Roman Numeral Converter
Convert numbers to Roman numerals and Roman numerals to numbers, from 1 to 3999.
Results are provided as is, for general information. Check anything important before relying on it. See the Terms of Use.
About this tool
Converts between numbers and Roman numerals in either direction from one box: type 1994 to get MCMXCIV, or type MCMXCIV to get 1994. A second mode writes a calendar date in Roman numerals, in month-day-year, day-month-year or year-first order, for tattoos, inscriptions, invitations and film-style copyright dates. The tool uses standard notation, which covers 1 to 3999 and has no symbol for zero. Numerals are read strictly: a spelling that is not the standard form of its value, such as IIII, VX or IC, is flagged and the standard form is shown, rather than being silently accepted. A symbol table and a numeral chart sit below the converter. Everything runs in your browser.
How it works
Split into thousands, hundreds, tens and ones; write each with I V X, X L C, C D M IV = 4, IX = 9, XL = 40, XC = 90, CD = 400, CM = 900 (smaller symbol first means subtract)
Standard Roman numerals add symbol values from left to right, except that a smaller symbol placed before a larger one is subtracted. Only I, X and C are subtracted, and no symbol repeats more than three times. That gives one standard spelling for each of the numbers 1 to 3999.
| Question | Working | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 as a Roman numeral | 1000 + 900 + 90 + 4 = M + CM + XC + IV | MCMXCIV |
| 2026 as a Roman numeral | 2000 + 20 + 6 = MM + XX + VI | MMXXVI |
| XLII as a number | XL (40) + II (2) | 42 |
| October 9, 2026 in Roman numerals | month 10 = X, day 9 = IX, year 2026 = MMXXVI | X.IX.MMXXVI |
When to use it
Questions
How do I convert a number to a Roman numeral?
Write the number as thousands, hundreds, tens and ones, then replace each part with its numeral. For 1994 that is 1000 + 900 + 90 + 4, written M, CM, XC and IV, so 1994 is MCMXCIV. The converter does this in one step.
What is the year 2026 in Roman numerals?
MMXXVI: MM is 2000, XX is 20 and VI is 6.
How do I write a date in Roman numerals?
Switch to the Date mode and type the date as 2026-10-09 or as 10/9/2026. The tool treats month/day/year as US order, so 10/9/2026 is October 9, and shows it as X.IX.MMXXVI. It also shows the day-first form (IX.X.MMXXVI) and the year-first form (MMXXVI.X.IX), because there is no single standard. Pick the order you use.
Why is IIII or VX rejected?
Standard notation writes 4 as IV and 5 as V, and never repeats a symbol more than three times in a row. Only I, X and C can be subtracted, and only from the next two larger symbols, so 99 is XCIX, not IC. Some clock faces do use IIII for 4, which is a style choice rather than the standard form. The converter shows the standard spelling of the value it read.
What is the largest Roman numeral, and is there a zero?
In standard notation the largest is MMMCMXCIX, 3999, because M can only be repeated three times. Larger numbers were written with a bar over a numeral to multiply it by 1000, which this tool does not use. Standard Roman numerals have no symbol for zero, so 0 and negative numbers are not converted.
What do the symbols stand for?
I is 1, V is 5, X is 10, L is 50, C is 100, D is 500 and M is 1000. A smaller symbol before a larger one is subtracted (IX is 9), and after it is added (XI is 11).