Chinese Zodiac Calculator
Revised . First published .
Your animal, element and yin or yang from your full date of birth, with the Lunar New Year cut-off checked.
Choose your birth date and discover your animal and element.
The 12 animals, listed in order
In the traditional calendar, every year falls under 1 of 12 signs. The fixed order begins with Rat and Ox, then Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, then Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The Rat year begins as soon as the Pig year ends. Anyone born during that same lunar year shares your sign.
Astrologers treat your animal as a reflection of your outward habits and public image. According to tradition, Dragon years carry bold energy, while Rabbit years have a quieter and more careful style. All 12 animals are equal in terms of luck. The animals collectively represent 12 different ways to move through the world.
Yin and yang with the 5 elements
Alongside the animal connected to your birth, the calendar records Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Every element stays in charge for 2 years in succession. A Tiger year therefore includes more than the Tiger sign alone. Your sign might be Water Tiger or Fire Tiger. Astrologers believe your element shapes the way you use your animal's strengths.
In Chinese tradition, the 2 balancing forces alternate from one year to the next. Yin represents quiet, steady energy, while yang represents active, outward energy. An animal always returns with the same force. Yang always belongs to the Rat, while yin always belongs to the Ox. Since each element remains for 2 years, a yang Wood year is followed immediately by a yin Wood year.
How is the 60 year cycle structured?
Pairing the 12 animals with the 5 elements creates 60 unique combinations. This complete rotation is known as the stem and branch system. Anyone born in a Fire Horse year won't see that exact pair return until age 60.
Over those 60 years, your animal returns every 12 years with a different element. In 1996, the Fire Rat came around for someone born in the 1984 Wood Rat year. In 2008, the Earth Rat came around for them, followed by the Metal Rat in 2020. At age 60, you'll celebrate your true birth year return only when your animal and birth element match again.
What role does the Lunar New Year cutoff play for January and February birthdays?
While Western calendars use January 1, the Chinese zodiac follows both the Sun and Moon. The traditional new year begins with the 2nd new moon following the December solstice. Since the Moon's cycle changes relative to our calendar, the holiday falls between January 21 and February 20 each year.
For January or February birthdays, a basic year chart isn't something you can rely on. Births before the new year date still use the previous year's animal and element. The lunar year began on February 10 in 2024. If you were born on February 9, 2024, our calculator identifies you as a 2023 Water Rabbit instead of a Wood Dragon.
People's questions
Is a 2nd animal sign determined by my birth hour?
Traditional astrologers divide a 24 hour day into 12 blocks, with each block lasting 2 hours. Each belongs to 1 of the 12 animals. From 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM, the Rat is the ruling animal. The Ox rules from 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM. Astrologers see the hour animal as your rising sign. It shows your private character and how you behave at home.
Why do some astrologers choose February 4 rather than Lunar New Year?
One branch of Chinese astrology, the 4 Pillars system, follows the Sun's position rather than the Moon's phases. Their year begins on the 1st day of spring, around February 4. At that point, the Sun reaches 315°00′ along its yearly path. For a 4 Pillars chart, your astrologer sets the cutoff by that solar date instead of using Lunar New Year.
Is there an animal sign for my birth month or birthday too?
Yes, your birth year, month, day and hour each receive an animal and an element in a complete Chinese birth chart. According to astrologers, your career and work with peers are shaped by your month animal. Your marriage and close home life are reflected by your day animal. Your year sign forms the foundation of the system, and our main calculator focuses on it.
Why do some names for the 8th animal use Sheep or Ram rather than Goat?
Yang is the Chinese word for the 8th sign. It refers generally to goats, sheep and rams. As translators brought the calendar into English, various writers chose different animals from that group. A Goat, Sheep or Ram name on a chart refers to the same sign and the same traditional personality traits.
Does bad luck really strike when your animal year returns every 12 years?
According to folklore, your animal year starts a fresh 12 year chapter that brings big life changes, rather than meaning you're doomed to bad luck. In those years, you might move house, switch jobs or begin a family. While your sign is in charge, tradition says red socks or a red string bracelet invite good fortune.