Roman Numerals: Chart, Rules and Symbols to Copy

The Seven Basic Roman Symbols

Quick answers to common searches:

• Roman 1 symbol: I
• Roman 2 symbol: II
• Roman 3 symbol: III
• Roman 4 symbol: IV
• Roman 5 symbol: V
• Roman 6 symbol: VI
• Roman 50 symbol: L
• Roman 100 symbol: C
• Roman 500 symbol: D
• Roman 1000 symbol: M

Rules for Reading and Writing Roman Numerals

1. Add when the same or smaller comes after. VI = 5 + 1 = 6, XX = 10 + 10 = 20, LXV = 50 + 10 + 5 = 65.
2. Subtract when a smaller one comes before a bigger one. IV = 5 − 1 = 4, IX = 10 − 1 = 9, XC = 100 − 10 = 90.
3. Only six subtractive pairs are allowed: I before V or X (4, 9), X before L or C (40, 90), and C before D or M (400, 900). So 99 is XCIX, not IC, and 49 is XLIX, not IL.
4. Never repeat a symbol more than three times in a row. 3 is III, but 4 is IV, not IIII. V, L and D are never repeated at all (10 is X, not VV).
5. Write big to small, one place value at a time. Break the number into thousands, hundreds, tens and ones, convert each part, and join them.

There is no zero in Roman numerals, and with these rules the largest number you can write is 3999 (MMMCMXCIX).

Roman Numerals 1 to 20 Chart

The single Unicode characters exist only for 1 to 12 (as on clock faces) and for 50, 100, 500 and 1000. For other numbers, type the normal letters.

Tens and Hundreds: 10 to 100 and 100 to 1000

Learn these two short lists and you can build any number up to 3999.

Example: 76 = 70 + 6 = LXX + VI = LXXVI. And 340 = 300 + 40 = CCC + XL = CCCXL.

Worked Examples: Years and Big Numbers

So the year 2026 is written MMXXVI and India's Independence year 1947 is MCMXLVII. You can check any answer by reading it back from left to right with the add and subtract rules.

For numbers above 3999, old texts drew a bar over a letter to multiply it by 1000, so V with a bar meant 5000. This is rarely needed today.

Unicode Roman Symbols vs Normal Letters

Unicode has special characters for Roman numerals, from Ⅰ (U+2160) to Ⅿ (U+216F), plus small forms like ⅰ, ⅱ, ⅲ. They look neat, and a numeral like Ⅻ stays together as one character, which helps in narrow spaces such as clock designs.

For normal writing, plain capital letters are better. Search engines, screen readers and spell-checkers understand "XII" typed with the letters X, I, I, but may not read Ⅻ correctly. Many fonts also do not include the special characters. Use the Unicode ones only for design work, and type letters everywhere else.

Fun fact: many clocks and watches show 4 as IIII instead of IV. This is a long-standing design tradition rather than a different rule, so do not copy it in your exam.

How to Type Roman Numerals in Word, Excel and Phone

• Any keyboard or phone: just type the capital letters I, V, X, L, C, D, M. For small numerals in lists, use i, ii, iii.
• Excel and Google Sheets: =ROMAN(2026) returns MMXXVI, and =ARABIC("MMXXVI") returns 2026.
• Word numbered lists: Home > Numbering arrow, then choose the I, II, III or i, ii, iii format.
• Unicode characters in Word: type the code then Alt+X, for example 216B for Ⅻ or 216F for Ⅿ.

For other number signs, see the math symbols list, the Greek letters used in maths, and the infinity symbol. If you need symbol names in general, try our symbol names guide.