Roman Numeral Converter

What Is a Roman Numeral?

Roman numerals are a numeral system originating from ancient Rome, using letters from the Latin alphabet: I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500), and M (1000). They are still used today in clocks, book chapters, movie titles, Super Bowl numbering, Olympic Games, and formal document sections.

Common uses of Roman numerals today:

• Books and documents: Chapter numbering (Chapter IV), page numbering in front matter
• Movies and TV: Release year in credits (MMXXVI = 2026), sequel numbering (Rocky III)
• Clocks and watches: Many traditional clocks use Roman numerals on their faces
• Events: Super Bowl LVIII, Olympic Games, World Cup editions
• Academic use: Exam sections, legal documents, formal outlines

Roman Numeral Rules

• Symbols are generally written largest to smallest, left to right
• I before V or X means subtract (IV = 4, IX = 9)
• X before L or C means subtract (XL = 40, XC = 90)
• C before D or M means subtract (CD = 400, CM = 900)
• A symbol cannot be repeated more than 3 times (III = 3, but 4 = IV not IIII)

Frequently Asked Questions