48 in Roman numerals is XLVIII, built from XL + V + III (XL = 40, V = 5, III = 3), which add up to 48. It uses subtractive notation: XL (50 - 10).
How 48 is written in Roman numerals
The number 48 is written XLVIII 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 XLVIII step by step — take the largest value that fits, write its symbol, subtract, repeat.
| Write | Value | Remaining before | Remaining after |
|---|
| XL | 40 | 48 | 8 |
| V | 5 | 8 | 3 |
| I | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| I | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| I | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Where you see XLVIII
The 48th Super Bowl was Super Bowl XLVIII; 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 48 in Roman numerals?
48 in Roman numerals is XLVIII. Reading it left to right gives XL (40) + V (5) + I (1) + I (1) + I (1) = 48. The number below it, 47, is written XLVII, and the number above it, 49, is written XLIX.
How do you write 48 in Roman numerals?
Write 48 as XLVIII, combining XL (40) + V (5) + 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 48 in 5 steps: XL leaves 8, V leaves 3, I leaves 2, I leaves 1, I leaves 0. Every symbol keeps the same value wherever it stands, so the order is fixed and XLVIII is the only standard spelling of 48.
Why is 48 written XLVIII rather than XXXXVIII?
48 is written XLVIII because Roman numerals subtract a smaller symbol placed in front of a larger one. Here XL means 50 minus 10. Spelling 48 out additively would give XXXXVIII, 8 letters against 6, which is why the subtractive form is the standard one.
What is 48 times ten in Roman numerals?
48 times ten is 480, which is CDLXXX in Roman numerals, not XLVIII 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 XLVIII for 48 with CDLXXX for 480.