How to Round Numbers in Google Sheets

Google Sheets is an essential tool for B2B SaaS businesses, offering features that simplify data analysis and presentation. One crucial skill is rounding numbers, particularly rounding up, which is crucial in scenarios like budget planning and financial reporting.

Understanding Rounding Up in Google Sheets

Rounding up is a mathematical concept where you increase a number to the nearest specified interval.

To round numbers in Google Sheets, use the ARRONDISUP function. The syntax for the ARRONDISUP function is as follows:

=ARRONDISUP(number, decimals)

Where:

  • number is the value or cell reference you want to round up
  • decimals is the number of decimals you want to round up to

By default, the decimals argument is set to 0, which means the number will be rounded to the nearest whole number.

To apply the ARRONDISUP function, simply enter the formula into a cell and press Enter.

For example, if you enter =ARRONDISUP(15,3), you will get 16.

Illustration of the ARRONDISUP function in Google Sheets, highlighting rounding up a decimal number to the nearest whole number.

The Importance of Rounding Up

Rounding numbers in Google Sheets plays a vital role in various applications:

  • Data Presentation: Rounded numbers are easier to read and understand, allowing users to quickly grasp relevant information.
  • Ease of Calculations: Performing mathematical operations with rounded numbers can be less complicated and time-consuming.
  • Accuracy in Reports: Rounding numbers up ensures consistency in data representation, which is crucial for generating accurate reports.
  • Resource Management: Rounding numbers up when managing stocks or inventories can help allocate resources efficiently.

Step-by-Step Guide to Round Numbers in Google Sheets

1. Select the cells to round

First, identify the cells you want to round.

For example, select the “Operating Costs” column.

Click on the first cell in the “Operating Costs” column (e.g., the cell containing $7584.42 for January).

Round January

2. Use the ARRONDISUP function

To round the operating costs to the nearest hundred, use the ARRONDISUP function.

In the cell adjacent to the operating cost (or in a new column), enter the formula: =ARRONDISUP(C2, -2), assuming C2 is the cell containing $7584.42.

Google Sheets showing the ARRONDISUP function used in a cell to round up the operating costs for January.

This formula will round $7584.42 to $7600.00.

Drag the formula to the other cells in the column to apply it to all monthly data.

Google Sheets data table with the ARRONDISUP function applied to the "Operating Costs" column for multiple months.

Supplement with other functions

In addition to the ARRONDISUP function, Google Sheets offers other functions for rounding numbers, which can be useful in specific situations:

  • PLAFOND: Rounds a number to the nearest specified multiple.
  • MULTIPLE: Rounds a number to the nearest multiple of another number.
  • ARRONDI: Rounds a number down, rather than up, to the specified number of decimal places.

For example, if you want to round a number in cell B2 to the nearest multiple of 5, you can use the PLAFOND function:

=PLAFOND(B2, 5)

Example of using the PLAFOND function on a column in Google Sheets to round up the operating costs to the nearest hundred dollars.

Remember to use the appropriate function based on the desired result and always pay attention to the required arguments (number, decimals, or multiples) for each function.

Conclusion

Google Sheets rounding functions like ARRONDISUP, PLAFOND, and others are essential tools for accuracy in data management. They provide accurate results and simplify any data-driven environment.

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