Unlike formatting options that allow you to change the number of decimal places displayed without changing the value in the cell, the MROUND function, like Google Sheets’ other rounding functions, alters the value of the data. Thus, using this function to round data affects the results of calculations.
The MROUND Function’s Syntax and Arguments
A function’s syntax refers to the layout of the function and includes the function’s name, brackets, and arguments. The syntax for the MROUND function is: = MROUND (value, factor) The arguments for the function are:
value (required): The number to be rounded up or down to the nearest integer. This argument can contain the actual data for rounding, or it can be a cell reference to the location of the data in the worksheet. factor (required): The function rounds the value argument up or down to the nearest multiple of this value.
Points to note regarding the function’s arguments:
If the factor argument is omitted, a #N/A error displays in the cell containing the function.The factor and value arguments must have the same sign—either positive or negative. If not, the function returns a #NUM! error in the cell.If the factor and value arguments are both negative, the function returns a negative number in the cell, as shown in row 4 in the image above.If the factor argument is set to zero (0), the function returns a value of zero in the cell, as shown in row 7 in the image above.
MROUND Function Examples
For the first six numbers in the image above, the number 4.54 is rounded up or down by the MROUND function using a variety of values for the factor argument such as 0.05, 0.10, 5.0, 0, and 10.0. The results are displayed in column C, and the formula producing the results, in column D.
Rounding Up or Down
Whether the last remaining digit or integer (the rounding digit) is rounded up or down depends upon the value argument.
If the rounding digit and all numbers to the right of it in the value argument are less than half the value of the factor argument, the function rounds down the last digit.If the rounding digit and all numbers to the right of it in the value argument are greater than or equal to half the value of the factor argument, the rounding digit is rounded up.
The last two examples demonstrate how the function handles rounding up or down.
In row 8, because the factor argument is a single-digit integer, the 2 becomes the rounding digit in the 12.50 value in cell A8. Because 2.5 is equal to half the value of the factor argument (5.00), the function rounds the result up to 15.00, which is the nearest multiple of 5.00 greater than 12.50.In row 9, because 2.49 is less than half the value of the factor argument (5.00), the function rounds the result down to 10.00, which is the nearest multiple of 5.00 less than 12.49.
Entering the MROUND Function
Google Sheets does not use dialog boxes to enter a function’s arguments, unlike Excel. Instead, it has an auto-suggest box that pops up as you type the name of the function into a cell. To see this in action:
Enter a Function’s Argument
To enter a function’s argument:
