Roman Numeral Converter · Practical guide
Roman Numerals 1 to 100 Chart
Every number from 1 to 100 uses just seven symbols and two simple rules.
At a glance
The Chart
Roman numerals from 1 to 100 are built from seven symbols: I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), and C (100). Smaller values written after a larger one add to it; a smaller value before a larger one subtracts. Here are the anchor numbers the rest are built from:
| Number | Roman | Number | Roman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | 10 | X |
| 2 | II | 20 | XX |
| 3 | III | 30 | XXX |
| 4 | IV | 40 | XL |
| 5 | V | 50 | L |
| 6 | VI | 60 | LX |
| 7 | VII | 70 | LXX |
| 8 | VIII | 80 | LXXX |
| 9 | IX | 90 | XC |
| 10 | X | 100 | C |
Interactive tool
Roman Numeral Converter
Enter your own values, then compare the result with the examples below.
Roman Numeral
Arabic Number
Building Any Number in Between
Combine a tens numeral with a ones numeral. 37 is XXX + VII = XXXVII. 58 is L + VIII = LVIII. 94 is XC + IV = XCIV. The pattern never changes: write the tens, then the ones, using IV, IX, XL, and XC whenever a digit is 4 or 9.
The Two Rules That Cover Everything
- Additive rule: symbols in descending order add up — LXVI = 50 + 10 + 5 + 1 = 66.
- Subtractive rule: a smaller symbol before a larger one subtracts — XL = 50 − 10 = 40, XC = 100 − 10 = 90. Only I, X, and C can be used this way.
- No four-in-a-row: 4 is IV, not IIII, and 40 is XL, not XXXX.
Practice With the Converter
Test yourself: pick a number from the chart, cover the answer, and type your guess into the Roman-to-Number direction above. The tool validates the numeral and flags invalid formats like IIII or IIX, so it doubles as a homework checker for numbers anywhere from 1 to 3999.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 50 in Roman numerals?
50 is L. It is one of the seven base symbols, so numbers in the 50s start with L — for example 55 is LV and 59 is LIX.
Why is 90 written XC?
Ninety is 10 less than 100, so it is written with the subtractive pair XC (100 − 10). Writing LXXXX would repeat a symbol four times, which standard notation never does.
Is IIII ever correct for 4?
Not in standard notation — the converter flags it as invalid and uses IV. The one famous exception is clock faces, where IIII appears on many traditional dials for visual symmetry.
What comes after 100 in the chart?
The hundreds follow the same pattern with C: 200 is CC, 400 is CD, 500 is D, and 900 is CM. The same two rules scale all the way to 3999 (MMMCMXCIX).