About the Roman Numeral Converter
Roman numerals write numbers with seven letters: I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500) and M (1000). You still see them on clock faces, book chapters, movie copyright years, Super Bowl numbers and the names of monarchs (Elizabeth II, Charles III).
This converter works both ways for 1 to 3999. If you type a non-standard numeral such as IIII or IC, it tells you what is wrong and shows the correct form. Lowercase (xii) and Unicode Roman numeral characters (Ⅻ) are accepted too.
How to use
- Type a number in the first box to see it in Roman numerals.
- Or type a Roman numeral in the second box to convert it to a number.
- Check the breakdown by place value below to see how the thousands, hundreds, tens and ones were written.
- Copy Unicode copies single-character Roman numeral symbols such as Ⅻ.
Roman numeral symbols and rules
| Symbol | I | V | X | L | C | D | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 100 | 500 | 1000 |
- Write the larger values first and add them up: VIII = 5 + 3 = 8.
- The same letter appears at most three times in a row, so 4 is IV, not IIII.
- A smaller value before a larger one is subtracted. Only six subtractive pairs are standard: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900). That is why 99 is XCIX, not IC.
- V, L and D are never repeated or subtracted.
Roman numerals chart: 1–20 and common numbers
| Number | Roman numeral | Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | 11 | XI |
| 2 | II | 12 | XII |
| 3 | III | 14 | XIV |
| 4 | IV | 19 | XIX |
| 5 | V | 20 | XX |
| 6 | VI | 50 | L |
| 7 | VII | 100 | C |
| 8 | VIII | 500 | D |
| 9 | IX | 1000 | M |
| 10 | X | 2026 | MMXXVI |
FAQ
Why do clocks show 4 as IIII?
Many clock and watch makers use IIII for tradition and visual balance with VIII on the opposite side of the dial. The standard form is IV, so this converter flags IIII as non-standard.
Why can't I convert 0 or numbers above 3999?
The Romans had no symbol for zero. And because M may appear only three times, 3999 (MMMCMXCIX) is the largest standard numeral. Larger numbers use a bar over a letter to multiply it by 1,000.
How do I write 2026 in Roman numerals?
2026 = 2000 + 20 + 6 = MM + XX + VI = MMXXVI.
How do I type symbols like Ⅻ?
Use the 'Copy Unicode (Ⅻ)' button. Numbers 1–12 are copied as single characters (Ⅰ–Ⅻ); larger numbers are copied letter by letter using the Unicode Roman numeral symbols.