Roman Numeral Symbols and Their Values

For example, II represents 2, VI represents 6, XIV represents 14 and MMXXVI represents 2,026.

Key takeaways

• Standard Roman numerals use seven symbols.
• Each symbol has a fixed decimal value.
• I, X, C and M are the main powers-of-ten symbols.
• V, L and D represent five times the preceding power of ten.
• Complete Roman numerals are formed by combining the seven symbols.
• The beginner system used here covers whole numbers from 1 to 3,999.

The seven Roman numeral symbols

I represents 1

I is the smallest Roman numeral symbol.

I = 1
II = 2
III = 3

The number 4 is written as IV in standard modern notation.

V represents 5

V represents 5. Smaller values may follow it and be added:

V = 5
VI = 6
VII = 7
VIII = 8

V is not repeated in the standard system. The number 10 is written as X, not VV.

X represents 10

X represents 10 and may repeat where required:

X = 10
XX = 20
XXX = 30

X also appears in the accepted pairs XL for 40 and XC for 90.

L represents 50

L represents 50:

L = 50
LX = 60
LXX = 70

L is not repeated. The number 100 is written as C, not LL.

C represents 100

C represents 100 and may repeat:

C = 100
CC = 200
CCC = 300

C also appears in the accepted pairs CD for 400 and CM for 900.

D represents 500

D represents 500:

D = 500
DC = 600
DCC = 700

D is not repeated. The number 1,000 is written as M, not DD.

M represents 1,000

M is the largest individual symbol in the standard system:

M = 1,000
MM = 2,000
MMM = 3,000

The largest value supported by the standard beginner system used here is:

MMMCMXCIX = 3,999

Values above 3,999 require an extended notation system.

The pattern behind the symbols

The seven symbols follow a useful pattern.

The symbols I, X, C and M increase by powers of ten:

I = 1
X = 10
C = 100
M = 1,000

The symbols V, L and D represent five times the preceding power of ten:

V = 5
L = 50
D = 500

This produces three easy-to-recognise groups:

Roman numerals do not use place value in exactly the same way as the modern decimal system. Instead, symbols and recognised symbol combinations are arranged to represent the required value.

Symbols and complete Roman numerals

A Roman numeral symbol is one of the seven basic characters:

I, V, X, L, C, D, M

A complete Roman numeral may contain one symbol, repeated symbols or recognised combinations of symbols.

For example:

X = 10
XX = 20
XIV = 14
MCMLXXXII = 1,982

The pairs IV, IX, XL, XC, CD and CM are not additional basic symbols. They are standard combinations formed from the same seven symbols.

This distinction makes longer numerals easier to understand. Rather than memorising MCMLXXXII as one unit, it can be separated into familiar groups:

MCMLXXXII = M + CM + LXXX + II

The detailed method belongs to the How to Read Roman Numerals guide.

How the symbols combine

Most Roman numerals are formed by adding symbol values from largest to smallest.

VI = V + I = 5 + 1 = 6
XII = X + I + I = 10 + 1 + 1 = 12
LX = L + X = 50 + 10 = 60

Some values use an accepted pair in which a smaller symbol appears before a larger one:

IV = 4
IX = 9
XL = 40
XC = 90
CD = 400
CM = 900

For example:

XIV = X + IV = 10 + 4 = 14

The full rules for addition, subtraction, order and repetition are covered in the later rules guides.

Examples of the symbols in use

These examples show the seven symbols being repeated, added and combined into a complete Roman numeral.

Important boundaries

Which symbols can repeat?

In standard modern notation, I, X, C and M may repeat where the correct form requires it.

III = 3
XXX = 30
CCC = 300
MMM = 3,000

V, L and D do not repeat.

The complete restrictions are explained in the Roman Numeral Rules guide.

Is there a Roman numeral for zero?

The standard Roman numeral system does not contain an ordinary symbol for zero.

Historical texts sometimes used other marks or abbreviations to indicate nothing, but these are outside the standard beginner system used for ordinary conversions.

What range does the standard system cover?

These beginner guides use standard modern notation for whole numbers from 1 to 3,999.

Values above 3,999 require an extended notation system and should be treated as a separate advanced topic.

What to learn next

Once you recognise the seven symbols and their values, continue with:

1. How to Read Roman Numerals
2. How to Write Roman Numerals
3. Roman Numeral Rules
4. Additive Notation in Roman Numerals
5. Subtractive Notation in Roman Numerals