Syntax
=ROUND(value, [places])
value- The number to round.
places- Optional. How many decimal places to keep (default 0). Negative values round to tens, hundreds, and so on.
ROUND function in Google Sheets
ROUND rounds a number to a set number of decimal places using normal rounding: 5 and above rounds away from zero. Unlike number formatting, it changes the actual value.
Practice ROUND
Task 1 of 1
Round the unit cost in B2 to 2 decimal places. Answer in C2.
Tip: while typing a formula, click a cell or drag across cells to insert references. Press Enter to check, and Tab to accept a function suggestion.
ROUND examples
Each example below runs against this sample sheet. The results are calculated by the same engine as the practice grid.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Value | Other |
| 2 | -7.45 | 3 |
| 3 | 12.5 | 4 |
| 4 | 81 | 2 |
| 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| 6 | 1234.567 | 5 |
| Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
=ROUND(A6, 2) | 1234.57 | Two decimal places. |
=ROUND(A6, -2) | 1200 | Negative places round to the nearest hundred. |
=ROUND(A5) | 3 | A half rounds up. |
=ROUND(A2, 1) | -7.5 | Negative numbers round away from zero too. |
Tips and common mistakes
- Formatting a cell to show 2 decimals only changes what you see. Sums still use the full hidden precision. Use ROUND when the stored value matters, e.g. invoices.
- For "always up" or "always down", use ROUNDUP or ROUNDDOWN.
Related functions
Learning step by step? ROUND is covered in Lesson 30: ROUND, ROUNDUP & ROUNDDOWN of the free course.