An Overview of CEILING Function | Microsoft Excel
The CEILING function is one of the math and trigonometry functions in Microsoft Excel. It can be used as a standalone function as well as in collaboration with the other functions. This article will give you an overview of the CEILING function in Excel.
Objectives
The CEILING function is used to round up a numerical value to the nearest integer or the nearest multiple of significance.
Syntax
=CEILING(number, significance)
Arguments
- number: It refers to the number to round up.
- significance: The number to whose multiple you want to round up your number.
Output
A rounded-up version of the input number.
Examples of CEILING Function
Suppose, you have the number 3.4 in cell A2. You can round up the number to any multiple of significance using the CEILING function. Suppose, you want to round up 3.4 to the nearest multiple of 3. For that, use the formula:
=CEILING(A2,3)
The output will be 6.
Here are some examples of the usage of the CEILING function.
Usage Guide of CEILING Function
Step_1: Start with inserting an equal sign (=) in a blank cell.
Step_2: Then type CEILING.
Step_3: Type open parenthesis “(“.
As you type the open parenthesis, Excel shows the syntax of the CEILING function.
Step_4: Insert a number to round up.
You can directly insert a number or a cell address that contains a number.
Step_5: Then insert a comma (,).
After inserting the comma, Excel will ask you for the second argument which is the significance.
Step_6: Now specify the number to whose multiple you want to round up your number.
I want to round up the number to the nearest multiple of 2. So, I have inserted 2 inside the function.
Final Result
The CEILING function converts 2.5 into 4. Because here, the significance is 2. The multiples of 2 are 0,2,4,6, etc. The next nearest multiple of 2 to 2.5 is 4. So the formula returns 4.
Availability
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Remarks
- The CEILING function shows #VALUE! error in the case of the non-numeric values.
- When the number is positive but the significance is negative, the CEILING function returns a #NUM! error.
- If the number is an exact multiple of the significance, the CEILING function doesn’t work.
- When both the number and the significance are negative, the CEILING function rounds downward.
- When the number is negative but the significance is positive, the CEILING rounds upward.
Related Rounding Functions
- ROUND Function ⋙ rounds to the given number of decimal places.
- MROUND Function ⋙ rounds to the nearest specified multiple.
- ROUNDUP Function ⋙ rounds up a numerical value to a specific decimal place.
- ROUNDDOWN Function ⋙ rounds down a numerical value to a specific decimal place.
- FLOOR Function ⋙ rounds down a numerical value to the nearest multiple of significance.
- INT Function ⋙ rounds down a numerical value to the nearest integer number.
- TRUNC Function ⋙ removes specific digits from the fraction part of a number.
Conclusion
The CEILING function is one of the math and trigonometry functions in Excel. If you have any questions regarding the CEILING function, please comment below. Thanks!
