5 Easy Ways To Remove Decimals From Numbers In Excel

Working with numbers in Excel often means dealing with decimals, which can sometimes be more than what you need for your data analysis. Whether you're summarizing financial data, creating reports, or preparing data for presentations, removing decimals can streamline your worksheets and make them look cleaner. Thankfully, Excel offers several methods to achieve this with ease! In this guide, we’ll explore five easy ways to remove decimals from numbers in Excel, providing helpful tips, shortcuts, and techniques to ensure you’re using Excel effectively.

1. Using the ROUND Function

One of the most straightforward methods for removing decimals is using the ROUND function. This function allows you to round a number to a specified number of digits.

How to Use ROUND Function

1. Click on the cell where you want the rounded number to appear.
2. Type the formula: =ROUND(A1, 0), replacing A1 with the cell reference containing your decimal number.
3. Press Enter.

This will round the number to the nearest integer.

Example:
If you have the number 5.67 in cell A1, using =ROUND(A1, 0) will return 6.

<p class="pro-note">📝Pro Tip: Use =ROUNDUP(A1, 0) to always round up and =ROUNDDOWN(A1, 0) to always round down!</p>

2. Formatting Cells as Whole Numbers

Another simple way to remove decimals is by formatting the cells as whole numbers. This method doesn’t alter the original number but changes how it’s displayed.

Steps to Format Cells

1. Select the cells with decimal numbers.
2. Right-click and choose Format Cells.
3. In the Number tab, select Number from the list.
4. Set the Decimal places to 0.
5. Click OK.

This will remove the decimals visually without changing the actual values in the cells.

Example:
If you have 5.89 in the cell and format it to 0 decimal places, it will display as 6.

<p class="pro-note">📊Pro Tip: This method keeps the full precision of your data but just changes how it appears. Great for reports!</p>

3. Using the INT Function

The INT function is handy when you want to remove the decimal part entirely and just keep the integer portion of a number.

How to Use INT Function

1. Click on the desired cell.
2. Enter the formula: =INT(A1), where A1 is your cell with the decimal.
3. Press Enter.

This will round down to the nearest whole number.

Example:
For A1 containing 3.99, using =INT(A1) will give you 3.

<p class="pro-note">🎯Pro Tip: Use =TRUNC(A1) to remove decimals without rounding, essentially cutting off any decimal values.</p>

4. Using the Paste Special Feature

Excel also provides a Paste Special feature, which can be used to remove decimals quickly.

Steps for Paste Special Method

1. In an empty cell, type 1.
2. Copy this cell (Ctrl + C).
3. Select the range of cells containing the decimal numbers.
4. Right-click and choose Paste Special.
5. In the dialog, select Multiply and click OK.

This will effectively strip the decimal from the selected cells.

Example:
Multiplying 4.76 by 1 will convert it to 4 (the decimal portion is discarded).

<p class="pro-note">💡Pro Tip: This method is excellent for batch processing a range of cells quickly!</p>

5. Rounding Using the ROUNDUP or ROUNDDOWN Functions

While the ROUND function gives you flexibility, if you need more control, the ROUNDUP and ROUNDDOWN functions are excellent choices.

How to Use ROUNDUP and ROUNDDOWN

• ROUNDUP: =ROUNDUP(A1, 0) will round a number up.
• ROUNDDOWN: =ROUNDDOWN(A1, 0) will round a number down.

Simply replace A1 with your actual cell reference and hit Enter.

Example:
For a value of 2.3:

• =ROUNDUP(A1, 0) will return 3.
• =ROUNDDOWN(A1, 0) will return 2.

<p class="pro-note">✍️Pro Tip: Use ROUNDUP to ensure you always have a higher figure, which can be useful in calculations involving minimum requirements!</p>

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing Round Functions: Make sure to use ROUND, ROUNDUP, and ROUNDDOWN correctly based on your needs.
2. Not Formatting Cells After Calculations: If you want your results to appear without decimals, always remember to format them as needed.
3. Overlooking Cell References: Be careful with the cell references in your formulas to avoid errors.

Troubleshooting Issues

• If your formulas aren’t working, check for typos or ensure that the cells you are referencing actually contain numbers and not text.
• Make sure you have the right cell selected when using Paste Special; it should be the cell with the value you wish to keep.

<div class="faq-section"> <div class="faq-container"> <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>How do I remove decimals without rounding?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>You can use the INT function or TRUNC function to remove decimals without rounding. For example, =INT(A1) or =TRUNC(A1) will give you the integer part of the number.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Will formatting cells as whole numbers change the value?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>No, formatting cells as whole numbers will only change how the numbers are displayed, not their actual values.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Can I remove decimals for an entire column?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Yes! You can select the entire column and apply any of the methods described above, such as formatting cells or using the ROUND function.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>What if my decimals are not showing up after formatting?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Check if you applied the formatting to the correct cells. If the issue persists, ensure there are actual decimal values in those cells.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Summing it all up, removing decimals from numbers in Excel is simple and can greatly improve the clarity of your spreadsheets. You can achieve this through a variety of methods—using functions like ROUND and INT, formatting cells, or leveraging the Paste Special feature. Experiment with these techniques and find the one that best suits your workflow!

Practicing these methods will allow you to manipulate numbers in Excel like a pro. If you're interested in further tutorials or exploring more Excel functions, be sure to check out the rest of the blog!

<p class="pro-note">🚀Pro Tip: Don’t shy away from experimenting with these techniques on your datasets to enhance your Excel skills!</p>