple to which you want to round. In classic FLOOR, number and significance should share the same sign.Required

Basic Example

Round 3.7 down to the nearest integer

=FLOOR(3.7, 1)
Result3

3 is the largest multiple of 1 that is less than or equal to 3.7.

Advanced Examples

Example 1: Negative numbers round away from zero

Rounding -3.7.

FLOOR rounds toward negative infinity, so negatives move away from zero.

=FLOOR(-3.7, 1)
Result: -4
The largest multiple of 1 that is ≤ -3.7 is -4.

Example 2: Round to two decimal places

Trim a value to the nearest 0.01.

Pass significance 0.01.

=FLOOR(123.456, 0.01)
Result: 123.45
123.45 is the multiple of 0.01 just below 123.456.

How FLOOR Works

FLOOR finds the greatest multiple of significance that is less than or equal to number (rounding toward negative infinity). In the classic version, if number is positive and significance is negative, Excel returns #NUM!; FLOOR.MATH lifts that restriction.

1
Select the cell
Click the cell for the result.
2
Enter the formula
Type =FLOOR(number, significance).
3
Press Enter
The rounded-down value appears.

Important Notes & Limitations

  • If number is positive and significance is negative, classic FLOOR returns #NUM! (FLOOR.MATH does not).

  • FLOOR rounds toward negative infinity, so negative numbers move away from zero.

  • A significance of 0 returns 0.

Common Errors & Fixes

#NUM!Number is positive while significance is negative (classic FLOOR).

Fix: Match the signs, or switch to FLOOR.MATH.

#VALUE!Non-numeric argument.

Fix: Use numeric values or numeric references.

Download Practice File

Practice FLOOR with Real Data

Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the FLOOR function. Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.

Works in Google SheetsCompatible with ExcelIncludes exercises

File format: CSV (comma-separated values) - opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and all spreadsheet apps

Frequently Asked Questions

How is FLOOR different from FLOOR.MATH?
FLOOR.MATH (Excel 2013+) allows any sign combination and adds a mode argument for negative rounding; classic FLOOR is stricter about signs.
Why does FLOOR(-3.7, 1) equal -4?
FLOOR rounds toward negative infinity, so negatives go to the next lower integer (-4).
How do I round down to whole dollars?
Use =FLOOR(value, 1) or =FLOOR(value, 0.01) for cents.