CEILING Function in Excel

In Excel (not Google Sheets), the number and significance parameters have different signs. For example, trying to use =CEILING(-5, 3) or =CEILING(5, -3) will fail in Excel because -5 is negative while 3 is positive.

Ensure both the number and significance have the same sign. For negative numbers, use a negative significance: =CEILING(-5, -3) returns -3. Alternatively, use CEILING.MATH which is more flexible with signs, or use ABS() to work with absolute values: =CEILING(ABS(A2), B2)

Always check the signs of your inputs. If working with mixed positive/negative data, consider using CEILING.MATH (Excel 2013+) which handles sign mismatches automatically, or add data validation to prevent negative values in your input cells.

One or both parameters contain non-numeric values such as text, dates formatted as text, or cell references to empty cells. Excel cannot perform mathematical operations on text strings, even if they look like numbers (e.g., '123' stored as text).

1. Verify all input cells contain actual numbers, not text 2. Use VALUE() to convert text numbers: =CEILING(VALUE(A2), B2) 3. Check for hidden spaces with TRIM(): =CEILING(TRIM(A2), B2) 4. Use ISNUMBER() to validate: =IF(ISNUMBER(A2), CEILING(A2, B2), 'Invalid') 5. For dates stored as text, use DATEVALUE() first

Use data validation to restrict cells to numeric input only. Format cells as 'Number' rather than 'General' or 'Text'. When importing data from external sources, use Text-to-Columns or VALUE() to ensure proper numeric formatting. Add IFERROR wrapper for production spreadsheets: =IFERROR(CEILING(A2, B2), 'Check Input')

The significance parameter is zero (0). Since CEILING needs to round to multiples of the significance value, dividing by zero creates an impossible calculation. This commonly occurs when the significance is calculated from another formula that returns 0, or when users inadvertently reference an empty cell.

1. Ensure significance is never zero 2. Use an IF statement to check: =IF(B2=0, A2, CEILING(A2, B2)) 3. Set a minimum significance: =CEILING(A2, MAX(B2, 0.01)) 4. Provide a default: =CEILING(A2, IF(B2=0, 1, B2)) 5. Use IFERROR as a safety net: =IFERROR(CEILING(A2, B2), A2)

Add data validation rules to significance cells to prevent zero values (set minimum to 0.01 or 1). Use dropdown lists with predefined valid significance values. Include error checking formulas: =IF(B2<=0, 'Significance must be positive', CEILING(A2, B2)). Document clearly that significance cannot be zero.

Several scenarios can cause this: (1) Floating point precision issues where 0.1 + 0.2 doesn't exactly equal 0.3, (2) Confusion between CEILING and FLOOR/ROUNDUP, (3) Negative number rounding behavior misunderstanding, (4) Using wrong significance value, or (5) Mixing up decimal places vs multiples.

1. For precision issues, round inputs first: =CEILING(ROUND(A2, 2), 0.01) 2. Understand CEILING behavior: always rounds UP (away from zero) 3. For negatives: CEILING(-4.3, 1) = -4 (rounds toward zero) 4. Double-check significance value matches your intent 5. Use test cases to verify behavior: =CEILING(4.1, 1) should give 5 6. For decimal places instead of multiples, use ROUNDUP: =ROUNDUP(A2, 2)

Document your rounding requirements clearly before choosing a function. Test with known values: positives, negatives, exact multiples, and edge cases. Add comments to complex formulas explaining the expected behavior. Consider creating a reference sheet with examples. Use named ranges for significance values to make formulas self-documenting.