Summary

The Excel MROUND function rounds a number to the nearest specified multiple. Unlike ROUND, which rounds by decimal places, MROUND rounds by step size. That makes it useful when the result must land on values such as 5, 10, 0.05, 0.25, or 15-minute intervals.

For example, =MROUND(13,5) returns 15 because 13 is closer to 15 than to 10. If the value is exactly halfway between two valid multiples, Microsoft states that MROUND rounds away from zero. It is also important that the number and the multiple have the same sign, or Excel returns #NUM!.

Syntax

=MROUND(number, multiple)

The first argument is the value to round. The second argument is the multiple to round to. Microsoft notes that both arguments must have the same sign. If they do not, the function returns #NUM!.

Arguments

• number - [required] The value to round.
• multiple - [required] The multiple to which the number should be rounded.

MROUND vs Related Rounding Functions

Using MROUND

MROUND is appropriate when the output must conform to a fixed increment rather than a fixed number of decimal places. Pricing, packaging, and scheduling all produce this kind of requirement. The formula is not asking for "more or fewer decimals"; it is asking for the nearest valid step.

That distinction matters because MROUND is not directional. It can round upward or downward depending on which multiple is closer. If you need a guaranteed upward or downward result instead, CEILING.MATH or FLOOR.MATH is usually the better choice.

Microsoft also documents a limitation for midpoint cases with decimal multiples: the rounding direction can be undefined in some decimal scenarios because of floating-point representation. That is worth remembering when you work with values such as 0.1 or 0.05 and expect a perfectly symmetric midpoint rule in every case.

Example 1 - Round to the Nearest 5

This is the standard whole-number example.

=MROUND(B1,5)

If B1 is 13, the result is 15 because 15 is closer than 10. This is the pattern to use when numbers must snap to a repeating step such as 5, 10, or 25.

Example 2 - Round a Price to the Nearest 0.05

MROUND is especially useful when a decimal step matters more than decimal-place formatting.

=MROUND(B2,0.05)

If B2 is 2.32, the result is 2.30 because that is the nearest multiple of 0.05. This is a stronger fit than ROUND when the business rule is based on allowed price increments rather than on a number of decimals.

Example 3 - Round a Quantity to the Nearest 10

This is a common operational example.

=MROUND(B3,10)

If B3 is 57, the result is 60 because 60 is closer than 50. This is useful for planning models where output values are expected to align with pack sizes, order blocks, or standard reporting increments.

Example 4 - Use a Dynamic Multiple

The multiple can come from a cell, not just from a hardcoded constant.

=MROUND(B4,C4)

If B4 is 128 and C4 is 25, the result is 125. This pattern is useful when different rows or models follow different rounding steps and you want the rule itself to stay editable in the worksheet.

A final detail worth keeping in mind is sign behavior. MROUND(-13,5) returns #NUM! because the arguments have different signs, while MROUND(-13,-5) is valid. That rule is part of the function, not a formatting issue.

• MROUND rounds to a multiple, not to decimal places.
• The number and the multiple must have the same sign.
• Midpoint behavior with decimal multiples can be affected by floating-point limitations.

Conclusion Recap

• Summary: MROUND returns the nearest specified multiple.
• Main distinction: It rounds by step size rather than decimal place.
• Best use: Pricing, pack sizes, scheduling, and other fixed increments.
• Important rule: The number and the multiple must share the same sign.
• Function choice: Use MROUND for nearest-step rounding, and CEILING.MATH or FLOOR.MATH for directional rounding.