Roman Numeral Converter

Convert numbers from 1 to 3,999 into Roman numerals, read a Roman numeral as a number, or turn a full date into numerals. For example, 2026 is MMXXVI and 1994 is MCMXCIV.

Convert from

Roman numerals

Number (1 to 3,999)

Roman numeralsMMXXVI

Number2,026

2,026 = MM + XX + VI = MMXXVI. Each digit is written on its own, thousands first.

Fig. 1 Your conversion, with the working.

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Every formula is tested against worked examples. How we check

Number	Roman numeral
1	I
2	II
3	III
4	IV
5	V
6	VI
7	VII
8	VIII
9	IX
10	X
11	XI
12	XII
13	XIII
14	XIV
15	XV
16	XVI
17	XVII
18	XVIII
19	XIX
20	XX
30	XXX
40	XL
50	L
60	LX
70	LXX
80	LXXX
90	XC
100	C
200	CC
300	CCC
400	CD
500	D
600	DC
700	DCC
800	DCCC
900	CM
1,000	M
2,000	MM
3,000	MMM

Fig. 2 Roman numerals from 1 to 20, then tens, hundreds and thousands.

Last checked 11/11/2026. Roman numerals follow the standard rules and need no outside source.

Guide

Fig. 3 The six subtractive pairs. No other letter is ever subtracted.

The seven letters

Letter	Value
I	1
V	5
X	10
L	50
C	100
D	500
M	1,000

The rules

Write the largest letters first and add them up: XVI is 10 + 5 + 1 = 16.
A letter is never repeated more than three times in a row, so 4 is IV and not IIII.
A smaller letter placed before a larger one is subtracted. Only six pairs are used: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900).
V, L and D are never subtracted and never repeated.

Worked example: 1994 is 1000 + 900 + 90 + 4, which is M + CM + XC + IV = MCMXCIV. Each digit is written on its own, thousands first, so 2026 is MM + XX + VI = MMXXVI.

The strict standard form is used, so IIII, VX and IC are rejected, with a plain reason why. Clock faces often show IIII for 4, but the standard form is IV.

Dates in Roman numerals

Date mode converts the day, month and year separately and joins them with the separator you choose: a dot, a dash, a slash or nothing. On this page dates are read day first (DD/MM/YYYY), so 25/12/2026 becomes XXV.XII.MMXXVI. Weddings, anniversaries and tattoos often use this style. Check the order and the numerals carefully before anything permanent.

Zero, and numbers above 3,999

Roman numerals have no zero, and no negative numbers, so the converter starts at 1 (I) and explains this if you enter 0. Larger numbers were written with a bar over the letters, meaning × 1,000. That is not supported here, so numbers stop at 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX).

Common questions

What is 2026 in Roman numerals?

MMXXVI. It is MM (2,000), XX (20) and VI (6).

What is 1994 in Roman numerals?

MCMXCIV: M (1,000), CM (900), XC (90) and IV (4).

Why do clocks show IIII instead of IV?

Clock makers have long used IIII for 4. It is a clock tradition. In standard Roman numerals, 4 is written IV, and IIII is not accepted here.

Is IC a valid way to write 99?

No. Only I, X and C can be subtracted, and only from the next one or two letters up. 99 is XCIX (90 + 9).

How do I write a date in Roman numerals?

Convert the day, month and year separately and join them, for example 25/12/2026 is XXV.XII.MMXXVI (DD/MM/YYYY).