Roman numerals converter
Type a number or Roman numerals – the converter works out the direction itself. It shows the breakdown place by place and tells you when a Roman numeral does not follow the usual notation.
How it works
Type
A number from 1 to 3999 or Roman numerals (I, V, X, L, C, D, M) – upper or lower case.
Read the result
Below is the breakdown, e.g. 1994 = M + CM + XC + IV = 1000 + 900 + 90 + 4.
Check the notation
Unusual forms like IIII or IC are still worked out – with a note on how the number is usually written.
Frequently asked questions
How do Roman numerals work?+
There are seven symbols: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500, M = 1000. Values are added from left to right. A smaller symbol before a larger one is subtracted: IV = 4, IX = 9, XL = 40, XC = 90, CD = 400, CM = 900.
Why only up to 3999?+
A symbol may appear at most three times in a row, and there is no symbol above M (1000). MMMCMXCIX = 3999 is the largest number in the usual notation. Larger numbers were written with a bar over the symbols (times 1000).
Is there a Roman zero?+
No. The Romans had no symbol for zero, nor negative numbers or fractions in this notation.
Is IIII on clocks wrong?+
Many clock faces show IIII instead of IV – that is tradition and looks balanced, but it is not the usual notation today. The converter reads IIII as 4 and shows IV as the standard form.
How do I write a year in Roman numerals?+
Place by place: thousands, hundreds, tens, ones. 2026 = MM (2000) + XX (20) + VI (6) = MMXXVI. The “This year” button fills in the current year.