The CEILING function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool used to round numbers up to the nearest integer multiple of a given significance. This function is particularly useful in financial calculations, inventory management, and any scenario where upper rounding is required to meet certain thresholds.

Syntax

CEILING(number, significance)

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

Example #1

CEILING(2.3, 1)

This function rounds 2.3 up to the nearest whole number, which is 3. Result: 3

Example #2

CEILING(7.5, 2)

Here, 7.5 is rounded up to the nearest multiple of 2, giving a result of 8. Result: 8

Example #3

CEILING(10.1, 0.5)

This rounds 10.1 up to the nearest half, resulting in 10.5. Result: 10.5

Error handling

• NUM! This error occurs if the significance is zero or negative, which is not valid for rounding.
• VALUE! This error appears when the input is non-numeric or incorrect data type for ‘number’ or ‘significance’.

Conclusion

In summary, the CEILING function is an essential tool in Google Sheets for rounding numbers up according to user-defined significance. By understanding its syntax and utilization, users can enhance their data analysis capabilities significantly.