How to use the Excel MROUND function

Summary

The Excel MROUND function returns a number rounded to a given multiple. MROUND will round a number up or down, depending on the nearest multiple.

Purpose

Round a number to the nearest specified multiple

Return value

A rounded number.

Syntax

=MROUND (number, significance)

Arguments

number - The number that should be rounded.
significance - The multiple to use when rounding.

Version

Excel 2003

Usage notes

The MROUND function rounds a number to the nearest given multiple. The multiple to use for rounding is provided as the significance argument. Rounding occurs when the remainder from dividing number by significance is greater than or equal to half the value of significance. If the number is already an exact multiple, no rounding occurs and the original number is returned.

The MROUND function takes two arguments, number and significance. Number is the numeric value to round. The significance argument is the multiple to which number should be rounded. In most cases, significance is provided as a numeric value, but MROUND can also understand time entered as text like "0:15" or "0:30". Number and significance must have the same sign, otherwise MROUND will return a #NUM! error.

Examples

Below are some examples of MROUND formulas with hardcoded values:

=MROUND(10,3) // returns 9
=MROUND(10,4) // returns 12
=MROUND(119,25) // returns 125

To round a number in A1 to the nearest multiple of 5, you can use MROUND like this:

=MROUND(A1,5) // round to nearest 5

Nearest negative number

To round negative numbers with MROUND, use a negative sign for significance:

=MROUND(-10,-3) // returns -9
=MROUND(-10,-4) // returns -12
=MROUND(-119,-25) // returns -125

Nearest .99

MROUND can be used to round pricing to end with .99. The formula below will round a value in A1 to the nearest 1 dollar, subtract 1 cent, and return a final price like $2.99, $5.99, $49.99, etc.

=MROUND(A1,1) - 0.01 // round to nearest .99

Nearest 15 minutes

MROUND can be used to round time. To round a time in A1 to the nearest 15 minutes, you can use a formula like this:

=MROUND(A1,"0:15") // round to nearest 15 min

Rounding functions in Excel

Excel provides a number of functions for rounding:

To round normally, use the ROUND function.
To round to the nearest multiple, use the MROUND function.
To round down to the nearest specified place, use the ROUNDDOWN function.
To round down to the nearest specified multiple, use the FLOOR function.
To round up to the nearest specified place, use the ROUNDUP function.
To round up to the nearest specified multiple, use the CEILING function.
To round down and return an integer only, use the INT function.
To truncate decimal places, use the TRUNC function.

Notes

If a number is already an exact multiple, no rounding occurs.
Rounding occurs when the remainder from dividing number by significance is greater than or equal to half the value of significance.
Number and significance must have the same sign.
MROUND returns #NUM! if number and significance are not the same sign.
MROUND returns #VALUE! if number or significance is not numeric.

Related functions

Excel CEILING Function

The Excel CEILING function rounds a given number up to the nearest specified multiple. CEILING works like the MROUND function, but CEILING always rounds up.

Excel FLOOR Function

The Excel FLOOR function rounds a given number down to the nearest specified multiple. FLOOR works like the MROUND function, but FLOOR always rounds down.

Excel ROUND Function

The Excel ROUND function returns a number rounded to a given number of digits. The ROUND function can round to the right or left of the decimal point.

Excel ROUNDDOWN Function

The Excel ROUNDDOWN function returns a number rounded down to a given number of places. Unlike standard rounding, where only numbers less than 5 are rounded down, ROUNDDOWN rounds all numbers down.

Excel ROUNDUP Function

The Excel ROUNDUP function returns a number rounded up to a given number of decimal places. Unlike standard rounding, where only numbers less than 5 are rounded down, ROUNDUP rounds all numbers up.

Excel MROUND Function

The Excel MROUND function returns a number rounded to a given multiple. MROUND will round a number up or down, depending on the nearest multiple.

Excel INT Function

The Excel INT function returns the integer part of a decimal number by rounding down to the integer. Note that negative numbers become more negative. For example, while INT(10.8) returns 10, INT(-10.8) returns -11.

Excel TRUNC Function

The Excel TRUNC function returns a truncated number based on an (optional) number of digits. For example, TRUNC(4.9) will return 4, and TRUNC(-3.5) will return -3. The TRUNC function does no rounding, it simply truncates as specified.