Roman Numeral Converter
Convert numbers to Roman numerals and back in an instant — or turn any date into Roman numerals for a tattoo, engraving, or anniversary. Validated against the classic rules so you never get caught out by a mistake like VIIII instead of IX. Includes a full reference chart. (For the record, 2026 = MMXXVI.)
Choose what you want to convert, type your value, and get an instant, rule-checked result you can copy.
* This converter uses the standard Roman numeral system, which covers 1 to 3999 (the largest standard numeral is MMMCMXCIX = 3999). Larger numbers historically used a vinculum — a bar over a numeral to multiply it by 1000 — which isn't used here. There's no Roman numeral for zero. A quick note for clock fans: many clock faces use IIII instead of IV for visual balance, though IV is the correct subtractive form. Roman numerals are universal, so this works the same everywhere.
Related Calculators
What Is a Roman Numeral Converter?
A Roman numeral converter translates between our everyday Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3…) and Roman numerals (I, II, III…). It works both ways — type a number to get the Roman numeral, or type a Roman numeral to get the number — and it can also turn a full date into Roman numerals, which is hugely popular for tattoos, jewelry engravings, and anniversary gifts. Every result is checked against the classic rules, so you can be confident it's correct before it ends up on skin or metal.
The Seven Roman Numeral Symbols
C = 100 · D = 500 · M = 1000
Every Roman numeral is built from these seven letters. Larger numbers are made by combining them, generally from largest to smallest, left to right.
How to Write Roman Numerals (The Rules)
- Add when bigger or equal comes first: VI = 5 + 1 = 6, MMXV = 1000 + 1000 + 10 + 5 = 2015.
- Subtract when a smaller symbol comes before a bigger one: IV = 4, IX = 9, XL = 40, XC = 90, CD = 400, CM = 900.
- Don't repeat a symbol more than three times in a row — that's why 4 is IV, not IIII, and 40 is XL, not XXXX.
- Only I, X, C, and M can be repeated; V, L, and D are never repeated.
How to Convert a Number to Roman Numerals
Break the number into thousands, hundreds, tens, and units, then convert each part:
1984 → 1000 + 900 + 80 + 4 → M + CM + LXXX + IV → MCMLXXXIV
How to Convert Roman Numerals to a Number
Read left to right, adding values — but subtract when a smaller symbol sits before a larger one:
CDXLIV → CD(400) + XL(40) + IV(4) = 444
Roman Numeral Date (for Tattoos & Jewelry)
To write a date, convert the day, month, and year separately and join them with a dot, dash, or space. For example, 19 March 2026 in Day · Month · Year format is XIX • III • MMXXVI. There's no single "correct" order or separator — it's a style choice, so pick what looks best for your design. The most common mistake on tattoos is bad subtractive notation (like VIIII instead of IX), which is exactly why a validated converter is worth using before the needle touches skin.
Roman Numeral Chart
| Number | Roman | Number | Roman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | 20 | XX |
| 2 | II | 30 | XXX |
| 3 | III | 40 | XL |
| 4 | IV | 50 | L |
| 5 | V | 90 | XC |
| 6 | VI | 100 | C |
| 9 | IX | 500 | D |
| 10 | X | 1000 | M |
Popular Years in Roman Numerals
| Year | Roman Numerals |
|---|---|
| 2000 | MM |
| 2024 | MMXXIV |
| 2025 | MMXXV |
| 2026 | MMXXVI |
| 1990 | MCMXC |
| 2000 | MM |
Where Roman Numerals Are Still Used
- Clocks and watches (often with IIII for balance).
- Tattoos and jewelry commemorating birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries.
- Movie and TV copyright years in the credits.
- Book chapters, monarchs and popes (Henry VIII), and sports events (Super Bowl).