Excel function · Statistics
CEILING
Rounds a number up to the next multiple of another.
What it does
CEILING rounds up to the nearest multiple of the number you choose: the next 6, the next 0.05, the next 100. It suits things that come in packs or prices that end in set steps.
Syntax
=CEILING(number, significance)Arguments in square brackets are optional, and … means you can add more of the same. In this Excel language, arguments are separated by ,
Arguments
- number
- The number to round up.
- significance
- The multiple to round to, such as 6 or 0.05.
Example
Chairs come in stacks of 6. How many chairs do you need for 23 guests?
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guests | Chairs (stacks of 6) |
| 2 | 23 | 24 |
The formula in B2:
=CEILING(A2,6)Result: 24
The multiples of 6 are 18, 24, 30… The first one that is at least 23 is 24.
Common mistakes
- Using
ROUND, which can round down and leave someone without a chair. - Expecting the number of stacks.
CEILINGreturns 24 chairs; divide by 6 for 4 stacks.
In other Excel languages
Excel translates function names, and in some languages the argument separator too. Type the name your Excel shows.
| Excel language | Function name | Separator |
|---|---|---|
| English | CEILING | , |
| Deutsch | OBERGRENZE | ; |
| Français | PLAFOND | ; |
| Español (España) | MULTIPLO.SUPERIOR | ; |
| Español (México) | MULTIPLO.SUPERIOR | , |
| 日本語 | CEILING | , |
| 한국어 | CEILING | , |
| 繁體中文 | CEILING | , |
| ไทย | CEILING | , |
| ខ្មែរ | CEILING | , |
| Tiếng Việt | CEILING | ; |