Roman Numeral Converter
Type a number or a Roman numeral and get the conversion instantly. It handles values up to 3,999,999 using the overline (vinculum) notation and explains every step.
Type in either box – it detects numbers and numerals automatically. For ×1000 (overline) type (IV), _I_V or paste overlined letters such as I̅V̅.
Roman numeral symbols
Numbers 1 to 100
Years
| Year | Roman numeral |
|---|
How to use the Roman Numeral Converter
- Type a number such as 1994 into the Number box, or a numeral such as MCMXCIV into the Roman box. Either box also auto-detects the other kind of input.
- Read the result and the step-by-step breakdown underneath, for example 1994 = M + CM + XC + IV.
- For numbers of 4,000 or more, a line over a numeral multiplies it by 1,000. To type one, use parentheses like
(IV)or an underscore like_I_V. - Fix mistakes: invalid numerals such as IIII, VV or IC are flagged with the reason and the correct form.
- Copy the numeral with Unicode overlines, in parentheses form, or copy the number.
The rules of Roman numerals
Roman numerals use seven letters: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500 and M = 1,000. A number is written from the largest value to the smallest and the values are added up, so MDCLXVI = 1000 + 500 + 100 + 50 + 10 + 5 + 1 = 1,666. Standard modern notation follows four rules:
- Repeat at most three times. I, X, C and M can be repeated up to three times in a row (III = 3, XXX = 30). V, L and D are never repeated.
- Subtract with a smaller numeral in front. A smaller value before a larger one is subtracted: IV = 4, IX = 9.
- Only six subtractive pairs exist: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900). So 49 is XLIX, not IL, and 99 is XCIX, not IC.
- Only one numeral can be subtracted. 8 is VIII, never IIX.
To convert a number, split it into thousands, hundreds, tens and units and write each part separately: 1994 = 1000 + 900 + 90 + 4 = M + CM + XC + IV = MCMXCIV.
Large numbers and the vinculum
Because M can only be repeated three times, the basic system stops at 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX). For larger numbers, the Romans and later medieval scribes drew a bar over a numeral, called a vinculum, to multiply it by 1,000:
| Numeral | Value | Type it as |
|---|---|---|
| IV | 4,000 | (IV) or _I_V |
| V | 5,000 | (V) or _V |
| X | 10,000 | (X) or _X |
| L | 50,000 | (L) or _L |
| C | 100,000 | (C) or _C |
| D | 500,000 | (D) or _D |
| M | 1,000,000 | (M) or _M |
This converter writes every number of 4,000 or more as an overlined thousands part followed by an ordinary part for the rest. For example 25,750 = 25 × 1,000 + 750, written XXVDCCL. When you copy a numeral, the overline is added with the Unicode combining overline character (U+0305), which displays in most modern fonts. If your app doesn't show it, use the (parentheses) copy option, a common plain-text convention.
Roman numerals in dates
Roman numerals are still used for years on buildings, film credits and book title pages, for monarchs and popes (Elizabeth II, Benedict XVI), Super Bowls, clock faces, chapter numbers and outlines. To write a full date such as 14 July 2026, convert each part separately: XIV · VII · MMXXVI. Popular tattoo dates follow the same pattern, so double-check every part with the converter before committing to ink.
Frequently asked questions
What is 2026 in Roman numerals?
2026 is MMXXVI: MM for 2000, XX for 20 and VI for 6. Use the Current year button to convert this year, or type any year into the converter.
How do you write 4 in Roman numerals: IV or IIII?
The standard form is IV, meaning one before five (5 - 1). IIII appears on some clock faces for visual balance, but it is not used in standard notation, and the converter flags it as invalid.
What is the largest number in Roman numerals?
With the basic symbols, the largest number is 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX), because a symbol can't repeat more than three times. Larger numbers use the vinculum: a bar over a numeral multiplies it by 1,000, so V with a bar is 5,000 and M with a bar is 1,000,000. That allows numbers up to 3,999,999.
Is there a zero in Roman numerals?
No. The Roman system has no symbol for zero. Medieval scholars sometimes wrote the Latin word nulla, or the letter N, to mean nothing, but it was never part of the numeral system.
Which subtractions are allowed in Roman numerals?
Only six: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900). I can only go before V and X, X before L and C, and C before D and M. V, L and D are never subtracted, so 99 is XCIX, not IC.
How do I convert Roman numerals to numbers?
Read from left to right and add each value, but when a smaller numeral comes before a larger one, subtract it instead. For MCMXCIV: M = 1000, CM = 900, XC = 90 and IV = 4, giving 1994.