How do I convert Roman numerals back to a number in Excel?

Use =ARABIC(text). For example =ARABIC("MMXXVI") returns 2026.

What is the maximum number ROMAN accepts in Excel?

ROMAN accepts 0 to 3999. Numbers above 3999 return a #VALUE! error, because the function does not support vinculum notation.

Spreadsheets · ROMAN & ARABIC

Roman Numerals in Excel & Google Sheets

Q: How do I convert a number to Roman numerals in Excel?

Use =ROMAN(number). For example =ROMAN(2026) returns MMXXVI. The function works in Excel and Google Sheets.

Updated: June 2026

Both Excel and Google Sheets have built-in functions for Roman numerals: ROMAN turns a number into letters and ARABIC turns letters back into a number. They are perfect for numbering chapters, sections or outline levels in a table — as long as you know the one limit that trips most people up.

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Number → Roman with ROMAN

The syntax is =ROMAN(number, [form]). The first argument is the value; the optional second controls how "concise" the result is. Leave it out for the classic form:

=ROMAN(2026)        →  MMXXVI
=ROMAN(49)          →  XLIX
=ROMAN(A2)          →  converts the value in cell A2

The form argument ranges from 0 (classic, the default) to 4 (most simplified). Higher forms allow extra subtractions to shorten the output — for example a very concise form may render 499 in a tighter way than the classic CDXCIX. For everyday use, the default classic form is what you want, and it matches what this converter produces.

Roman → Number with ARABIC

ARABIC is the inverse and takes a text string:

=ARABIC("MMXXVI")   →  2026
=ARABIC("XLIX")     →  49
=ARABIC(B2)         →  reads the numeral in cell B2

ARABIC is forgiving about case and even accepts a leading minus sign, returning a negative number. It is available in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

The 3999 ceiling

Here is the catch that sends people searching: ROMAN only accepts values from 0 to 3999. Feed it 4000 or more and it returns a #VALUE! error, because the function has no support for the vinculum (overline) notation used for larger numbers. Spreadsheets simply cannot draw the bar, so the feature was capped.

Formula	Result
=ROMAN(3999)	MMMCMXCIX
=ROMAN(4000)	#VALUE!
=ROMAN(0)	(empty text)

If you need numbers above 3999, the spreadsheet functions can't help — but this converter's vinculum mode handles values all the way to 3,999,999, complete with the overline.

Converting a whole column quickly

For a long list you have two good options. Inside the spreadsheet, put =ROMAN(A2) in B2 and fill it down the column. Or, if you would rather not litter the sheet with formulas, copy the column of numbers, paste it into this converter's batch mode, switch the output to "input → result", and paste the converted pairs straight back. Batch mode also lets you download the whole set as a CSV.

Common gotchas

A ROMAN result is text, not a number — you can't sum it. Keep the original number in another column for calculations.
Decimals are truncated: =ROMAN(7.9) gives VII, not VIII.
ARABIC will accept non-standard strings like IIII and still return 4, so it won't catch malformed input the way strict validation here does.
Negative inputs error in ROMAN but are allowed in ARABIC.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert a number to Roman numerals in Excel?

Use =ROMAN(number), e.g. =ROMAN(2026) returns MMXXVI. It works in Excel and Google Sheets.

How do I convert Roman numerals back to a number?

Use =ARABIC("MMXXVI"), which returns 2026.

What is the maximum for ROMAN?

3999. Above that it returns #VALUE!, since it doesn't support vinculum notation. Use this converter's vinculum mode for larger numbers.

Does ROMAN work in Google Sheets?

Yes — both ROMAN and ARABIC are available in Google Sheets with the same syntax as Excel.