---
title: 'PostgreSQL CEIL() Function'
page_title: 'PostgreSQL CEIL() Function'
page_description: 'Show you 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.'
prev_url: 'https://www.postgresqltutorial.com/postgresql-math-functions/postgresql-ceil/'
ogImage: '/postgresqltutorial/customer-and-payment-tables.png'
updatedOn: '2024-02-16T14:25:43+00:00'
enableTableOfContents: true
previousLink:
  title: 'PostgreSQL ABS() Function'
  slug: 'postgresql-math-functions/postgresql-abs'
nextLink:
  title: 'PostgreSQL CBRT() Function'
  slug: 'postgresql-math-functions/postgresql-cbrt'
---

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

## Syntax

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

```css
CEIL(numeric_expression)
```

## Arguments

The `CEIL()` function requires one argument:

**1\) `numeric_expression`**

The `numeric_expression` is a number (or an expression that 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:

```
 ceil
------
  201
(1 row)
```

Let’s take the `customer` and `payment` tables in the [sample database](../postgresql-getting-started/postgresql-sample-database) for the demonstration.

![customer and payment tables](/postgresqltutorial/customer-and-payment-tables.png)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:

![PostgreSQL CEIL function example](/postgresqltutorial/PostgreSQL-CEIL-function-example.png)

## Remarks

To round a number down to the nearest whole number, you use the [`FLOOR()`](postgresql-floor) function.

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