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MROUND Function in Excel: The Ultimate Guide to Precise Rounding (With 3 Examples!)

Do you ever find yourself trying to round numbers to a specific multiple in Excel, but no function seems to give you the result you’re looking for? Perhaps you’re working with prices and want them to always end in ₹.99 or rounding times to the nearest 15 minutes. How can you do this without manually adjusting each value? That’s where the MROUND function comes in, simplifying these tasks by rounding numbers to the nearest specified multiple.

What is the MROUND Function?

The MROUND function in Excel is a powerful tool that allows you to round numbers to the nearest multiple of a specified value. Whether you’re working with financial data, scheduling, or any other numerical analysis, MROUND ensures that your numbers are rounded to the nearest convenient multiple, making data easier to analyze and present.

Syntax of the MROUND Function:

The MROUND function follows a simple syntax:

=MROUND(number, significance)

number: The value you want to round.
significance: The multiple to which you want the number to be rounded.

How Does MROUND Work?

The MROUND function rounds numbers based on the remainder when dividing the number by the significance. If the remainder is greater than or equal to half of the significance, MROUND rounds the number up. If it’s less than half, it rounds down.

For example:

MROUND(10, 3) would return 9, because 10 is closer to 9 than to 12 when rounded to the nearest multiple of 3.
MROUND(10, 4) would return 12, as 10 is closer to 12 than to 8 when rounded to the nearest multiple of 4.

When and Why to Use MROUND

The MROUND function is especially helpful when you need to round values in ways that aren’t covered by the standard ROUND function. It’s perfect for excel rounding prices to the nearest ₹ or quarter, rounding times to specific intervals, or adjusting other numerical data based on a set rule.

Here are a few practical use cases:

Financial Data: Round prices to a convenient multiple, like rounding prices to the nearest ₹.99 for product pricing or to the nearest ₹5 for rounding sales figures.
Time Management: Round time entries to the nearest 15, 30, or 60 minutes for easier scheduling.
Data Cleaning: When working with large datasets, rounding numbers to standard intervals can help simplify analysis and presentation.

Detailed Examples of MROUND in Excel

Let’s dive into some real-world examples that will help you see the power of MROUND in action.

Example 1: Rounding Prices to End in ₹.99

Imagine you’re working with a pricing dataset, and you want to round all the prices to the nearest ₹1 minus 1 paisa (i.e., ₹.99). This is common in retail pricing where prices often end in ₹.99 to appear more attractive to customers.

Dataset:

Price (₹)

5.31

12.53

19.89

44.31

To achieve this using MROUND:

=MROUND(A2, 1) – 0.01

Here, the formula rounds the price in cell A2 to the nearest rupee and then subtracts 1 paisa to ensure it ends in ₹.99. For example:

₹5.31 rounds to ₹4.99.
₹12.53 rounds to ₹11.99.
₹19.89 stays as ₹19.99 (since it’s already rounded).
₹44.31 rounds to ₹43.99.

Example 2: Rounding Numbers to the Nearest Multiple

Suppose you’re managing a dataset of sales figures, and you need to round the numbers to the nearest ₹5 for presentation or analysis. This will help keep the data concise and easier to handle.

Dataset:

Sales (₹)

To round each number to the nearest multiple of ₹5:

=MROUND(A2, 5)

This will give you:

₹17 rounds to ₹15.
₹12 rounds to ₹10.
₹23 rounds to ₹25.
₹48 rounds to ₹50.

Example 3: Rounding Time to the Nearest 15 Minutes

MROUND isn’t just for numbers—it’s also perfect for time data. Let’s say you’re working with a schedule, and you want to round each time entry to the nearest 15 minutes for standardization.

Dataset:

Time

10:07 AM

2:22 PM

6:58 PM

11:39 AM

To round each time to the nearest 15 minutes, use:

=MROUND(A2, “0:15”)

Here’s what happens:

10:07 AM rounds to 10:00 AM.
2:22 PM rounds to 2:15 PM.
6:58 PM rounds to 7:00 PM.
11:39 AM rounds to 11:45 AM.

MROUND works by converting “0:15” to a decimal value that represents 15 minutes, which is then used for rounding.

Notes to Keep in Mind

If the number and significance have different signs (one is positive, and the other is negative), MROUND will return a #NUM! error.
MROUND only works with numeric values and will return a #VALUE! error if either argument is not numeric.

Other Rounding Functions in Excel

While MROUND is great for rounding to a specific multiple, it’s important to know that Excel offers other rounding functions for different needs:

ROUND: Rounds to a specified number of digits.
ROUNDDOWN: Rounds a number down, away from zero.
ROUNDUP: Rounds a number up, away from zero.
FLOOR: Rounds a number down to the nearest multiple.
CEILING: Rounds a number up to the nearest multiple.
INT: Rounds a number down to the nearest integer.
TRUNC: Removes the decimal part without rounding.

Each of these functions serves a different purpose, and choosing the right one depends on your specific rounding needs.

For More Information You Can Visit:

How to Use the ROUND Function in Excel (Microsoft Support)
Excel FLOOR vs. CEILING: Key Differences Explained (YouTube)
Top 10 Excel Functions Every Analyst Should Know (E&ICT Academy)
How to Round Time to the Nearest 15 Minutes in Excel (ExcelJet)
The ROUND Function in Excel: A Powerful Guide to Precision & Efficiency (2025) (Grad Me Up!)

Conclusion

The MROUND function is a versatile and easy-to-use tool that can save you time and effort when rounding numbers to specific multiples in Excel. Whether you’re rounding prices to ₹.99, cleaning up data by rounding to the nearest ₹5, or standardizing time intervals, MROUND is a must-have function in your Excel toolbox.

By understanding when and how to use MROUND, along with other rounding functions in Excel, you can enhance your data analysis and make your reports more professional and polished.