The seven Roman numeral symbols
| Symbol | I | V | X | L | C | D | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 100 | 500 | 1,000 |
How to read and write Roman numerals
- Add symbols from largest to smallest. VIII = 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8, and MDCLXVI = 1000 + 500 + 100 + 50 + 10 + 5 + 1 = 1,666.
- A smaller symbol before a larger one is subtracted. IV = 5 − 1 = 4, IX = 9, XL = 40, XC = 90, CD = 400, CM = 900.
- Only six subtractive pairs exist. I goes before V and X, X before L and C, C before D and M. So 99 is XCIX, not IC, and 49 is XLIX, not IL.
- Never repeat a symbol more than three times. 4 is IV, not IIII; 40 is XL, not XXXX. V, L and D are never repeated.
To convert a number, write each place value separately and join them: 1,994 = 1,000 + 900 + 90 + 4 = M + CM + XC + IV = MCMXCIV. The converter shows this breakdown under every result.
Roman numerals 1 to 50
- 1I
- 2II
- 3III
- 4IV
- 5V
- 6VI
- 7VII
- 8VIII
- 9IX
- 10X
- 11XI
- 12XII
- 13XIII
- 14XIV
- 15XV
- 16XVI
- 17XVII
- 18XVIII
- 19XIX
- 20XX
- 21XXI
- 22XXII
- 23XXIII
- 24XXIV
- 25XXV
- 26XXVI
- 27XXVII
- 28XXVIII
- 29XXIX
- 30XXX
- 31XXXI
- 32XXXII
- 33XXXIII
- 34XXXIV
- 35XXXV
- 36XXXVI
- 37XXXVII
- 38XXXVIII
- 39XXXIX
- 40XL
- 41XLI
- 42XLII
- 43XLIII
- 44XLIV
- 45XLV
- 46XLVI
- 47XLVII
- 48XLVIII
- 49XLIX
- 50L
Tens, hundreds and thousands
| Number | Numeral | Number | Numeral |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | LX | 500 | D |
| 70 | LXX | 600 | DC |
| 80 | LXXX | 700 | DCC |
| 90 | XC | 800 | DCCC |
| 100 | C | 900 | CM |
| 200 | CC | 1,000 | M |
| 300 | CCC | 2,000 | MM |
| 400 | CD | 3,000 | MMM |
Years in Roman numerals
Film credits, building cornerstones, clocks and Super Bowl logos use Roman numerals for years.
| Year | Numeral | Year | Numeral |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1776 | MDCCLXXVI | 2020 | MMXX |
| 1900 | MCM | 2024 | MMXXIV |
| 1984 | MCMLXXXIV | 2025 | MMXXV |
| 1999 | MCMXCIX | 2026 | MMXXVI |
| 2000 | MM | 2027 | MMXXVII |
| 2010 | MMX | 2030 | MMXXX |
Dates in Roman numerals
Write each part of the date separately, in the order you use for normal dates, with a dot or a middle dot between them. July 4, 2026 in US order is VII.IV.MMXXVI. For a tattoo or engraving, decide the order first, VII.IV.MMXXVI reads as July 4 in the US but 7 April in most other countries. The date section of the converter lets you pick the order and separator and copies the result.
Numbers larger than 3,999
Standard Roman numerals stop at 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX) because no symbol is repeated more than three times. For bigger numbers the Romans drew a bar over a numeral, the vinculum: to multiply it by 1,000: V̅ = 5,000, X̅ = 10,000, M̅ = 1,000,000. The converter writes these with a combining overline, up to 3,999,999.
Is there a zero in Roman numerals?
No. Roman numerals were used for counting and recording amounts, where zero wasn’t needed, and there is no symbol for it or for negative numbers and fractions. Medieval scholars sometimes wrote nulla or N for zero.
FAQ
Why do clocks show IIII instead of IV?
Many clock faces use IIII for 4 by tradition and visual balance with VIII opposite it. In standard notation 4 is IV, and the converter flags IIII with the correct form.
Can I type lowercase Roman numerals?
Yes, mmxxvi works the same as MMXXVI. Lowercase numerals are common in book front matter (page iv, xii).
What is the largest Roman numeral?
Without special notation, 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX). With the vinculum, the converter goes up to 3,999,999.
How do you write 2026 in Roman numerals?
2026 = 2,000 + 20 + 6 = MM + XX + VI = MMXXVI.