TRUNC
Truncates a number by removing digits without rounding.
=TRUNC(number, [num_digits])This static page keeps the function indexed for search, while the spreadsheet app handles interactive exploration and saved formulas.
What the function does
Overview
Truncates a number by removing digits without rounding.
The TRUNC function is used to truncate a numeric value to a specified number of decimal places by physically removing digits rather than applying mathematical rounding logic. By default, if the [igits] argument is omitted, it defaults to 0, effectively stripping all fractional components to return an integer. A critical technical distinction exists between TRUNC and the INT function when handling negative values: while INT rounds a number down to the nearest integer (moving away from zero), TRUNC simply removes the decimals (moving toward zero). For instance, TRUNC(-8.9) results in -8, whereas INT(-8.9) results in -9. The function also supports negative values for [igits], which allows for truncating digits to the left of the decimal point (e.g., zeroing out the units or tens place). This is best practice when you require data consistency for reporting where specific precision must be ignored without the bias introduced by rounding up or down.
Quick reference
Syntax
=TRUNC(number, [num_digits])Inputs
Arguments
Example: B2
Example: 2
Formula patterns
Examples
Strip all decimals to create an integer
=TRUNC(A2)Limit value to two decimal places without rounding
=TRUNC(B2, 2)Truncate values to the nearest hundred
=TRUNC(C2, -2)Avoid these issues
Common Errors
#VALUE!
Cause: One or both of the arguments provided (number or num_digits) are non-numeric strings or references to cells containing text.
Fix: Ensure that the referenced cells (e.g., A2) contain numeric data and that the num_digits argument is an integer.
Unexpected Integer Logic
Cause: Using TRUNC instead of INT for negative numbers, leading to values that are larger than expected (e.g., -5 instead of -6).
Fix: Use the INT function if your logic requires always rounding down to the next lower integer value regardless of the sign.
Platform support
Compatibility
Source: Microsoft Support
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Truncates a number by removing digits without rounding.
number: Number to truncate igits: Digits to keep (defaults to 0)
#VALUE!: Ensure that the referenced cells (e.g., A2) contain numeric data and that the igits argument is an integer. Unexpected Integer Logic: Use the INT function if your logic requires always rounding down to the next lower integer value regardless of the sign.