Roman Numeral Converter
Convert any number from 1 to 3999 into Roman numerals and back. Shows the symbol breakdown so you understand exactly how the conversion works.
How Roman Numerals Work
Roman numerals use seven symbols: I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500) and M (1000). Numbers are formed by combining these symbols. Larger values generally come first: VIII = 8 (5+1+1+1). When a smaller value appears before a larger one, it is subtracted: IV = 4 (5-1), IX = 9 (10-1), XL = 40, XC = 90, CD = 400, CM = 900.
Why Roman Numerals Stop at 3999
The standard system cannot represent 4000 or above without an overline (a bar above a letter multiplying its value by 1000). Most uses — book chapters, copyright years, film credits, clock faces — fall well within the 1 to 3999 range, so this limitation is rarely a practical problem.