PostgreSQL Tutorial: CEIL Function

Summary: The PostgreSQL CEIL() function returns a number rounded up to the next whole number.

Table of Contents

Syntax

The following illustrates the syntax of the CEIL() function:

CEIL(numeric_expression)

Arguments

The CEIL() function requires one argument:

1) numeric_expression

The numeric_expression is a number (or an expression which evaluates to a number) that is rounded up.

Return Value

The CEIL() function returns a value whose data type is the same as the input argument.

Examples

The following statement illustrates how to use the CEIL() function to round a number up to the nearest integer:

SELECT
    CEIL( 200.25 );

The result is:

201

Let’s take the customer and payment tables in the sample database for the demonstration.

The following example calculates the ceiling of amounts paid by customers for rentals:

SELECT
    first_name,
    last_name,
    CEIL(SUM( amount )) amt
FROM
    payment
INNER JOIN customer
        USING(customer_id)
GROUP BY
    customer_id
ORDER BY
    amt DESC;

The following picture illustrates the result:

Remarks

To round a number down to the nearest whole number, you use the FLOOR() function.

In this tutorial, you have learned how to use the PostgreSQL CEIL() function to round a number up to the nearest integer, which is greater than or equal to the number.

See more

PostgreSQL Tutorial: Math Functions

PostgreSQL Documentation: Mathematical Functions and Operators