A to Z of Excel Functions: The ECMA.CEILING Function

Welcome back to our regular A to Z of Excel Functions blog.  Today we look at the ECMA.CEILING function.

The ECMA.CEILING function

ECMA.CEILING is not a skin disorder for rooves.  This function appears to be provided in Excel as compatible with OnlyOffice, a free software office suite and ecosystem of collaborative applications.  It is intended to be compliant with Ecma International (formerly the European Computer Manufacturers Association): ECMA.CEILING is the term for the standard version of CEILING.  It returns a number rounded up, away from zero, to the nearest multiple of significance:

For example, if you are an American and you want to want to avoid using cents in your prices (that makes no cents) and your product is priced at $4.42, use the formula =ECMA.CEILING(4.42, 0.05) to round prices up to the nearest nickel.

The ECMA.CEILING function employs the following syntax to operate:

The ECMA.CEILING function has the following arguments:

• number: this is required and represents the value you wish to round
• significance: this is also required. This is the multiple used for rounding.

It should be further noted that:

• if either argument is nonnumeric, ECMA.CEILING returns the #VALUE! error value
• regardless of the sign of number, a value is rounded up when adjusted away from zero.  If number is an exact multiple of significance, no rounding occurs
• if number is negative, and significance is negative, the value is rounded down, away from zero
• if number is negative, and significance is positive, the value is rounded up towards zero.

Please see my example below: 

We’ll continue our A to Z of Excel Functions soon.  Keep checking back – there’s a new blog post every other business day.