How ROUNDUP works in Excel? Best ROUNDUP examples

How ROUNDUP works in Excel? Best ROUNDUP examples

When working with numbers in Excel, sometimes we need to round values up to the nearest significant digit. That’s where the ROUNDUP function comes in handy. It forces numbers to round upwards, unlike standard rounding, which can go in either direction. In this article, I’ll explain how ROUNDUP works in Excel and provide some of the best ROUNDUP examples to use in your spreadsheets.

What Is ROUNDUP in Excel?

ROUNDUP is an Excel function that rounds a number up, away from zero, to a specified number of decimal places. It guarantees that the result is always higher (or in the case of negative numbers, further from zero).

Its syntax is:

=ROUNDUP(number, num_digits)
  • number – The number you want to round up.
  • num_digits – The number of decimal places to round to.

Basic Examples of ROUNDUP

Let’s start with some simple cases:

Formula Result Explanation
=ROUNDUP(3.14159, 2) 3.15 Rounds 3.14159 up to 2 decimal places.
=ROUNDUP(123.456, 0) 124 Rounds 123.456 up to the nearest whole number.
=ROUNDUP(-2.345, 2) -2.35 Rounds -2.345 up (further from zero) to 2 decimal places.

Using ROUNDUP for Different Rounding Needs

Depending on the num_digits value, ROUNDUP can behave differently:

  1. Positive num_digits: Defines the number of decimal places to keep.
  2. Zero num_digits: Rounds to the nearest integer.
  3. Negative num_digits: Rounds up to the left of the decimal point.

For example:

=ROUNDUP(4567, -2)

This will return 4600 because it rounds up to the nearest hundred.

ROUNDUP vs. Other Rounding Functions

Excel offers multiple rounding functions, each with unique behavior:

  • ROUND: Rounds to the nearest value (up or down, depending on the decimal point).
  • ROUNDDOWN: Always rounds down, toward zero.
  • CEILING: Rounds up to the nearest specified multiple.
  • FLOOR: Rounds down to the nearest specified multiple.

Example:


=ROUND(4.75, 1)     ' Returns 4.8
=ROUNDUP(4.75, 1)   ' Returns 4.8
=ROUNDDOWN(4.75, 1) ' Returns 4.7

As you can see, ROUNDUP always rounds up, while ROUND follows the standard mathematical rule (rounding up or down depending on the value).

Practical Use Cases for ROUNDUP

Here are some common scenarios where ROUNDUP is useful:

1. Ensuring Price Calculations Round Up

If you’re working with currency and need to ensure prices never round down, use ROUNDUP. For example:

=ROUNDUP(14.235, 2)  ' Returns 14.24

2. Setting Minimum Invoice Amounts

When billing clients, you might need to round up to the nearest dollar:

=ROUNDUP(97.23, 0)  ' Returns 98

3. Rounding Large Numbers for Reporting

Working with large numbers? Use a negative num_digits to round up to significant figures:

=ROUNDUP(54789, -3)  ' Returns 55000

4. Splitting a Group into Equal Parts

If you need to divide people into groups and ensure no group has fewer members than the others:

=ROUNDUP(57 / 8, 0)  ' Returns 8 (so no group has fewer members)

Key Takeaways

  • ROUNDUP always rounds a number up, away from zero.
  • It works for both positive and negative numbers.
  • Use positive num_digits for decimal rounding, zero for whole numbers, and negative for rounding to the nearest ten, hundred, etc.
  • It’s perfect for pricing, grouping, and financial calculations.

By using ROUNDUP effectively, you can ensure that your calculations are precise and aligned with your needs. Whether you’re handling finances, sales reports, or simply organizing data, this function can make a big difference in achieving accurate results.

 

Other interesting article:

How ROUND works in Excel? Best ROUND examples