Roman Numeral Converter

Convert numbers to Roman numerals and Roman numerals to numbers instantly. Works both ways — includes a date converter, year converter, step-by-step breakdown, and full reference chart. Updated .

Common searches

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Number → Roman Numeral

Enter 1–3999

Roman Numeral → Number

Enter Roman numerals (I V X L C D M)

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in Roman

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Convert a full date to Roman numerals — popular for tattoos, wedding dates, anniversary inscriptions, and cornerstones. Each part (month, day, year) is converted separately.

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Date in Roman Numerals

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Core symbols

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Common years (Super Bowl, movies, etc.)

Subtractive notation examples

Roman	Value	Rule
IV	4	I before V = 5 − 1 = 4
IX	9	I before X = 10 − 1 = 9
XL	40	X before L = 50 − 10 = 40
XC	90	X before C = 100 − 10 = 90
CD	400	C before D = 500 − 100 = 400
CM	900	C before M = 1000 − 100 = 900

Roman Numeral Guide — How They Work ()

Roman numerals are a numeral system that originated in ancient Rome and used combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet to represent values. They remained the standard numeral system in Europe through the Middle Ages and are still widely used today for clock faces, book chapters, film sequels, Super Bowls, years on buildings, and tattoos.

The 7 Roman Numeral Symbols

Symbol	Value	Origin	Example Use
I	1	One finger / tally mark	Chapter I, Super Bowl I
V	5	Open hand (5 fingers)	Five, clock faces
X	10	Two V's crossed / 10 fingers	Ten, Roman X
L	50	Half of C (100)	Fifty
C	100	Latin "centum" (hundred)	Century, cents
D	500	Half of Φ (1000)	Five hundred
M	1000	Latin "mille" (thousand)	Millennium, years

The Subtractive Notation Rule

When a smaller numeral appears before a larger one, you subtract rather than add. Only six subtractive combinations are used: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400), CM (900). Every other combination adds left to right. This rule is why 4 is IV and not IIII — though IIII still appears on some clock faces.

Common Roman Numeral Years

Roman	Year	Notable Event
MCMXCIX	1999	Turn of the millennium
MM	2000	Year 2000 / Y2K
MMIV	2004	Athens Olympics
MMVIII	2008	Beijing Olympics, financial crisis
MMXII	2012	London Olympics
MMXVI	2016	Rio Olympics
MMXX	2020	Tokyo Olympics (delayed to 2021)
MMXXIV	2024	Paris Olympics
MMXXV	2025	Current year
MMXXVI	2026	FIFA World Cup, Milan Olympics

What is MMXXVI in Roman numerals?

MMXXVI is 2026 in Roman numerals. Breaking it down: MM = 2000, XX = 20, VI = 6. Added together: 2000 + 20 + 6 = 2026. The year 2026 is notable as the host year of the FIFA World Cup (hosted jointly by the US, Canada, and Mexico) and the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.

How do you write 2024 in Roman numerals?

2024 in Roman numerals is MMXXIV. Breaking it down: MM = 2000, XX = 20, IV = 4. The IV uses subtractive notation — I (1) placed before V (5) means 5 − 1 = 4. So MMXXIV = 2000 + 20 + 4 = 2024. This was the year of the Paris Summer Olympics and a US presidential election year.

What are the rules for Roman numerals?

The main rules are: symbols are added left to right (III = 3, VIII = 8); a smaller symbol before a larger one is subtracted (IV = 4, IX = 9); only I, X, and C can be used subtractively; a symbol can repeat at most three times in a row (III is valid, IIII is not — though IIII appears on many clock faces); and the six subtractive pairs are: IV, IX, XL, XC, CD, CM. Standard Roman numerals can represent 1 through 3,999 — 4,000 would require a bar over M (vinculum notation).

What is 1000 in Roman numerals?

1000 in Roman numerals is M. The letter M comes from the Latin word "mille" meaning thousand — the same root as millennium (1,000 years), millimeter (1/1,000 meter), and milligram. Two thousands is MM (2000), three thousands is MMM (3000). Because standard Roman numerals can only repeat a symbol three times consecutively, 4000 cannot be expressed in standard form without the vinculum (a bar placed over a symbol to multiply it by 1,000).

Why are Roman numerals still used today?

Roman numerals persist in modern use for several reasons. They convey prestige and permanence on buildings, monuments, and official documents. They distinguish items in a series without confusion (Super Bowl LIX vs the number 59). They appear on clock and watch faces. They're used for book prefaces and introductory pages to distinguish them from the main text. Movie copyright dates use them to obscure the production year. And they remain popular for tattoos because a date like "I · XII · MMXXIII" looks more artistic and personal than "1/12/2023".