Excel CEILING Function

What is CEILING Function in Excel?

The CEILING function is one of the math functions of Excel.

It Rounds a number up, to the nearest integer or to the nearest multiple of significance.

We can find this function in Math & trig category of insert function Tab.

How to use CEILING function in excel

  1. Click on an empty cell (like F5 )
an empty cell in excel

2. Click on the fx icon (or press shift+F3)

 fx icon in excel

3. In the insert function tab you will see all functions

insert function tab in excel

4. Select math and trig category

5. Select CEILING function

6. Then select ok

excel CEILING function

7. In the function arguments Tab you will see CEILING function

8. Number is the value you want to round.

9. Significance is the multiple to which you want to round

10. You will see results in the formula result section

How to use CEILING function in excel

Examples of CEILING function in Excel

  1. =CEILING(4.3) – returns 5, since 5 is the smallest integer greater than or equal to 4.3.
  2. =CEILING(-4.3) – returns -4, since -4 is the smallest integer greater than or equal to -4.3.
  3. =CEILING(7.8, 2) – returns 8, since 8 is the smallest multiple of 2 that is greater than or equal to 7.8.
  4. =CEILING(-7.8, 2) – returns -6, since -6 is the smallest multiple of 2 that is greater than or equal to -7.8.
  5. =CEILING(9.99, 0.1) – returns 10, since 10 is the smallest multiple of 0.1 that is greater than or equal to 9.99.
  6. =CEILING(-9.99, 0.1) – returns -9.9, since -9.9 is the smallest multiple of 0.1 that is greater than or equal to -9.99.
  7. =CEILING(12, 5) – returns 15, since 15 is the smallest multiple of 5 that is greater than or equal to 12.
  8. =CEILING(-12, 5) – returns -10, since -10 is the smallest multiple of 5 that is greater than or equal to -12.
  9. =CEILING(25, 7.5) – returns 30, since 30 is the smallest multiple of 7.5 that is greater than or equal to 25.
  10. =CEILING(-25, 7.5) – returns -22.5, since -22.5 is the smallest multiple of 7.5 that is greater than or equal to -25.

Example 1:

How to use CEILING function in excel

You can see examples of CEILING function below:

Examples of CEILING function in Excel
ceiling(A2,B2) ----->>>>answer is  12

ceiling(A3,B3) ----->>>>answer is  12

ceiling(A4,B4) ----->>>>answer is  15

ceiling(A5,B5) ----->>>>answer is  0

ceiling(A6,B6) ----->>>>answer is  -15

CEILING Function in Excel: A Guide to Rounding Numbers Up

The CEILING function in Excel is a useful tool for rounding numbers up to a specified multiple. It takes two arguments: a number and a significance. The function rounds the number up to the nearest multiple of the significance.

For example, suppose you have the number 42.5 and you want to round it up to the nearest multiple of 5. You would use the following formula: =CEILING(42.5,5). The result would be 45, since 45 is the smallest multiple of 5 that is greater than or equal to 42.5.

Mastering the CEILING Function in Excel: Common Questions Answered

Here are some common questions and their answers related to the CEILING function in Excel:

  • Can the CEILING function be used to round numbers down? No, the CEILING function always rounds numbers up. If you need to round numbers down, you can use the FLOOR function instead.
  • What happens if the significance argument is not provided? If the significance argument is not provided, the CEILING function defaults to rounding the number up to the nearest integer.
  • How does the CEILING.MATH function differ from the CEILING function? The CEILING.MATH function in Excel rounds a number up to the nearest integer or specified multiple of significance, depending on the value of a specified mode argument.

Excel’s CEILING Function: How to Round Numbers to a Specific Multiple

To round a number in Excel to a specific multiple using the CEILING function, follow these steps:

  1. Enter the number you want to round in a cell.
  2. In another cell, enter the significance value you want to use for rounding.
  3. Use the CEILING function with the number and significance values as arguments, like this: =CEILING(number,significance).
  4. The result will be the number rounded up to the nearest multiple of the significance.

For example, if you want to round the number 37 to the nearest multiple of 10, you would use the following formula: =CEILING(37,10). The result would be 40, since 40 is the smallest multiple of 10 that is greater than or equal to 37.

Using the CEILING Function in Excel for Precise Data Analysis

The CEILING function in Excel can be a powerful tool for precise data analysis. For example, it can be used to round prices up to the nearest dollar amount or to round time values up to the nearest hour.

Suppose you have a list of prices in a column and you want to round them up to the nearest dollar amount. You would use the following formula: =CEILING(A1,1) (assuming the prices are in column A starting from cell A1). This would round each price up to the nearest dollar amount.

Similarly, if you have a list of time values in a column and you want to round them up to the nearest hour, you would use the following formula: =CEILING(A1,"1:00:00") (assuming the times are in column A starting from cell A1). This would round each time value up to the nearest hour.

Understanding the CEILING Function in Excel: Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for using the CEILING function in Excel:

  • Use the CEILING function to round prices up to the nearest dollar amount. For example, if you have a list of prices in column A starting from cell A2, you would use the formula =CEILING(A2,1) to round each price up to the nearest dollar.
  • Use the CEILING function to round time values up to the nearest hour. For example, if you have a list of time values in column A starting from cell A2, you would use the formula =CEILING(A2,"1:00:00") to round each time value up to the nearest hour.
  • Use the CEILING function to round numbers up to the nearest multiple of 10, 100, 1000, etc. For example, if you have a list of numbers in column A starting from cell A2 and you want to round them up to the nearest thousand, you would use the formula =CEILING(A2,1000).

How to Use the CEILING Function in Excel to Round Numbers Up to the Nearest Thousand

To round numbers up to the nearest thousand using the CEILING function in Excel, follow these steps:

  1. Enter the number you want to round in a cell.
  2. In another cell, enter 1000 as the significance value (since we want to round up to the nearest thousand).
  3. Use the CEILING function with the number and significance values as arguments, like this: =CEILING(number,1000).
  4. The result will be the number rounded up to the nearest thousand.

For example, if you want to round the number 2345 up to the nearest thousand, you would use the following formula: =CEILING(2345,1000). The result would be 3000, since 3000 is the smallest multiple of 1000 that is greater than or equal to 2345.

CEILING vs FLOOR Functions in Excel: Which One Should You Use?

The CEILING and FLOOR functions in Excel are both used for rounding numbers, but they work in opposite ways. The CEILING function rounds numbers up to the nearest multiple of a specified significance, while the FLOOR function rounds numbers down to the nearest multiple of a specified significance.

Which one you should use depends on your specific needs. If you need to round numbers up, use the CEILING function. If you need to round numbers down, use the FLOOR function.

For example, if you have the number 4.7 and you want to round it up to the nearest integer, you would use the CEILING function with a significance of 1 like this: =CEILING(4.7,1). The result would be 5.

On the other hand, if you have the number 4.7 and you want to round it down to the nearest integer, you would use the FLOOR function with a significance of 1 like this: =FLOOR(4.7,1). The result would be 4.

Excel’s CEILING Function with Negative Numbers: What You Need to Know

The CEILING function in Excel can also be used with negative numbers. When using the CEILING function with negative numbers, keep the following in mind:

  • If the number argument is negative and the significance argument is positive, the CEILING function will return a negative number.
  • If the number argument is negative and the significance argument is negative, the CEILING function will return a #NUM! error.
  • If the number argument is negative and the significance argument is omitted (or 0), the CEILING function will round the number up to the nearest integer.

For example, if you have the number -12.8 and you want to round it up to the nearest multiple of 5, you would use the following formula: =CEILING(-12.8,5). The result would be -10, since -10 is the smallest multiple of 5 that is greater than or equal to -12.8.

How to Round Numbers Up to the Nearest 5 Using the CEILING Function in Excel

To round numbers up to the nearest 5 using the CEILING function in Excel, follow these steps:

  1. Enter the number you want to round in a cell.
  2. In another cell, enter 5 as the significance value (since we want to round up to the nearest 5).
  3. Use the CEILING function with the number and significance values as arguments, like this: =CEILING(number,5).
  4. The result will be the number rounded up to the nearest multiple of 5.

For example, if you want to round the number 37 up to the nearest 5, you would use the following formula: =CEILING(37,5). The result would be 40, since 40 is the smallest multiple of 5 that is greater than or equal to 37.

Breaking Down the CEILING.MATH Function in Excel: When to Use It

The CEILING.MATH function in Excel is similar to the CEILING function, but it has an additional mode argument that allows you to control how the rounding is performed. Here are some common uses for the CEILING.MATH function:

  • Rounding up to the nearest integer: Set the mode argument to 0 or omit it.
  • Rounding up to the nearest specified multiple: Set the mode argument to 1.
  • Rounding down to the nearest specified multiple: Set the mode argument to -1.

For example, if you have the number 42.5 and you want to round it up to the nearest multiple of 10 using the CEILING.MATH function, you would use the following formula: =CEILING.MATH(42.5,10,1). The result would be 50, since 50 is the smallest multiple of 10 that is greater than or equal to 42.5.

Excel’s CEILING Function and its Alternatives for Rounding Numbers

Excel offers several functions for rounding numbers, including the CEILING function, the FLOOR function, and the ROUND function. Here are some key differences between these functions:

  • The CEILING function rounds numbers up to a specified multiple.
  • The FLOOR function rounds numbers down to a specified multiple.
  • The ROUND function rounds numbers to a specified number of decimal places.

Which function you should use depends on your specific needs. If you need to round numbers up or down to a specific multiple, use the CEILING or FLOOR functions. If you need to round numbers to a certain number of decimal places, use the ROUND function.

For example, if you have the number 3.6 and you want to round it up to the nearest integer, you would use the CEILING function like this: =CEILING(3.6,1). The result would be 4.

On the other hand, if you have the number 3.6 and you want to round it to one decimal place, you would use the ROUND function like this: =ROUND(3.6,1). The result would be 3.6.

The CEILING Function in Excel: An Overview of Its Usage

The CEILING function in Excel is a useful tool for rounding numbers up to a specified multiple. It takes two arguments: a number and a significance. The function rounds the number up to the nearest multiple of the significance.

Here are some common uses for the CEILING function:

  • Rounding prices up to the nearest dollar amount.
  • Rounding time values up to the nearest hour.
  • Rounding numbers up to the nearest multiple of 10, 100, 1000, etc.

For example, if you have the number 42.5 and you want to round it up to the nearest multiple of 5 using the CEILING function, you would use the following formula: =CEILING(42.5,5). The result would be 45, since 45 is the smallest multiple of 5 that is greater than or equal to 42.5.

Tips for Using the CEILING Function in Excel: Answers to Common Questions

Here are some tips and answers to common questions related to using the CEILING function in Excel:

  • Can the CEILING function be used with negative numbers? Yes, the CEILING function can be used with negative numbers. If the number argument is negative, the function will round the number up to the nearest multiple of the significance.
  • What happens if the significance argument is 0? If the significance argument is 0 or omitted, the CEILING function will round the number up to the nearest integer.
  • How does the CEILING.PRECISE function differ from the CEILING function? The CEILING.PRECISE function in Excel rounds a number up to the nearest multiple of a specified significance without adjusting the result to maintain the same sign as the original number. This means that if the original number was negative, the result will also be negative.

How to Use the CEILING Function in Excel with Dates and Times

To use the CEILING function in Excel with dates and times, you need to convert the date/time value to a serial number first. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Enter the date/time value in a cell.
  2. Right-click on the cell, select “Format Cells”, and choose “Number” from the list of categories.
  3. Choose “Custom” from the list of types and enter “0” (without quotes) in the “Type” field.
  4. Click OK to close the window.
  5. Use the CEILING function with the serial number and significance values as arguments, like this: =CEILING(serial_number,significance).

For example, suppose you have a list of time values in column A starting from cell A2, and you want to round them up to the nearest 15 minutes. You can use the following formula: =CEILING((A2-DATE(1900,1,1))*1440,15)/1440+DATE(1900,1,1). This formula converts the time value in A2 to a serial number, rounds it up to the nearest multiple of 15 minutes, and then converts it back into a time value.

Demystifying the CEILING Function in Excel: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers related to the CEILING function in Excel:

  • What is the CEILING function used for? The CEILING function in Excel is used to round numbers up to a specified multiple.
  • How do you use the CEILING function with decimals? To use the CEILING function with decimals, simply enter the decimal value as the number argument (e.g. =CEILING(7.8,2) will return 8).
  • How does the CEILING.MATH function differ from the CEILING function? The CEILING.MATH function in Excel allows you to control how the rounding is performed by using a mode argument. The CEILING function always rounds numbers up to the nearest multiple of a specified significance.

Excel CEILING Function Explained: Syntax, Arguments, and Examples

The syntax for the CEILING function in Excel is as follows: =CEILING(number,significance)

Here’s what each argument means:

  • number: The number you want to round up to the nearest multiple of the significance.
  • significance: The multiple to which you want to round up the number.

For example, if you have the number 23.6 and you want to round it up to the nearest multiple of 5, you would use the following formula: =CEILING(23.6,5). The result would be 25, since 25 is the smallest multiple of 5 that is greater than or equal to 23.6.

Maximizing the Use of the CEILING Function in Excel for Accurate Calculations

To maximize the use of the CEILING function in Excel for accurate calculations, keep the following tips in mind:

  • Always specify a significance value to ensure that the rounding is done correctly.
  • Be aware of how the function handles negative numbers and adjust your formulas accordingly.
  • Test your formulas with different values to ensure that they work as expected.

For example, if you have a list of prices in column A starting from cell A2, and you want to round them up to the nearest dollar amount, you can use the following formula: =CEILING(A2,1). This formula will round each price up to the nearest dollar.

What is the Difference Between CEILING and ROUNDUP Functions in Excel?

The CEILING and ROUNDUP functions in Excel are both used for rounding numbers up, but they differ in how they handle negative numbers. The CEILING function rounds negative numbers away from zero, while the ROUNDUP function always rounds up regardless of whether the number is positive or negative.

For example, if you have the number -3.5 and you want to round it up to the nearest integer using the CEILING function, you would use the following formula: =CEILING(-3.5,1). The result would be -3, since -3 is the smallest integer greater than or equal to -3.5.

On the other hand, if you use the ROUNDUP function with the same number and significance, like this: =ROUNDUP(-3.5,0), the result would be -4, since the function always rounds up.

The CEILING Function in Excel: Advantages, Limitations, and Best Practices

The CEILING function in Excel has several advantages, including its flexibility and ability to round numbers up to a specified multiple. However, it also has some limitations, such as its inability to round to a specific number of decimal places and its sensitivity to the significance value.

Here are some best practices for using the CEILING function in Excel:

  • Always specify a significance value to ensure that the rounding is done correctly.
  • Be aware of how the function handles negative numbers and adjust your formulas accordingly.
  • Test your formulas with different values to ensure that they work as expected.

For example, if you have a list of numbers in column A starting from cell A2, and you want to round them up to the nearest multiple of 10, you can use the following formula: =CEILING(A2,10). This formula will round each number up to the nearest multiple of 10.

Mastering Excel’s CEILING Function: Expert Tips and Insights

Here are some expert tips and insights for mastering the CEILING function in Excel:

  • Use the CEILING.MATH function when you need more control over how the rounding is performed.
  • Combine the CEILING function with other functions, such as MOD or INT, to perform more complex calculations.
  • Use the Evaluate Formula feature in Excel to troubleshoot complex formulas.

For example, if you have a list of numbers in column A starting from cell A2, and you want to round them up to the nearest multiple of 5 while preserving the decimal portion of the number, you can use the following formula: =CEILING(A2,5)-5+MOD(A2,5). This formula rounds the number up to the nearest multiple of 5 using the CEILING function, subtracts 5 to remove the rounded portion, and then adds the decimal portion of the number using the MOD function.

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