Roman Numerals Converter — Numbers, Years & Dates

Place-value breakdown
Numeral	Value
M	1,000
M	1,000
X	10
X	10
V	5
I	1

Place-value breakdown

Numeral

Value

1,000

The seven symbols and the rules

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

Roman numerals add symbols from largest to smallest — VIII is 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8 — with one exception: a smaller symbol in front of a larger one is subtracted. Only six such pairs are used:

Pair	IV	IX	XL	XC	CD	CM
Value	4	9	40	90	400	900

So I goes only before V and X, X only before L and C, and C only before D and M. No symbol repeats more than three times in a row in the standard form, and V, L and D never repeat. That is why 99 is XCIX (90 + 9), not IC, and 49 is XLIX, not IL. The converter reads any numeral that follows these rules, explains clock-face forms like IIII, and suggests the right form for impossible ones.

Converting a number, place by place

Write each place value separately and join them:

1994: 1000 = M, 900 = CM, 90 = XC, 4 = IV → MCMXCIV
2026: 2000 = MM, 20 = XX, 6 = VI → MMXXVI
3999: 3000 = MMM, 900 = CM, 90 = XC, 9 = IX → MMMCMXCIX

Reading a numeral back works the same way: split it where the values fall, MCMLXXXIV into M, CM, LXXX and IV, and add 1000 + 900 + 80 + 4 = 1984. The breakdown under the result shows these parts for any number.

Roman numerals 1 to 100

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Units	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Tens	X	XX	XXX	XL	L	LX	LXX	LXXX	XC	C

Combine a tens numeral with a units numeral for any number up to 99: 47 is XL + VII = XLVII, 88 is LXXX + VIII = LXXXVIII, and 100 is C.

Large numbers and the bar

Standard numerals stop at 3,999. For larger numbers, a bar (vinculum) over a symbol multiplies it by 1,000: V̅ is 5,000 and X̅ is 10,000. The converter writes the thousands with bars and the rest normally, so 4,000 is I̅V̅ and 2,026,000 is M̅M̅X̅X̅V̅I̅. Bars are hard to type, so for big numbers type the number and copy the numeral.

Where you still see Roman numerals

Years on buildings and in film credits, chapters and front-matter pages of books, the names of monarchs and popes, outlines, and event numbers: the Super Bowl played in February 2026 was Super Bowl LX, the 60th. Clock faces are the best-known holdout of the old additive four, IIII. Dates for engravings and tattoos are usually written month · day · year in the U.S. — enter the date in the second box to get both orders, and check the result twice before it is carved or inked. For today’s date, see what is today’s date.

No zero, no fractions

The Roman system has no symbol for zero and no place value, which is why arithmetic with it is slow; the Romans did their sums on counting boards. Fractions were written in twelfths with separate signs and are not used today, so the converter takes whole numbers only. For arithmetic, use the scientific calculator; for fractions, the fraction calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is 2026 in Roman numerals?

MMXXVI: MM for 2000, XX for 20 and VI for 6.

How do you write 4 and 9 in Roman numerals?

IV and IX. A smaller symbol in front of a larger one is subtracted, so IV is 5 − 1 and IX is 10 − 1. The same rule gives XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900).

Why do clocks show IIII instead of IV?

Many clock faces use IIII, an older additive form that goes back to the earliest mechanical clocks. It is still read as 4, but the standard form today is IV.

What is the largest Roman numeral?

Without extra marks, MMMCMXCIX, which is 3,999. A bar over a symbol multiplies it by 1,000, so with bars the converter goes up to 3,999,999.

Is there a Roman numeral for zero?

No. The Roman system has no zero; medieval writers used the word nulla (none) instead.

How do I write a date in Roman numerals?

Convert the month, day and year separately and keep your usual order. October 8, 2026 is X · VIII · MMXXVI in U.S. order, or VIII · X · MMXXVI day first.