MROUND function
MROUND rounds a number to the nearest multiple of another number. It's the quickest way to round to the nearest 5, the nearest quarter hour or the nearest nickel. It goes up or down, whichever is closer, and exact halves round up.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Math functions
- Returns
- The multiple of multiple that is closest to number.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=MROUND(number, multiple)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | The value to round. |
multiple | Required | The multiple to round to, such as 5, 15 or 0.05. It must have the same sign as number. |
Examples
Each result below is calculated from the sample sheet by our formula engine, the same one that grades the practice.
| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | =MROUND(B2,15) | 30 | Nearest quarter hour: 37 minutes becomes 30 |
| D3 | =MROUND(C3,0.05) | $4.40 | Nearest nickel: $4.42 becomes $4.40 |
| D4 | =MROUND(B4,15) | 30 | Exactly halfway (22.5) rounds up to 30 |
Try it live
This is the sample sheet. Change any number or text, or edit a formula, and the results update.
Show the sample data as a table
| Task | Minutes | Cost | |
| Design review | 37 | $19.97 | 30 |
| Client call | 52 | $4.42 | $4.40 |
| Setup | 22.5 | $12.50 | 30 |
Practice MROUND
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Bill in six-minute blocks
C2, use MROUND to round each call's minutes to the nearest 6. Fill down to C6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| #NUM! | number and multiple have different signs, such as =MROUND(-10,3). Make them match: =MROUND(-10,-3) returns -9. |
| It rounded down when you needed up | MROUND picks the nearest multiple. To always round up use CEILING, and to always round down use FLOOR. |
| Odd results with times | Times are fractions of a day. Round them with a time multiple, such as =MROUND(A2,"0:15"), not 15. |
Tips
- Billing in tenths of an hour? Round minutes with =MROUND(B2,6).
Questions
How do I round to the nearest 5 in Excel?
Use =MROUND(A2,5). For the nearest 0.5, use =MROUND(A2,0.5).
How do I round a time to the nearest 15 minutes?
Use =MROUND(A2,"0:15") and format the result as a time.
Why does MROUND return #NUM!?
The number and the multiple have opposite signs. Use a negative multiple for negative numbers.
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.