Roman numeral converter
Convert numbers to Roman numerals and back, from 1 to 3,999.
About this calculator
This Roman numeral converter turns any number from 1 to 3,999 into Roman numerals, and Roman numerals back into numbers.
It's useful for dates on buildings and film credits, clock faces, book chapters, tattoos and the Super Bowl.
How it works
Roman numerals add up symbols from largest to smallest: M = 1000, D = 500, C = 100, L = 50, X = 10, V = 5 and I = 1. A smaller symbol before a larger one is taken away, as in IV = 4 and CM = 900.
Last reviewed:
Worked example
- Convert: Number to Roman numerals
- Number: 2,026
In Roman numerals: MMXXVI
Common questions
How do you write 2026 in Roman numerals?
MMXXVI: MM for 2000, XX for 20 and VI for 6.
Why does the converter stop at 3,999?
Standard Roman numerals have no symbol above M (1000), and no symbol can repeat more than three times, so 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX) is the largest.
Is there a Roman numeral for zero?
No. The Romans had no symbol for zero. The idea of zero as a number came to Europe later, with Hindu-Arabic numerals.
The story behind it
Where the idea came from: Roman numerals were used across Europe until Hindu-Arabic numerals, brought by Fibonacci's book of 1202 among others, slowly replaced them.
Roman numerals worked well for recording numbers but were awkward for arithmetic, which is why merchants embraced the new digits. They survive on clocks, monuments and in the names of kings, popes and sporting events.
Why you can trust this calculator
- It runs in your browser. Nothing you type into it is sent anywhere.
- The method is explained on this page, so you can check it yourself.
- Free to use, with no sign-up.
- Results are estimates, so please double-check anything important.
- Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll look into it.
After 15 years as a mathematics educator, I built CalculStore to give students, teachers, professionals and anyone working with numbers simple, reliable tools.
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