# How to round up to a multiple in Excel (CEILING)

Use CEILING with the step: `=CEILING(B2,C2)` rounds 130 up to 144 when units come in cases of 24.

**Excel:** `=CEILING(B2,C2)` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Product | Units needed | Case size | Units to order |
| AA batteries | 130 | 24 |  |
| Light bulbs | 48 | 12 |  |
| Paper towels | 75 | 30 |  |
| Trash bags | 17 | 50 |  |
| Hand soap | 101 | 6 |  |

Formula in D2, filled to D6: `=CEILING(B2,C2)`

Result: 144; 48; 90; 50; 102

## How it works

CEILING rounds up to the next multiple of its second argument. 130 isn't a multiple of 24, so it goes up to 144 (6 cases). 48 is already a multiple of 12 and stays as it is. Any shortfall, however small, adds a whole case.

## Other ways

- `=CEILING.MATH(B2,C2)`: The newer function; it also takes a mode argument that controls how negative numbers round.
- `=ROUNDUP(B2/C2,0)*C2`: Count whole cases with ROUNDUP, then multiply back. Handy when you need the number of cases too.

## Common mistakes

- MROUND rounds to the nearest multiple, so 130 would become 120 and leave you short. Use CEILING when you can't go under.
- For negative numbers, CEILING rounds toward zero (-7 to the nearest 5 becomes -5). Use CEILING.MATH(-7,5,1) to round away from zero.

## Questions

**How do I round up to the nearest 10 or 100?**

Use `=CEILING(B2,10)` or `=ROUNDUP(B2,-1)`; -2 rounds up to hundreds.

**How many cases is that?**

Divide by the case size: `=CEILING(B2,C2)/C2`, or `=ROUNDUP(B2/C2,0)`.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/round-up-to-a-multiple