math.ceil() function Python (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 3 Jun, 2026

math.ceil() function returns the smallest integer greater than or equal to a given number. It always rounds a value upward to the nearest whole number. If the input is already an integer, the same value is returned.

This example shows how math.ceil() rounds a positive decimal number up to the next integer.

Python `

import math

x = 33.7 res = math.ceil(x) print(res)

`

Syntax

math.ceil(x)

• **Parameters: x - A numeric value (int or float).
• **Returns: smallest integer greater than or equal to x.

Examples

**Example 1: This example demonstrates how the function behaves with negative values. It still returns the smallest integer that is not less than the given number.

Python `

import math

a = -13.1 b = math.ceil(a) print(b)

`

**Explanation: math.ceil(-13.1) returns -13 because it is the smallest integer greater than or equal to -13.1.

**Example 2: This example applies math.ceil() to a list of decimal numbers and prints their ceiling values one by one.

Python `

import math

nums = [2.3, 7.01, 101.96] res = [math.ceil(n) for n in nums] print(res)

`

**Explanation: math.ceil(n) rounds each value in nums upward 2.3 -> 3, 7.01 -> 8, 101.96 -> 102.