diff --git a/qupulse/utils/__init__.py b/qupulse/utils/__init__.py
index 43de28c1..326072f4 100644
--- a/qupulse/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/qupulse/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 """This package contains utility functions and classes as well as custom sympy extensions(hacks)."""
 
-from typing import Union, Iterable, Any, Tuple, Mapping, Iterator, TypeVar, Sequence, AbstractSet
+from typing import Union, Iterable, Any, Tuple, Mapping, Iterator, TypeVar, Sequence, AbstractSet, Optional, Callable
 import itertools
 import re
 import numbers
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from frozendict import frozendict
+from qupulse.expressions import ExpressionScalar, ExpressionLike
 
 import numpy
 
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@
 
 
 __all__ = ["checked_int_cast", "is_integer", "isclose", "pairwise", "replace_multiple", "cached_property",
-           "forced_hash"]
+           "forced_hash", "to_next_multiple"]
 
 
 def checked_int_cast(x: Union[float, int, numpy.ndarray], epsilon: float=1e-6) -> int:
@@ -122,3 +123,30 @@ def forced_hash(obj) -> int:
             return hash(tuple(map(forced_hash, obj)))
 
         raise
+
+
+def to_next_multiple(sample_rate: ExpressionLike, quantum: int,
+                     min_quanta: Optional[int] = None) -> Callable[[ExpressionLike],ExpressionScalar]:
+    """Construct a helper function to expand a duration to one corresponding to
+    valid sample multiples according to the arguments given.
+    Useful e.g. for PulseTemplate.pad_to's 'to_new_duration'-argument.
+
+    Args:
+        sample_rate: sample rate with respect to which the duration is evaluated.
+        quantum: number of samples to whose next integer multiple the duration shall be rounded up to.
+        min_quanta: number of multiples of quantum not to fall short of.
+    Returns:
+        A function that takes a duration (ExpressionLike) as input, and returns
+        a duration rounded up to the next valid samples count in given sample rate.
+        The function returns 0 if duration==0, <0 is not checked if min_quanta is None.
+
+    """
+    sample_rate = ExpressionScalar(sample_rate)
+    #is it more efficient to omit the Max call if not necessary?
+    if min_quanta is None:
+        #double negative for ceil division.
+        return lambda duration: -(-(duration*sample_rate)//quantum) * (quantum/sample_rate)
+    else:
+        #still return 0 if duration==0
+        return lambda duration: ExpressionScalar(f'{quantum}/({sample_rate})*Max({min_quanta},-(-{duration}*{sample_rate}//{quantum}))*Max(0, sign({duration}))')
+   
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/utils/utils_tests.py b/tests/utils/utils_tests.py
index 6ec75092..83e1a26a 100644
--- a/tests/utils/utils_tests.py
+++ b/tests/utils/utils_tests.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from unittest import mock
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
-from qupulse.utils import checked_int_cast, replace_multiple, _fallback_pairwise
+from qupulse.utils import checked_int_cast, replace_multiple, _fallback_pairwise, to_next_multiple
 
 
 class PairWiseTest(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -102,3 +102,42 @@ def test_replace_multiple_overlap(self):
         replacements = OrderedDict(reversed(replacement_list))
         result = replace_multiple('asdf', replacements)
         self.assertEqual(result, '2')
+
+
+class ToNextMultipleTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_to_next_multiple(self):
+        from qupulse.utils.types import TimeType
+        from qupulse.expressions import ExpressionScalar
+        
+        duration = TimeType.from_float(47.1415926535)
+        evaluated = to_next_multiple(sample_rate=TimeType.from_float(2.4),quantum=16)(duration)
+        expected = ExpressionScalar('160/3')
+        self.assertEqual(evaluated, expected)
+        
+        duration = TimeType.from_float(3.1415926535)
+        evaluated = to_next_multiple(sample_rate=TimeType.from_float(2.4),quantum=16,min_quanta=13)(duration)
+        expected = ExpressionScalar('260/3')
+        self.assertEqual(evaluated, expected)
+        
+        duration = 6185240.0000001
+        evaluated = to_next_multiple(sample_rate=1.0,quantum=16,min_quanta=13)(duration)
+        expected = 6185248
+        self.assertEqual(evaluated, expected)
+        
+        duration = 0.
+        evaluated = to_next_multiple(sample_rate=1.0,quantum=16,min_quanta=13)(duration)
+        expected = 0.
+        self.assertEqual(evaluated, expected)
+        
+        duration = ExpressionScalar('abc')
+        evaluated = to_next_multiple(sample_rate=1.0,quantum=16,min_quanta=13)(duration).evaluate_in_scope(dict(abc=0.))
+        expected = 0.
+        self.assertEqual(evaluated, expected)
+        
+        duration = ExpressionScalar('q')
+        evaluated = to_next_multiple(sample_rate=ExpressionScalar('w'),quantum=16,min_quanta=1)(duration).evaluate_in_scope(
+                        dict(q=3.14159,w=1.0))
+        expected = 16.
+        self.assertEqual(evaluated, expected)
+        
+        
\ No newline at end of file