How to use the Roman Numeral Converter tool
- Type a number, or a Roman numeral in the second box.
- Read the conversion and how it is built.
- Use the date section for birthdays, anniversaries and tattoos.
How Roman numerals work
Seven letters stand for values: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500 and M = 1000. Letters are written from largest to smallest and added up, so MDCLXVI is 1666. When a smaller letter comes before a larger one, it is subtracted, but only in six pairs: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900).
Examples
- 2026 = MM (2000) + XX (20) + VI (6) = MMXXVI
- 1999 = M (1000) + CM (900) + XC (90) + IX (9) = MCMXCIX
- 49 = XL (40) + IX (9) = XLIX, not IL
Roman numerals are still used for clock faces, book chapters, film copyright years, event names and tattoos of important dates.
Frequently asked questions
Why does it stop at 3999?
Standard Roman numerals have no symbol above M (1000), and the same symbol isn’t repeated more than three times, so 3999 (MMMCMXCIX) is the largest.
Is 4 written IV or IIII?
The standard form is IV. IIII appears on some clock faces for visual balance, but IV is correct elsewhere.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. HushConverts converts everything with code that runs in your browser, so your text and files stay on your device. You can even use most tools offline once the page has loaded.
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