The Excel ROUNDUP function rounds a number away from zero to a set number of digits — it always pushes the value up in magnitude, never down.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | The number you want to round up (away from zero). |
num_digits | Required | How many digits to round to. Positive = decimal places, 0 = nearest whole number, negative = left of the decimal (tens, hundreds, ...). |
How to use it
ROUNDUP shares ROUND's (number, num_digits) syntax but always rounds away from zero — any non-zero remainder bumps the result up in magnitude:
Negative numbers round to the more negative value because “away from zero” ignores sign. A negative num_digits rounds up to the nearest ten, hundred, and so on.
ROUNDUP vs CEILING: ROUNDUP rounds away from zero to a digit place; CEILING rounds up to the nearest multiple of a value you choose. Use CEILING for “round up to the next $5” type rules.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a ROUNDUP example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How is ROUNDUP different from ROUND?
3.001 rounds up to 3.01 at 2 decimals.Does ROUNDUP round negative numbers toward zero?
=ROUNDUP(-2.1, 0) returns -3, the more negative value.What does a negative num_digits do in ROUNDUP?
=ROUNDUP(1201, -2) rounds up to the nearest hundred = 1300.ROUNDUP vs CEILING — which should I use?
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