Syntax
ROMAN(number, [form])
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| number | Parameter of the ROMAN function. |
| [form] | (Optional.) Parameter of the ROMAN function. |
Examples
Year in Roman numerals
Formula
=ROMAN(2026)
Returns "MMXXVI" — the Roman numeral form of 2026. Common for film credits, clock faces, and document footers.
Chapter numbering
Formula
="Chapter " & ROMAN(ROW()-1)
In row 2 returns "Chapter I", row 3 returns "Chapter II", etc. Auto-generates Roman numeral chapter headings.
Concise form
Formula
=ROMAN(499, 1)
Returns "LDVLIV" or a shorter variant instead of the classic "CDXCIX". The second argument (0-4) controls how abbreviated the output is.
Common Errors
#VALUE!
Occurs when the number is negative, zero, greater than 3999, or non-numeric. Roman numerals only represent 1-3999.
Tips
Range is 1 to 3999
Roman numeral notation doesn't have a standard representation for zero or numbers above 3999. ROMAN returns an error for values outside this range.
Form argument
The optional second argument (0-4) controls abbreviation level. 0 = classic (default), 4 = most concise. Most people use 0 or omit it.
No ARABIC inverse in all apps
Some spreadsheets have an ARABIC function to convert back (e.g., =ARABIC("XIV") returns 14). Check your app's function list.
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