Numbers to Roman numerals, and back.
Type a number, a year or a whole date on the left, or Roman numerals on the right. Everything up to 3,999,999 converts, with a bar for thousands.
The seven Roman numerals
Roman numerals 1 to 100
- 100
- 200
- 300
- 400
- 500
- 600
- 700
- 800
- 900
- 1,000
- 2,000
- 3,000
- 4,000
- 5,000
- 10,000
- 50,000
- 100,000
- 1,000,000
- 1900
- 1950
- 1990
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2010
- 2020
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
- 2027
- 2028
- 2030
How Roman numerals work
Roman numerals use seven letters: I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500) and M (1,000). Write the value of each place from largest to smallest and add them up: MDCLXVI is 1,000 + 500 + 100 + 50 + 10 + 5 + 1 = 1,666.
- Repeat up to three times. III is 3 and XXX is 30. V, L and D are never repeated.
- Subtract for 4 and 9. A smaller numeral before a larger one is subtracted, but only in six pairs: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900).
- Work place by place. 1994 is M (1000) + CM (900) + XC (90) + IV (4) = MCMXCIV. You cannot shortcut it as MXM.
- Bars multiply by 1,000. A line over a numeral (a vinculum) makes V̅ = 5,000 and X̅ = 10,000, which is how numbers above 3,999 are written.
The converter checks Roman numerals against these rules, so forms such as IIII, VV or IC are flagged as invalid rather than guessed at.
Roman numeral symbols to copy
Unicode includes dedicated Roman numeral characters for compatibility with clock faces and East Asian typography. Use plain letters for normal writing; use these when a design calls for a single character such as Ⅻ.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write 2026 in Roman numerals? +
2026 is MMXXVI: MM for 2000, XX for 20 and VI for 6. Type any year into the converter to get its Roman numeral.
Is there a zero in Roman numerals? +
No. The Roman system has no symbol for zero and no negative numbers. Medieval scribes sometimes wrote N (for nulla) in tables, but it was never part of the numeral system.
What is the largest Roman numeral? +
With the seven standard letters the largest number is 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX). Larger numbers use a bar over a numeral, called a vinculum, to multiply it by 1,000: V̅ is 5,000 and M̅ is 1,000,000. This converter handles bars up to 3,999,999.
Why is 4 written IV and not IIII? +
Standard form uses subtraction for 4 and 9 at each place: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900). IIII still appears on many clock faces by tradition, but IV is the accepted form.
How do I write a date in Roman numerals? +
Convert each part separately. For 7 October 2026 written 7/10/2026, that is VII/X/MMXXVI. Paste the date into the converter and every number is converted at once, keeping your separators.
Should I use the Unicode Roman numeral characters? +
Usually not. Ordinary capital letters (I, V, X, L, C, D, M) are the standard way to write Roman numerals and work everywhere, including search. The special characters such as Ⅻ exist for compatibility with East Asian text and clock faces.