Roman Numeral Generator
Numbers to numerals and back, with the working shown so you can check it. Press Generate as often as you like — nothing is saved and nothing is sent anywhere.
How to use this tool
- 1Type a number to convert to numerals, or numerals to convert back.
- 2Read the breakdown to see how the value was built.
- 3Check it against the breakdown before you use it anywhere permanent.
- 4Copy the result.
MMXXVI
2,026 in Roman numerals.
How it adds up
- MM2,000
- XX20
- V5
- I1
How subtractive notation works
A smaller letter before a larger one is subtracted: IV is four, IX is nine, XL is forty. Only I, X and C are used this way, and only before the next two values up — which is why 49 is XLIX and never IL.
Before you get it tattooed
Check the breakdown, then check it against a second source, then check the spacing. Roman numerals are unforgiving of one wrong letter, and a date is the most common thing people get wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no Roman numeral for zero?
The system counts things, and the Romans had no symbol for none of them. Zero as a number arrived in Europe much later, with the Hindu-Arabic numerals, which is one reason those replaced Roman ones for arithmetic.
What is the largest number you can write?
3,999 — MMMCMXCIX — using the standard letters. Larger values need a bar over a letter to multiply it by a thousand, a notation that is not used consistently and does not survive being typed.
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