CEILING Function
Rounds a number up to the nearest multiple of significance.
Syntax
Parameters
| Parameter | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| number | The value you want to round. | Required |
| significance | The multiple to which you want to round. In classic CEILING, number and significance should share the same sign. | Required |
Basic Example
Round a price up to the nearest 5 cents
=CEILING(4.42, 0.05)4.45 is the first multiple of 0.05 that is greater than or equal to 4.42.
Advanced Examples
Example 1: Round up to the next ten
Pack quantities into boxes of 10.Round 123 up to a multiple of 10.
=CEILING(123, 10)Example 2: Negative numbers round toward zero
Rounding -4.3.CEILING rounds toward positive infinity, so negatives move toward zero.
=CEILING(-4.3, 1)How CEILING Works
CEILING finds the smallest multiple of significance that is greater than or equal to number (rounding toward positive infinity). In the classic version, if number is positive and significance is negative, Excel returns #NUM!; use CEILING.MATH to lift that restriction.
Important Notes & Limitations
If number is positive and significance is negative, classic CEILING returns #NUM! (CEILING.MATH does not).
CEILING rounds toward positive infinity, so negative numbers move toward zero, which can surprise users expecting 'more negative' rounding.
A significance of 0 returns 0 rather than an error.
Common Errors & Fixes
#NUM!Number is positive while significance is negative (classic CEILING).Fix: Make the signs match, or switch to CEILING.MATH.
#VALUE!A non-numeric argument was supplied.Fix: Use numeric values or numeric cell references.
Download Practice File
CEILING
ceilingPractice CEILING with Real Data
Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the CEILING function. Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.
File format: CSV (comma-separated values) - opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and all spreadsheet apps