Roman Numeral Converter
Convert numbers to Roman numerals, Roman numerals to numbers, and dates to Roman numerals for tattoos, invitations, and engravings. Every result shows how the letters add up, so you can check it before you use it.
The Roman numeral appears here as you type.
What are Roman numerals?
Roman numerals are the number system of ancient Rome. They use seven letters, each with a fixed value, and you combine them to write a number. Today they still appear on clock faces, in film copyright years, in the names of kings and popes (Henry VIII), and in book chapters and outlines.
| I | V | X | L | C | D | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 100 | 500 | 1,000 |
Why use our Roman numeral converter
- ·Works both ways. Numbers to Roman numerals and Roman numerals back to numbers.
- ·Shows the working. A breakdown like M + CM + XC + IV = 1994 under every result.
- ·Dates in any order. US, UK, or ISO order with the separator you want.
- ·Catches mistakes. Non-standard numerals like IIII or IC are pointed out with the correct form.
- ·Big numbers too. Up to 3,999,999, using a bar over the thousands.
How to convert numbers to Roman numerals
- 1
Pick what to convert
Choose Number to Roman, Roman to number, or Date to Roman from the tabs above the tool.
- 2
Type a number, numeral, or date
Enter a number like 1994, a Roman numeral like MCMXCIV (upper or lower case), or pick a date and choose US or UK order. The result updates as you type.
- 3
Check the breakdown and copy
The breakdown under the result shows how each letter adds up. Click the copy button to copy the Roman numeral or number.
How to write Roman numerals by hand
Four rules cover every standard Roman numeral from 1 to 3,999:
- ·Work from the largest value down. Split the number into thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones, and write each part in turn. 1994 is 1000 + 900 + 90 + 4, which is M + CM + XC + IV.
- ·Put a smaller letter in front to subtract. IV is 5 minus 1, so 4. Only six pairs are used this way: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400), and CM (900).
- ·Repeat a letter no more than three times. 3 is III, but 4 is IV, not IIII. V, L, and D are never repeated, because VV would just be X.
- ·Otherwise, add the letters up. When letters go from large to small, add them: VIII is 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8, and MDCLXVI is 1666.
Roman numerals chart
Numbers 1 to 20, then the tens and hundreds. Combine them to build any number: 47 is XL (40) + VII (7), so XLVII.
Roman numerals 1 to 20
- 1
- I
- 2
- II
- 3
- III
- 4
- IV
- 5
- V
- 6
- VI
- 7
- VII
- 8
- VIII
- 9
- IX
- 10
- X
- 11
- XI
- 12
- XII
- 13
- XIII
- 14
- XIV
- 15
- XV
- 16
- XVI
- 17
- XVII
- 18
- XVIII
- 19
- XIX
- 20
- XX
Tens from 30 to 100
- 30
- XXX
- 40
- XL
- 50
- L
- 60
- LX
- 70
- LXX
- 80
- LXXX
- 90
- XC
- 100
- C
Hundreds from 200 to 1,000
- 200
- CC
- 300
- CCC
- 400
- CD
- 500
- D
- 600
- DC
- 700
- DCC
- 800
- DCCC
- 900
- CM
- 1,000
- M
Years in Roman numerals
- 1900
- MCM
- 1950
- MCML
- 1984
- MCMLXXXIV
- 1999
- MCMXCIX
- 2000
- MM
- 2010
- MMX
- 2020
- MMXX
- 2024
- MMXXIV
- 2025
- MMXXV
- 2026
- MMXXVI
Writing dates in Roman numerals for tattoos and invitations
A date in Roman numerals is just the month, day, and year each written as its own numeral. The part people most often get wrong is the order, because it follows the way dates are written where you live:
| Order | Used in | July 4, 1776 |
|---|---|---|
| Month, day, year | United States | VII.IV.MDCCLXXVI |
| Day, month, year | UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Europe | IV.VII.MDCCLXXVI |
| Year, month, day | ISO 8601 standard, China, Japan, and Korea | MDCCLXXVI.VII.IV |
Canada uses more than one order, so pick the one the person reading it will expect. Before a tattoo or engraving, read the date back with the Roman to number tab, one part at a time, to make sure every part is right.
Roman numerals in Excel, Google Sheets, and Word
| Where | How |
|---|---|
| Excel and Google Sheets | =ROMAN(1994) gives MCMXCIV, and =ARABIC("MCMXCIV") gives 1994. ROMAN only goes up to 3,999 |
| Microsoft Word | Press Ctrl+F9 to add a field, type = 1994 \* ROMAN inside the braces, then press F9. Use \* roman for lowercase |
Who uses a Roman numeral converter
- ·Tattoos, engravings, and wedding dates. Write a birthday, anniversary, or wedding date in Roman numerals, and check the order (US month first, UK day first) before it becomes permanent.
- ·Students and teachers. Check homework and see each step of the working, including why a number uses a subtracting pair like XC or CM.
- ·Writers and designers. Number chapters, book volumes, outlines, and preface pages (lowercase i, ii, iii), or set a year in Roman numerals for a title card or logo.
- ·Anyone reading old dates. Read the copyright year at the end of a film or TV show, a year carved on a building, or a numeral on a clock face or monument.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I convert a number to Roman numerals?
- Type the number into the Number to Roman tab and the Roman numeral appears straight away, with a breakdown of each part. To do it by hand, split the number into thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones, and write each part with its Roman letters. For example, 1994 is 1000 (M) + 900 (CM) + 90 (XC) + 4 (IV), so MCMXCIV.
- How do I write a date in Roman numerals?
- Open the Date to Roman tab, pick the date, and choose the order. In the US the month comes first, so July 4, 1776 is VII.IV.MDCCLXXVI. In the UK and most other countries the day comes first, giving IV.VII.MDCCLXXVI. Choose dots, dashes, slashes, spaces, or a middle dot between the parts.
- How do you write years in Roman numerals?
- Write the year as one number, not as two pairs of digits. 1999 is MCMXCIX (1000 + 900 + 90 + 9), 2000 is MM, and 2026 is MMXXVI (2000 + 20 + 6).
- Why is 4 written IV and not IIII?
- Standard Roman numerals never repeat a letter more than three times. Instead, a smaller letter placed before a larger one is subtracted, so 4 is IV (5 minus 1) and 9 is IX (10 minus 1). IIII does appear in older inscriptions and on clocks, and this tool still reads it as 4, but it points out that IV is the standard form.
- Why do clocks use IIII instead of IV?
- Many clock and watch faces have used IIII for centuries. It is a tradition rather than a rule, and the reason is debated. A common explanation is that IIII looks more balanced opposite the VIII on the other side of the dial.
- Is there a Roman numeral for zero?
- No. The Roman system has no symbol for zero, so the converter asks for a number of 1 or more. Roman numerals also have no negative numbers or decimals.
- What is the largest Roman numeral?
- In standard form, the largest number is 3,999, written MMMCMXCIX, because M cannot be repeated more than three times. Larger numbers were written with a bar over the letters, which multiplies them by 1,000, so a barred V is 5,000. This tool uses bars to go up to 3,999,999.
- Why does the tool say my Roman numeral is not standard?
- Some numerals can be read but break the standard rules, such as IIII for 4, IC for 99, or VV for 10. The tool works out the value using the usual add and subtract rule and shows the standard way to write it, so IC gives 99 with the standard form XCIX.
- When are lowercase Roman numerals used?
- Lowercase numerals (i, ii, iii, iv) are common for page numbers in the front of a book, such as a preface, and for items in a list or outline. They mean exactly the same as capitals. Turn on Lowercase in the tool to get them.
- How do I type the bar over a Roman numeral?
- The tool shows the bar as a line over the letters. When you copy it, each barred letter is followed by a combining overline character (U+0305), which most modern apps support. Some fonts draw it off center or not at all, so check how it looks where you paste it.
- Is the Roman numeral converter free?
- Yes. It is free with no signup, and everything runs in your browser.