ROUNDUP function
ROUNDUP always rounds away from zero, whatever the next digit is. Use it whenever coming up short isn't an option: boxes needed for an order, staff needed for a shift, or a price that must cover its cost.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Math functions
- Returns
- The number rounded away from zero to the digits you chose.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=ROUNDUP(number, num_digits)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | The number or calculation to round up. |
num_digits | Required | How many digits to keep: 0 for whole numbers, 1 for one decimal, -1 for the next ten. |
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 | =ROUNDUP(B2/C2,0) | 6 | 130 units need 5.4 boxes, so 6 boxes |
| D3 | =ROUNDUP(B3/C3,0) | 2 | An exact result stays as it is: 2 boxes |
| D5 | =ROUNDUP(1234.5,-2) | 1300 | Negative digits round up to the next hundred |
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
| Order | Units | Per box | Boxes |
| A-1 | 130 | 24 | 6 |
| A-2 | 48 | 24 | 2 |
| A-3 | 7 | 12 | |
| 1300 |
Practice ROUNDUP
From lesson 22, ROUND, ROUNDUP & ROUNDDOWN. Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Boxes needed
D2, calculate how many boxes each order needs. A partial box still counts as a box. Fill down to D6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| Negative numbers get more negative | ROUNDUP rounds away from zero, so -2.1 becomes -3. To round toward positive infinity, use CEILING(A2,1), which turns -2.1 into -2. |
| Excel says too few arguments | num_digits is required. Use 0 for whole numbers. |
| Rounded the wrong step | Round the final quantity, not the inputs: =ROUNDUP(B2/C2,0) gives boxes needed, while =ROUNDUP(B2,0)/C2 still leaves a fraction. |
Tips
- To round up to a multiple other than 10, 100 and so on, such as packs of 6, use CEILING(A2,6).
Questions
How do I always round up in Excel?
Use =ROUNDUP(A2,0) for whole numbers or =ROUNDUP(A2,2) for cents. It rounds up even when the next digit is 1.
How do I round up to the nearest 10?
Use =ROUNDUP(A2,-1), or =CEILING(A2,10).
What is the difference between ROUNDUP and CEILING?
ROUNDUP works in powers of ten (decimals, tens, hundreds). CEILING rounds up to any multiple you name, such as 5, 12 or 0.25.
Lessons that use ROUNDUP
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.