# Roman Numeral Converter

> Roman numerals add symbol values from largest to smallest (M = 1,000, D = 500, C = 100, L = 50, X = 10, V = 5, I = 1), with IV, IX, XL, XC, CD and CM for 4, 9, 40, 90, 400 and 900, so 1994 = M + CM + XC + IV = MCMXCIV and 2026 is MMXXVI. The converter works both ways for 1 to 3,999.

- Interactive calculator: https://calculatorswithsteps.com/roman-numeral-converter
- Category: Everyday & Conversion Calculators
- Last updated: 2026-11-10
- Publisher: Calculators With Steps (calculatorswithsteps.com)

## How to use the Roman numeral converter

- **Number → Roman:** choose this option and type a whole number from 1 to 3,999. The Roman numeral appears instantly with its breakdown by thousands, hundreds, tens and ones.
- **Roman → Number:** choose this option and type a numeral such as `MCMXCIV`. Upper or lower case both work. The converter checks that the numeral is written in standard form and, if it is not, explains the rule that was broken and suggests the correct numeral.

## The seven Roman numeral symbols

| Symbol | I | V | X | L | C | D | M |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Value | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 100 | 500 | 1,000 |

## Rules for writing Roman numerals

1. **Write from largest to smallest** and add the values: VI = 5 + 1 = 6, and MDC = 1,000 + 500 + 100 = 1,600.
2. **I, X, C and M can repeat up to three times** in a row: III = 3, XXX = 30, MMM = 3,000. Four in a row (IIII) is not standard.
3. **V, L and D never repeat**, because two of them would equal the next symbol (VV would be X).
4. **Subtract by placing a smaller symbol first**, but only in six pairs: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900). I can only be subtracted from V and X, X only from L and C, and C only from D and M. V, L and D are never subtracted.

These rules give every number from 1 to 3,999 exactly one standard form, which is why the converter rejects forms such as IIII, VV, IC or XM.

## How to work out Roman numerals, step by step

Split the number into thousands, hundreds, tens and ones, convert each part, and join them. For **1994**:

| Place | Value | Roman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Thousands | 1,000 | M |
| Hundreds | 900 | CM |
| Tens | 90 | XC |
| Ones | 4 | IV |
| **Total** | **1,994** | **MCMXCIV** |

To read a numeral, go the other way: split it into symbols and subtractive pairs, then add. MCMXCIV is M + CM + XC + IV = 1,000 + 900 + 90 + 4 = 1,994.

## Roman numerals 1 to 20

| Number | Roman | Number | Roman |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | I | 11 | XI |
| 2 | II | 12 | XII |
| 3 | III | 13 | XIII |
| 4 | IV | 14 | XIV |
| 5 | V | 15 | XV |
| 6 | VI | 16 | XVI |
| 7 | VII | 17 | XVII |
| 8 | VIII | 18 | XVIII |
| 9 | IX | 19 | XIX |
| 10 | X | 20 | XX |

## Tens, hundreds and thousands

| Tens | Roman | Hundreds | Roman | Thousands | Roman |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10 | X | 100 | C | 1,000 | M |
| 20 | XX | 200 | CC | 2,000 | MM |
| 30 | XXX | 300 | CCC | 3,000 | MMM |
| 40 | XL | 400 | CD | | |
| 50 | L | 500 | D | | |
| 60 | LX | 600 | DC | | |
| 70 | LXX | 700 | DCC | | |
| 80 | LXXX | 800 | DCCC | | |
| 90 | XC | 900 | CM | | |

## Years in Roman numerals

Years often appear in Roman numerals in film and TV credits, on building cornerstones and on monuments.

| Year | Roman numeral |
| --- | --- |
| 1990 | MCMXC |
| 1999 | MCMXCIX |
| 2000 | MM |
| 2024 | MMXXIV |
| 2025 | MMXXV |
| 2026 | MMXXVI |

For a date of birth or anniversary, convert the day, month and year separately, for example 14 July 1995 becomes XIV · VII · MCMXCV. Use the [age calculator](https://calculatorswithsteps.com/age-calculator) if you also want to know an exact age from that date.

## Roman numerals in chemistry

In chemical names, a Roman numeral in brackets gives the oxidation state of a metal that can form more than one ion. Iron(II) chloride is FeCl₂, with iron at +2, and iron(III) chloride is FeCl₃, with iron at +3. Copper(I) and copper(II) work the same way. To find the numeral, work out the charge the metal needs to balance the other ions in the formula.

## Large numbers and the vinculum

The standard symbols stop at 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX), because there is no symbol for 5,000. Medieval and later writers drew a bar, called a vinculum, over a numeral to multiply it by 1,000, so a barred V means 5,000 and a barred X means 10,000. With bars the system can reach 3,999,999. This converter covers the standard range and does not draw bars.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is 4 in Roman numerals?

4 is IV, meaning one less than five. The form IIII is not standard, although many clock faces use it for 4 by tradition.

### What is 9 in Roman numerals?

9 is IX, one less than ten. Likewise 90 is XC and 900 is CM.

### What is the Roman numeral for 40 and for 49?

40 is XL (ten less than fifty). 49 is XLIX, which is 40 + 9. Writing 49 as IL is incorrect, because I can only be placed before V or X.

### What is the Roman numeral for 50 and for 100?

50 is L and 100 is C. The other basic symbols are I (1), V (5), X (10), D (500) and M (1,000).

### How do you write 2026 in Roman numerals?

2026 is MMXXVI: 2,000 is MM, 20 is XX and 6 is VI. The previous years were 2025 = MMXXV and 2024 = MMXXIV.

### How do you write a date of birth in Roman numerals?

Convert the day, month and year separately and join them with dots or dashes. 14 July 1995 is XIV · VII · MCMXCV. Check the result here before using it for a tattoo or engraving.

### Is there a Roman numeral for zero?

No. The Roman system had no symbol for zero, and it does not show negative numbers or fractions in the standard form, so this converter accepts whole numbers from 1 upward.

### What is the largest number in Roman numerals?

With the standard symbols the largest is 3,999, written MMMCMXCIX. Larger numbers were written with a bar (vinculum) over a numeral to multiply it by 1,000, so V with a bar is 5,000. That system reaches 3,999,999.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia – Roman numerals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_numerals)