CEIL()
Rounds a number up to the nearest integer (ceiling).
Description
CEIL (also spelled CEILING) rounds a number up to the smallest integer
greater than or equal to it. Use it when you need to "round up" — for example,
calculating how many boxes you need if each holds 10 items.
Syntax
CEIL(expression)
CEILING(expression)Parameters
| Name | Description | Optional |
|---|---|---|
| expression | A numeric column or expression. | No |
Return Type
Returns an integer type. The fractional part is discarded by rounding upward.
Examples
Store (Customers/Orders/Products)
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Store (Customers/Orders/Products)
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CEIL vs FLOOR
CEIL always goes up (toward positive infinity); FLOOR always goes down.
CEIL(-2.7) is -2, while FLOOR(-2.7) is -3.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with rounding.
CEILdoesn't round to the nearest integer; it always moves up. UseROUNDfor nearest. - Negative numbers.
CEIL(-2.7)is-2, not-3— it moves toward positive infinity. - Expecting decimals. The result is an integer.
Related Functions
See also: FLOOR, ROUND.