III is a single Roman symbol group for 3.
How 3 is written in Roman numerals
The number 3 is written III in Roman numerals. Roman numerals use seven letters — I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500) and M (1000) — combined from largest to smallest, with subtractive pairs such as IV (4) and IX (9). Need another number? Use the Roman numeral converter or see the 1–100 chart.
Building III step by step — take the largest value that fits, write its symbol, subtract, repeat.
| Write | Value | Remaining before | Remaining after |
|---|
| I | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| I | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| I | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Where you see III
On a clock face, the 3rd hour is marked III. Regnal and papal names use it the same way — a 3rd ruler of a name is styled III, as in Louis III or Pope John III. The 3rd Super Bowl was Super Bowl III; the NFL has used Roman numerals for every edition except Super Bowl 50.
Nearby numbers
Popular numbers in Roman numerals
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 3 in Roman numerals?
3 in Roman numerals is III. Reading it left to right gives I (1) + I (1) + I (1) = 3. The number below it, 2, is written II, and the number above it, 4, is written IV.
How do you write 3 in Roman numerals?
Write 3 as III, combining I (1) + I (1) + I (1). Roman numerals are built by taking the largest value that still fits, writing its symbol and subtracting it, which reduces 3 in 3 steps: I leaves 2, I leaves 1, I leaves 0. Every symbol keeps the same value wherever it stands, so the order is fixed and III is the only standard spelling of 3.
Which letters make up III?
III is made up of I three times. I is worth 1. Added together those values come to 3, because Roman numerals are read by summing the symbols from left to right.
What is 3 times ten in Roman numerals?
3 times ten is 30, which is XXX in Roman numerals, not III with a letter added on the end. Roman numerals have no place value, so multiplying by ten respells the whole numeral instead of shifting digits along. Compare III for 3 with XXX for 30.