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INT Function (LibreOffice Calc)

Math Beginner LibreOffice Calc Introduction not established

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.

Verification status: Consult the documentation, examples and any stated test scope below. How formula examples are checked

Availability and version history

  • Introduced: Documented by LibreOffice 26.8.1.1; original introduction not established.
  • Availability: Supported in LibreOffice 26.8.1.1, verified against its function registry. This identifies a supported release, not a final working version.
  • Scope: Desktop Calc, using the English function name. Availability in other spreadsheet applications is separate.
  • Checked: 2026-10-14 — function reference; versioned support. Documentation/source check; not a new native test. Existing example-specific test claims below retain their stated scope.
The **INT** function rounds a number down to the nearest integer in LibreOffice Calc. Unlike general rounding functions, `INT` always rounds **toward negative infinity**, meaning it behaves differently for positive and negative numbers. It is widely used in financial calculations, indexing, binning, and any scenario where consistent downward rounding is required.

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
    • -3.2
    • A1
    • A1 / B1
    • SUM(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
INT is perfect for converting decimal values into whole‑number categories, indexes, or ranges, especially when negative numbers are involved.
  • 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.

Reproducible example (tested in LibreOffice Calc)

This standalone example was calculated in LibreOffice Calc 25.2.3.2 and matched the expected value. It is a practical cross-check of one usage, not proof that every example elsewhere on this page is correct.

=INT(-2.4)

Expected result: -3.

Round down to the next lower integer, even for negative numbers.

If the result differs, check the referenced cells, argument separators and number formatting. For more information, consult the LibreOffice Calc official help.