What is CEILING function in Excel?
CEILING function is one of the Math and Trig functions in Microsoft Excel that 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 of CEILING function
CEILING(number, significance)
The CEILING function syntax has the following arguments:
- Number: The value you want to round.
- Significance: The multiple to which you want to round.
CEILING formula explanation
- 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 of CEILING function
Steps to follow:
1. Open a new Excel worksheet.
2. Copy data in the following table below and paste it in cell A1
Note: For formulas to show results, select them, press F2 key on your keyboard and then press Enter.
You can adjust the column widths to see all the data, if need be.
| Formula | Description | Result |
| =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 |