Ceiling function

This article describes the formula syntax and usage of the CEILING function in Microsoft Excel.

Description

Returns number rounded up, away from zero, to the nearest multiple of significance. For example, if you want to avoid using pennies in your prices and your product is priced at $4.42, use the formula =CEILING(4.42,0.05) to round prices up to the nearest nickel.

Syntax

CEILING(number, significance)

The CEILING function syntax has the following arguments:

• Number    Required. The value you want to round.

• Significance    Required. The multiple to which you want to round.

Remarks

• If either argument is nonnumeric, CEILING returns the #VALUE! error value.

• Regardless of the sign of number, a value is rounded up when adjusted away from zero. If number is an exact multiple of significance, no rounding occurs.

• If number is negative, and significance is negative, the value is rounded down, away from zero.

• If number is negative, and significance is positive, the value is rounded up towards zero.

Example

Copy the example data in the following table, and paste it in cell A1 of a new Excel worksheet. For formulas to show results, select them, press F2, and then press Enter. If you need to, you can adjust the column widths to see all the data.

Formula	Description
=CEILING(2.5, 1)	Rounds 2.5 up to nearest multiple of 1	3
=CEILING(-2.5, -2)	Rounds -2.5 up to nearest multiple of -2	-4
=CEILING(-2.5, 2)	Rounds -2.5 up to nearest multiple of 2	-2
=CEILING(1.5, 0.1)	Rounds 1.5 up to the nearest multiple of 0.1	1.5
=CEILING(0.234, 0.01)	Rounds 0.234 up to the nearest multiple of 0.01	0.24