Roman Numeral Tattoo Generator

The conversion happens instantly in your browser, and the numerals update every time you change a setting.

Roman numerals use seven letters: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500 and M = 1,000. You add values when a letter is followed by an equal or smaller one (VI = 6, XX = 20) and subtract when a smaller letter comes before a larger one (IV = 4, IX = 9, XL = 40, XC = 90, CD = 400, CM = 900).

In standard form, no letter repeats more than three times in a row, and there’s no zero. So 2019 is MMXIX (2,000 + 10 + 9) and 1994 is MCMXCIV (1,000 + 900 + 90 + 4). The generator uses this standard subtractive form – IV rather than the IIII you sometimes see on clock faces – and handles any year up to 3999.

Dates are written differently around the world. The US uses month-day-year (MM.DD.YYYY); much of Europe, Latin America and Australia use day-month-year (DD.MM.YYYY); and the ISO standard uses year-month-day. July 4, 2019 becomes VII · IV · MMXIX in US order but IV · VII · MMXIX day-first.

Whenever the day is 12 or lower, the same numerals can be read as two different dates – so double-check. Decide whose convention the tattoo follows, write the date out in words next to the numerals and convert each part back before you book. Your artist copies exactly what you give them, mistakes included.

Roman numerals are compact, timeless and easy to pair with other elements. Directions that work well:

Full dates are long: December 28, 1998 becomes XII · XXVIII · MCMXCVIII. Give them a horizontal line with room to breathe, such as the inner forearm, collarbone, upper back, ribs or the back of the arm, or run them vertically down the spine. Short dates and single years fit a wrist or behind the ear.

Keep numerals large enough that the gaps between letters stay open as the ink settles – rows of I’s and X’s blur together when they’re tiny. Cinzel’s clean capitals are a strong choice, and the try-on tool shows the full length on a photo of your own arm.