Roman Numerals 1 to 1000

Roman numerals 1 to 1000 use all seven letters: I, V, X, L, C, D and M. Once you know how to write 1 to 100, the jump to 1000 is easy, because the hundreds follow the very same pattern as the ones and the tens. This page gives the hundreds chart, a full reference chart, worked examples and a converter to check your answers.

• 100C
• 120CXX
• 121CXXI
• 125CXXV
• 127CXXVII
• 136CXXXVI
• 137CXXXVII
• 138CXXXVIII
• 150CL
• 180CLXXX
• 190CXC
• 199CXCIX
• 200CC
• 220CCXX
• 225CCXXV
• 250CCL
• 290CCXC
• 300CCC
• 302CCCII
• 350CCCL
• 390CCCXC
• 399CCCXCIX
• 400CD
• 450CDL
• 490CDXC
• 499CDXCIX
• 500D
• 550DL
• 600DC
• 650DCL
• 700DCC
• 715DCCXV
• 750DCCL
• 800DCCC
• 850DCCCL
• 900CM
• 950CML
• 990CMXC
• 999CMXCIX
• 1000M

The hundreds from 100 to 1000

These ten are the key to the whole range. Compare them with 1 to 10 and you will see the same shape, with C, D and M in place of I, V and X.

So 400 is CD (500 minus 100), just as 4 is IV. And 900 is CM (1000 minus 100), just as 9 is IX.

One pattern, three places

The Roman system works in the same way at every level:

• Ones: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX
• Tens: X, XX, XXX, XL, L, LX, LXX, LXXX, XC
• Hundreds: C, CC, CCC, CD, D, DC, DCC, DCCC, CM

To write any number up to 999, take one item from each row and join them, hundreds first. Then add M for 1000.

Worked examples

Look at 888: it is DCCCLXXXVIII, the longest Roman numeral below 1000 with 12 letters. And 999 is CMXCIX, not IM. The subtraction pairs only work with the next two bigger letters, so you must split 999 into 900 + 90 + 9.

How to read Roman numerals up to 1000

Reading is the same process in reverse. Find the hundreds part first (any C, D or M at the start), then the tens (X, L, C after it), then the ones. Here are some Roman numerals people often search for:

Take CCXCIX as an example. CC is 200, XC is 90 and IX is 9, so it is 299.

Roman number 1 to 500 and 101 to 200

Many workbooks ask for the roman number 1 to 500. Up to 399, the hundreds part uses only C: 101 is CI, 150 is CL, 199 is CXCIX and 200 is CC. From 400 to 499, every number starts with CD, such as CDL for 450 and CDLXXV for 475. Then 500 is simply D. From 501 to 899, numbers start with D, and from 900 to 999 they start with CM.

Tips for tests

• Always break the number into hundreds, tens and ones before you write.
• Never repeat D, L or V. Never repeat C, X or I more than three times.
• Only six subtraction pairs exist: IV, IX, XL, XC, CD and CM.
• Check your answer by reading it back as a number.

For the rules in more detail, read our Roman numerals guide. For smaller numbers, see Roman numerals 1 to 100. Single number pages include 400 in Roman numerals, 500 in Roman numerals, 900 in Roman numerals and 1000 in Roman numerals.