Roman numeral chart
A complete reference for Roman numerals: the seven basic symbols, the numbers 1 through 20, and the tens, hundreds, and thousands. Roman numerals combine letters by adding, with a smaller letter before a larger one meaning subtract.
The seven symbols
| Symbol | Value |
|---|---|
| I | 1 |
| V | 5 |
| X | 10 |
| L | 50 |
| C | 100 |
| D | 500 |
| M | 1,000 |
Numbers 1 to 20
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 1 | I |
| 2 | II |
| 3 | III |
| 4 | IV |
| 5 | V |
| 6 | VI |
| 7 | VII |
| 8 | VIII |
| 9 | IX |
| 10 | X |
| 11 | XI |
| 12 | XII |
| 13 | XIII |
| 14 | XIV |
| 15 | XV |
| 16 | XVI |
| 17 | XVII |
| 18 | XVIII |
| 19 | XIX |
| 20 | XX |
Tens, hundreds, and thousands
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 10 | X |
| 20 | XX |
| 30 | XXX |
| 40 | XL |
| 50 | L |
| 60 | LX |
| 70 | LXX |
| 80 | LXXX |
| 90 | XC |
| 100 | C |
| 200 | CC |
| 300 | CCC |
| 400 | CD |
| 500 | D |
| 600 | DC |
| 700 | DCC |
| 800 | DCCC |
| 900 | CM |
| 1,000 | M |
| 2,000 | MM |
| 3,000 | MMM |
Roman numerals are read left to right, adding values, except when a smaller symbol sits before a larger one, which means subtract. So VI is 6 (5 plus 1) but IV is 4 (5 minus 1). The same logic gives IX for 9, XL for 40, and CM for 900.
Working with numbers?
See the Multiplication Table and other math references.
How Roman numerals work
Seven letters stand for fixed values, and you build numbers by stringing them together from largest to smallest, adding as you go. MMXXIV is 1000 plus 1000 plus 10 plus 10 plus 4, which is 2024. A symbol is never normally repeated more than three times in a row, which is where subtraction comes in.
Subtractive notation
To avoid four repeated symbols, a smaller value placed before a larger one is subtracted. So instead of IIII for 4, Roman numerals use IV, one before five. The same pattern gives IX for 9, XC for 90, and CD for 400. Only certain pairs are allowed: I before V or X, X before L or C, and C before D or M.
FAQ
What is 4 in Roman numerals?
IV. A smaller symbol (I) before a larger one (V) means subtract, so IV is 5 minus 1.
How do you write 2024 in Roman numerals?
MMXXIV, which is 1000 + 1000 + 10 + 10 + (5 minus 1).
Why is there no zero in Roman numerals?
The system was built for counting and had no symbol for nothing; the concept of zero as a numeral came later from other cultures.