Roman numeral converter
Type a number to see it in Roman numerals, or type a Roman numeral to see the number.
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How do I convert a number to Roman numerals?
Split the number into thousands, hundreds, tens and ones and write each part with the Roman symbols, from largest to smallest. For 1994, that is M for 1000, CM for 900, XC for 90 and IV for 4, giving MCMXCIV. To convert back, read the symbols and add them, subtracting a symbol that sits before a larger one. The converter does this for any whole number from 1 to 3,999 and shows the year as Roman numerals for today.
The rules in short
Roman numerals use seven letters: I is 1, V is 5, X is 10, L is 50, C is 100, D is 500 and M is 1,000. Symbols are written from largest to smallest and added together, so VIII is 5 + 3 = 8. To avoid four of the same symbol in a row, a smaller symbol can be placed before a larger one to subtract it, but only in six combinations: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900). So 4 is IV, not IIII, and 1994 is MCMXCIV. A symbol I, X, C or M repeats at most three times, and V, L and D are never repeated.
The standard form has no zero and, without special marks, stops at 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX). The Romans did sometimes write four as IIII, and clock faces still often do, so you will see it on old buildings and clocks; the converter accepts only the standard subtractive form. Where you meet Roman numerals today: movie and sports-event numbers, book chapters and prefaces, monarchs and popes, building cornerstones and clock faces.
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Common numbers
A quick reference for the numbers people look up most.
| Number | Roman | Number | Roman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | 10 | X |
| 2 | II | 20 | XX |
| 3 | III | 30 | XXX |
| 4 | IV | 40 | XL |
| 5 | V | 50 | L |
| 6 | VI | 60 | LX |
| 7 | VII | 70 | LXX |
| 8 | VIII | 80 | LXXX |
| 9 | IX | 90 | XC |
| 100 | C | 1000 | M |
| 400 | CD | 1994 | MCMXCIV |
| 900 | CM | 2026 | MMXXVI |
When to use it
- Reading a copyright date, cornerstone or film credit
- Writing a year, a title or a tattoo in Roman numerals
- Checking a numbered list, a chapter or an outline
- Helping a child with maths homework
Mistakes it helps you avoid
- Writing IIII or VIIII instead of IV and IX.
- Subtracting more than one symbol, such as IIX for 8 (the correct form is VIII).
- Using I, X or C to subtract from a symbol more than ten times larger, such as IC for 99 (the correct form is XCIX).
- Looking for a zero: there is none.
The formula
How the answer is worked out.
1. Take the number's value from largest symbol to smallest: M 1000, CM 900, D 500, CD 400, C 100, XC 90, L 50, XL 40, X 10, IX 9, V 5, IV 4, I 1.2. Write each symbol as many times as it fits, subtracting its value each time.3. Roman to number: add each symbol's value, subtracting it when a larger symbol follows.
Standard Roman numerals run from I (1) to MMMCMXCIX (3,999). A bar over a symbol multiplies it by 1,000 in extended notation, which is not supported here. Input in lowercase is accepted.
Example: 2026
You want the year 2026 in Roman numerals.
- Thousands2000 = MM
- Tens20 = XX
- Ones6 = VI
2026 = MMXXVI
Check: 1000 + 1000 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 = 2026.
Terms on this page
- Subtractive notation
- Writing a smaller numeral before a larger one to subtract it, as in IV.
Common questions
What is 4 in Roman numerals?
IV. Some clocks write IIII, but the standard form is IV.
What is the largest Roman numeral?
In the standard form, MMMCMXCIX, which is 3,999.
Is there a Roman numeral for zero?
No. The Romans had no symbol for zero.
What is 2026 in Roman numerals?
MMXXVI.
Is my input uploaded?
No.
Is anything I enter sent to a server?
No. The calculation happens in your browser and nothing you type leaves your device.
Where these numbers come from
- Wikipedia — Roman numerals The symbols, the subtractive rules and the history.
Last verified 2026-10-25 The method on this page is checked against the sources above at least once a year. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
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