Syntax
CEILING(number, significance)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| number | Parameter of the CEILING function. |
| significance | Parameter of the CEILING function. |
Examples
Packs to buy
Formula
=CEILING(47, 6)
Returns 48. If items come in packs of 6 and you need 47, you must buy 48 (8 packs). CEILING rounds up to the next multiple of 6.
Round up to nearest nickel
Formula
=CEILING(3.42, 0.05)
Returns 3.45. Rounds the price up to the nearest 5-cent increment.
Bill to next 30 minutes
Formula
=CEILING(1.1, 0.5)
Returns 1.5. If a contractor worked 1.1 hours and bills in half-hour blocks, they charge for 1.5 hours.
Common Errors
#NUM!
Like FLOOR, the number and significance must have the same sign. CEILING(-5, 2) errors. Use CEILING.MATH for negative numbers.
#DIV/0!
A significance of 0 produces #DIV/0!.
Tips
Buying in bulk
CEILING(units_needed, pack_size) tells you the minimum quantity to purchase. Divide by pack_size to get the number of packs.
Time billing
CEILING(hours_worked, 0.25) rounds up to the next 15-minute billing increment. Very common for consulting and legal billing.
Use CEILING.MATH for negatives
If your data might contain negative numbers, switch to CEILING.MATH which handles them without erroring.
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