ROMAN turns an ordinary number into Roman numerals — for copyright years, outline numbering, or chapter headings — and ARABIC converts them back to regular numbers.
ROMAN(2026) = MMXXVI. Reverse with =ARABIC("MMXXVI") = 2026.
The example
Numbers as Roman numerals and back.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Number | Roman |
| 2 | 4 | IV |
| 3 | 2026 | MMXXVI |
| 4 | 49 | XLIX |
The formula
Number to Roman:
How it works
Two functions, opposite directions:
ROMAN(n)converts a number (1–3999) into its Roman-numeral string —4 → IV,2026 → MMXXVI.ARABIC(text)reverses it:ARABIC("XLIX") → 49.- ROMAN has an optional “form” argument (0–4) for more concise classic styles — 0 is the standard form most people want.
- The result of ROMAN is text; ARABIC gives back a real number you can calculate with.
Common use: copyright and edition lines (“© MMXXVI”), and outline/heading numbering. Pair with TEXT or concatenation to build the label.
Try it: interactive demo
Enter a number 1-3999.
Variations
Roman back to a number
ARABIC reverses it:
Concise classic form
The form argument shortens it:
Copyright line
Build a label:
Pitfalls & errors
Range is 1 to 3999. ROMAN can’t represent 0, negatives, or 4000+. Those return #VALUE!.
ARABIC needs valid Roman text. Garbage in (invalid numeral strings) gives errors or wrong values. It does accept lowercase and a leading minus.
Decimals are truncated. ROMAN(4.9) treats it as 4 (IV) — only the integer part is used.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a number to Roman numerals in Excel?
How do I convert Roman numerals back to a number?
Why does ROMAN return #VALUE!?
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