INT Function (LibreOffice Calc)
The INT function in LibreOffice Calc rounds a number down to the nearest integer. It always rounds toward negative infinity. Learn syntax, examples, common errors, and best practices.
Compatibility
▾| Excel | ✔ |
| Gnumeric | ✔ |
| Google_sheets | ✔ |
| Libreoffice | ✔ |
| Numbers | ✔ |
| Onlyoffice | ✔ |
| Openoffice | ✔ |
| Wps | ✔ |
| Zoho | ✔ |
What the INT Function Does ▾
- Rounds numbers down to the nearest integer
- Always rounds toward negative infinity
- Works with positive and negative numbers
- Useful for indexing, grouping, and integer math
- Works with cell references, formulas, and expressions
It is designed to be predictable, consistent, and universally compatible.
Syntax ▾
INT(number)
Arguments
- number:
Any numeric value, cell reference, or expression.
Examples:5.9-3.2A1A1 / B1SUM(A1:A5)
Basic Examples ▾
Round a positive number down
=INT(5.9)
Returns 5.
Round a negative number down (toward negative infinity)
=INT(-3.2)
Returns -4.
INT with a cell reference
=INT(A1)
Returns the integer part of A1, rounded downward.
INT with a formula
=INT(A1 / B1)
Rounds the result of the division downward.
Advanced Examples ▾
Extract the integer part of a number
=INT(12.75)
Returns 12.
Convert a decimal into a whole-number index
=INT((A1 - 1) / 10)
Useful for binning or grouping values.
INT for date/time calculations
=INT(A1)
If A1 contains a date‑time value, INT returns the date portion (removing the time).
INT with FLOOR comparison
=INT(A1) = FLOOR(A1; 1)
Shows that INT behaves like FLOOR with a significance of 1.
INT with negative values for financial modeling
=INT(A1 * 12)
Useful when converting annual rates to monthly periods.
INT with MOD for bucket grouping
=MOD(INT(A1 / 10); 5)
Groups values into repeating buckets of 10.
Common Errors and Fixes ▾
INT returns an unexpected negative value
Cause:
- INT always rounds down, not toward zero
Example:INT(-1.1)→-2
Fix:
Use TRUNC if you want rounding toward zero.
INT returns 0 unexpectedly
Possible causes:
- Input expression evaluates to a value between -1 and 1
- A number is stored as text
- A referenced cell is empty
Fix:
Convert text to numbers using:
Data → Text to Columns → OK
Err:502 — Invalid argument
Occurs when:
- The argument is non‑numeric text
- A formula returns an error passed into INT
Fix:
Wrap the expression with IFERROR:
IFERROR(INT(A1); 0)
Best Practices ▾
- Use INT when you need consistent downward rounding
- Use TRUNC when you want rounding toward zero
- Use FLOOR for more flexible downward rounding with significance
- Use INT for indexing, grouping, and binning operations
- Avoid using INT on text‑formatted numbers
Related Patterns and Alternatives ▾
- Use TRUNC to remove decimals without rounding down
- Use ROUND, ROUNDDOWN, or ROUNDUP for controlled rounding
- Use FLOOR and CEILING for significance‑based rounding
- Use MOD with INT for bucket grouping and indexing
By mastering INT and its combinations with other math functions, you can build precise, predictable numeric models in LibreOffice Calc that handle rounding cleanly and consistently.