Using the MROUND Worksheet Function

In the previous tip you learned how you can round numbers using regular worksheet functions. These functions work great when you want to round a number to some decimal position. What if you want to round a number to some odd value, however? For instance, what if you want to round a value to the nearest multiple of 7, or to the nearest 50?

For these times, you should use the MROUND worksheet function. This function is provided as part of the Analysis ToolPak; it is not inherent to Excel. To use it, install the Analysis ToolPak (which many people do when Excel is first installed), and then choose Add-Ins from the Tools menu to make sure the Analysis ToolPak is selected.

The syntax for the MROUND function is as follows:

=MROUND(num, multiple)

The num argument is the number you want to round, while multiple is the value you want used in the rounding. Thus, if you want to round to the nearest 50, then multiple would be 50.

If you decide to use MROUND, it is important to remember that num and multiple must be the same sign. If one of them is positive and the other negative, then Excel returns a #NUM! error.