Roman Numeral Converter
Convert Roman numerals to numbers and back instantly. Includes a date converter for tattoos, a 1–100 chart and large numbers with vinculum.
Convert a date to Roman numerals
Perfect for tattoos and anniversaries. Always verify each part before getting inked.
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What is a Roman numeral converter?
A Roman numeral converter is a tool that translates an Arabic figure (1, 2, 3…) into its Roman numeral (I, II, III…) and back. Roman numerals were born in ancient Rome and are still used on clocks, book chapters, centuries, the names of kings and popes, event editions and commemorative dates.
This tool automatically detects the direction of the conversion: type a number and it becomes a Roman numeral; type a numeral and it returns its value. All the maths happens in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
Unlike doing it by hand, converting Roman numerals with this tool avoids the most common mistakes: repeating a symbol more than three times, placing a subtraction wrongly or getting a tattoo year wrong. If you also work with text, measure its length with the character counter or write amounts with the number-to-words converter.
What are Roman numerals used for?
Although they are no longer the everyday numbering system, Roman numerals are still very much part of daily life. These are the most searched uses.
Tattoos and special dates
Convert your birth date, wedding or anniversary to Roman numerals before getting inked. Double-check the result calmly to avoid permanent mistakes.
Clocks and design
Classic clocks use Roman numerals on the dial. This tool gives you the exact numbering for designs, watch faces and clockmaking projects.
Film, copyright and editions
Movies and books often print the copyright year in Roman numerals. Convert any year for credits, editions and reviews.
Education and homework
Students and teachers use the Roman numeral converter to check exercises from 1 to 1000 and the addition and subtraction rules.
⚠️ Before tattooing a date
A tattoo is permanent, so it pays to check the date twice. Convert the day, month and year separately and compare them with the chart below. Remember that the order changes the result: VIII·XV·MMXXIV (August 15, 2024 in US format) is not the same as XV·VIII·MMXXIV in day-first format.
Roman numerals chart from 1 to 100
This chart shows how Roman numerals are written from 1 to 100. It is the fastest reference for checking a result without using the converter.
| 1 I | 21 XXI | 41 XLI | 61 LXI | 81 LXXXI |
| 2 II | 22 XXII | 42 XLII | 62 LXII | 82 LXXXII |
| 3 III | 23 XXIII | 43 XLIII | 63 LXIII | 83 LXXXIII |
| 4 IV | 24 XXIV | 44 XLIV | 64 LXIV | 84 LXXXIV |
| 5 V | 25 XXV | 45 XLV | 65 LXV | 85 LXXXV |
| 6 VI | 26 XXVI | 46 XLVI | 66 LXVI | 86 LXXXVI |
| 7 VII | 27 XXVII | 47 XLVII | 67 LXVII | 87 LXXXVII |
| 8 VIII | 28 XXVIII | 48 XLVIII | 68 LXVIII | 88 LXXXVIII |
| 9 IX | 29 XXIX | 49 XLIX | 69 LXIX | 89 LXXXIX |
| 10 X | 30 XXX | 50 L | 70 LXX | 90 XC |
| 11 XI | 31 XXXI | 51 LI | 71 LXXI | 91 XCI |
| 12 XII | 32 XXXII | 52 LII | 72 LXXII | 92 XCII |
| 13 XIII | 33 XXXIII | 53 LIII | 73 LXXIII | 93 XCIII |
| 14 XIV | 34 XXXIV | 54 LIV | 74 LXXIV | 94 XCIV |
| 15 XV | 35 XXXV | 55 LV | 75 LXXV | 95 XCV |
| 16 XVI | 36 XXXVI | 56 LVI | 76 LXXVI | 96 XCVI |
| 17 XVII | 37 XXXVII | 57 LVII | 77 LXXVII | 97 XCVII |
| 18 XVIII | 38 XXXVIII | 58 LVIII | 78 LXXVIII | 98 XCVIII |
| 19 XIX | 39 XXXIX | 59 LIX | 79 LXXIX | 99 XCIX |
| 20 XX | 40 XL | 60 LX | 80 LXXX | 100 C |
Tens, hundreds and thousands
| Tens | Roman |
|---|---|
| 10 | X |
| 20 | XX |
| 30 | XXX |
| 40 | XL |
| 50 | L |
| 60 | LX |
| 70 | LXX |
| 80 | LXXX |
| 90 | XC |
| Hundreds | Roman |
|---|---|
| 100 | C |
| 200 | CC |
| 300 | CCC |
| 400 | CD |
| 500 | D |
| 600 | DC |
| 700 | DCC |
| 800 | DCCC |
| 900 | CM |
| Thousands | Roman |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | M |
| 2,000 | MM |
| 3,000 | MMM |
How does Roman numbering work? Basic rules
Roman numerals are formed by combining seven symbols under two rules, addition and subtraction. The converter applies them automatically.
| Symbol | Value |
|---|---|
| I | 1 |
| V | 5 |
| X | 10 |
| L | 50 |
| C | 100 |
| D | 500 |
| M | 1000 |
The addition rule
When a symbol is followed by another of equal or smaller value, the values add up: VI = 5 + 1 = 6, XV = 10 + 5 = 15, MMXV = 1000 + 1000 + 10 + 5 = 2015.
The subtraction rule
When a smaller symbol comes before a larger one, it is subtracted. Only six combinations are allowed: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900).
Repetition and non-repeatable symbols
A symbol is not repeated more than three times in a row: that is why 4 is IV and not IIII. In addition, the symbols V, L and D are never repeated or subtracted, since they represent the intermediate values 5, 50 and 500.
Large Roman numerals: the vinculum (above 3999)
With the seven basic symbols, the highest number you can write is 3999, that is MMMCMXCIX. To represent larger figures, the Romans used the vinculum: a horizontal bar over a symbol that multiplies its value by a thousand.
So V̅ equals 5000, X̅ equals 10,000 and M̅ equals one million. Enable the “Allow large numbers” checkbox in the converter to use this notation up to 3,999,999. Note that some systems and fonts do not render the overline as clearly.