MySQL Error 3049: ER_STD_OVERFLOW_ERROR - How to Fix Overflow error error

What is ER_STD_OVERFLOW_ERROR (MySQL 3049)?

ER_STD_OVERFLOW_ERROR is a runtime fault introduced in MySQL 5.7.5. The server raises it when an arithmetic, bitwise, or temporal operation produces a result outside the valid range of the target data type.

The error uses SQLSTATE HY000 and stops the current statement because MySQL cannot safely store or represent the overflow result.

When does ER_STD_OVERFLOW_ERROR occur?

The error appears during INSERT, UPDATE, SELECT, or function calls that perform calculations. Typical triggers are multiplying large numbers, adding intervals to dates far in the future, or shifting bits past column limits.

Stored programs, triggers, and generated columns can also surface the overflow if their expressions exceed numeric bounds.

What Causes This Error?

Unsigned integer columns exceeding their max value often cause overflow after addition or auto_increment jumps.

Decimal and floating calculations that surpass precision or scale limits raise the error during evaluation.

Date and time math that produces out-of-range timestamps, such as DATE_ADD exceeding year 9999, triggers an overflow.

How to Fix ER_STD_OVERFLOW_ERROR

First, reproduce the failing query and identify the column or expression that exceeds its range using SELECT expressions or SHOW WARNINGS.

Cast operands to wider types like BIGINT or DECIMAL, or redesign the column to a larger numeric type to accommodate the data.

Clamp input values with LEAST and GREATEST, or add CHECK constraints to reject out-of-range data before it hits overflow logic.

SQL Example: Expanding Column Range

-- Before: tinyint unsigned overflows at 255
ALTER TABLE orders MODIFY qty INT UNSIGNED;

After widening the column, rerun the statement and confirm the error is gone.

SQL Example: Safe Casting in Expression

SELECT CAST(price AS DECIMAL(38,2)) * qty AS total
FROM sales;

Casting price to a wider DECIMAL prevents intermediate overflow.

Common Scenarios and Solutions

Auto-increment counters on small INT columns overflow after heavy inserts - alter them to BIGINT.

Financial calculations on DECIMAL(10,2) overflow when multiplying currency by large factors - increase precision to DECIMAL(18,2).

Date arithmetic adding months to 9999-12-31 exceeds the valid range - validate input date before the operation.

Best Practices to Avoid This Error

Model numeric columns with generous upper bounds during schema design, leaving headroom for growth.

Use domain constraints and CHECK clauses to block impossible values early.

Add automated tests in CI that run edge-case data against critical procedures to catch overflows before production.

Related Errors and Solutions

Data truncation warnings (ER_DATA_TOO_LONG) occur when strings exceed column length but do not involve numeric overflow.

Division by zero (ER_DIVISION_BY_ZERO) halts queries on invalid math, often caught alongside overflow during heavy refactors.

Out of range value for column (ER_WARN_DATA_OUT_OF_RANGE) appears on insert but may downgrade to a warning if sql_mode allows.