Interactive reference

Maya Numerals
0–399

See how dots, bars, a shell-like zero, and vertical place value build an elegant base-20 number system.

Number spotlight

Inspect any number

Enter a whole number from 0 to 7,999. Numbers through 399 are also highlighted in the chart.

Try

Dotone

Barfive

Shellzero

Decimal value125

Base-20 digits6 · 5

Calculation(6 × 20¹) + (5 × 20⁰) = 125

Browse the system

The 0–399 chart

Choose a range, then select a card to inspect its places. The highest base-20 place appears first.

Showing 100–199100 numerals

Building blocks

Learn 0–19 first

Every place is a digit from zero to nineteen. Dots count from one to four; each horizontal bar adds five.

Place value

Read from the bottom up

20²

Four-hundreds

The third level is worth 400 for each unit.

20¹

Twenties

The second level is worth 20 for each unit.

20⁰

Ones

The bottom level contains ordinary units.

A mathematical chart, not a Long Count date. Regular Maya arithmetic uses powers of 20. Long Count calendar notation modifies one step so that 18 uinal make a 360-day tun.

Learn from the source

References & next steps

Smithsonian NMAIMaya Math Game Smithsonian lesson planLet’s Multiply—Maya Style! Maya Skies toolConvert larger numbers