Years and dates
Write a founding year or wedding date for a plaque or invitation.
Roman Numeral Converter
Type a number to get Roman numerals, or type Roman letters to get the number.
Your files stay with you. Your files never leave your browser. This tool runs on your device: nothing is uploaded to our servers, so there is nothing for us to store or see.
How to use it
- Type a number from 1 to 3999, or a Roman numeral such as MCMXCIV.
- The tool detects which one you typed.
- Read the result.
Where it helps
Books and chapters
Number chapters, volumes or preface pages the traditional way.
Design
Use numerals on clocks, tattoos or event branding with the right spelling.
Good to know
Stays in your browser
Numbers you type are worked out on your device and never sent to our servers.
Standard form only
IIII and VX are rejected so the result is never ambiguous.
No zero
Roman numerals have no symbol for zero or negatives.
Questions people ask
How do you convert a number to Roman numerals, or Roman numerals back to a number?
Type digits from 1 to 3,999 to get Roman numerals, or type Roman letters such as MCMXCIV to get the number. The tool detects which one you typed and converts it straight away. It accepts only the standard form, with subtraction for 4 and 9, so every numeral has exactly one meaning.
- 1-3,999 Range. Standard numerals.
- Auto Detects input. Digits or letters.
- MMXXVI 2026. Example.
- 7 Letters. I V X L C D M.
How do I write the year 2026 in Roman numerals?
MMXXVI. MM is 2,000, XX is 20, V is 5 and I is 1. Type 2026 into the tool and it shows the answer at once. Years are one of the most common uses, on building plaques, film credits, book title pages, wedding invitations and the foundation stones of schools and offices.
Why does it reject IIII or VX?
Standard Roman numerals write 4 as IV and 9 as IX, using subtraction. V, L and D are never repeated or placed before a larger letter. Accepting only that standard form means every numeral has one meaning. Old clocks sometimes show IIII, but that's a design choice.
Why does it stop at 3,999?
The standard letters have no symbol for 5,000, so MMMCMXCIX, which is 3,999, is the largest number you can write in plain Roman numerals. Ancient writers used a bar over a letter to multiply it by 1,000, but that isn't part of the standard set that this tool supports.
What do the Roman letters stand for?
I is 1, V is 5, X is 10, L is 50, C is 100, D is 500 and M is 1,000. Numbers are built by adding letters from largest to smallest, such as LXX for 70. Placing a smaller letter before a larger one subtracts it, so XL is 40 and CM is 900.
How do I read a Roman numeral?
Go from left to right. If a letter is smaller than the one after it, subtract it; otherwise add it. MCMXCIV is 1,000 plus 900 (CM) plus 90 (XC) plus 4 (IV), which is 1,994. Or just type the letters into the tool and it shows the number with no working needed.
Can I type lowercase Roman numerals?
Yes. The tool reads lowercase letters such as xiv the same as XIV. Lowercase numerals are often used for the preface pages of books and for sub-points in legal documents. The result is shown in capitals, so change the case yourself if your design needs lowercase.
Is there a Roman numeral for zero?
No. The Romans had no symbol for zero, and the system can't show negative numbers or fractions either. That's why the tool starts at 1. Zero as a number came to Europe much later, largely through Indian mathematics carried by Arab scholars. Medieval writers sometimes used the word 'nulla' instead.
How do I write 4,000 or larger?
In standard form you can't. Some sources write MMMM for 4,000, and older texts used a bar over a letter to mean times 1,000, but neither is standard. For large years or amounts, ordinary digits are clearer. Most real uses, such as years, stay well under 3,999.
Why are Roman numerals still used?
They give a formal, traditional look. You'll see them on clock faces, book chapters, monarchs' names, sporting events, film copyright years and building foundation stones. Some outlines and legal documents also use them for main sections, with lowercase numerals for smaller parts. Movie sequels and royal names, such as Elizabeth II, use them too.
Can I use it for a tattoo or engraving?
Yes, and it's worth checking here before anything permanent. A common mistake is writing a date with non-standard letters, such as IIII for 4. Convert each part of a date separately, such as the day, the month and the year, and separate them with dots or spaces.
How do I write a full date in Roman numerals?
Convert the day, month and year separately and join them with dots. 15 August 2026 becomes XV.VIII.MMXXVI. Type each part into the tool one at a time. That format is popular for wedding dates, anniversaries and memorial engravings on rings or plaques. Check every part here before ordering an engraving.
What if I type something that isn't a numeral?
The tool tells you what's wrong, for example a letter that isn't Roman or a number with commas or decimals. Type digits only, from 1 to 3,999, or the seven Roman letters only. It never guesses, so you won't end up with a wrong numeral on a printed design.
Is anything I type stored?
No. Conversion happens in your browser and nothing is sent to our servers. There's no sign-up and nothing is saved after you close the page. You can convert private dates, like an anniversary for an engraving, without sharing them with anyone else at all. Nothing remains once you close the tab.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Type digits or letters with your phone's keyboard and the result appears straight away. It works in any mobile browser with nothing to install, so you can check a numeral at the engraver's or printer's shop before you sign off the design. No app or account is needed.
Is the Roman numeral converter free?
Yes, it's free with no sign-up and no limit on use. It's one of the free converters and calculators from Marketiism, with the number to words and number base tools. Marketiism makes WhatsApp, billing and CRM software for small Indian businesses. Use it as often as you like.
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