Convert Roman Numerals Both Ways
Type a number and read off its Roman numeral, or type a numeral like MCMXCIV and get 1994 back — the converter works live in both directions and validates every input against the strict standard form, so typos and impossible numerals are caught immediately instead of silently misread.
How Roman Numerals Work
Seven symbols carry all the values: I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500), and M (1000). Symbols are written largest-first and added together — MMXXVI is 1000+1000+10+10+5+1 = 2026. When a smaller symbol appears before a larger one, it is subtracted instead: IV is 4, IX is 9, XL is 40, XC is 90, CD is 400, and CM is 900. Only those six subtractive pairs are allowed in standard notation, and no symbol repeats more than three times in a row.
Where You Still See Roman Numerals
- Movie credits and TV copyrights — production years like MMXXVI in end credits.
- Super Bowls, Olympiads, and monarchs — Super Bowl LVIII, Elizabeth II, Louis XIV.
- Clock faces — often with the famous nonstandard IIII for 4.
- Book chapters, outlines, and building cornerstones — anywhere a touch of formality is wanted.
- Homework — Roman numerals remain a classroom staple, and the symbol reference card doubles as a quick cheat sheet.
Quick Examples
IV = 4, IX = 9, XIV = 14, XLII = 42, XCIX = 99, CDXLIV = 444, MCMLXXXIV = 1984, MCMXCIV = 1994, MMXXVI = 2026, MMMCMXCIX = 3999 — the largest standard numeral. Try a birth year, an anniversary, or a tattoo idea and check it both directions.
Years in Roman Numerals
The most-searched conversions are years — for tattoos, wedding dates, movie credits, and cornerstones. Recent and notable years, converted by the same engine as the tool above:
