July Zodiac Sign
Revised . First published .
Your July zodiac sign is either Cancer or Leo. Cancer covers July 1 through about July 22 and Leo covers the rest of the month. We help you check which sign you have, especially if your birthday sits on the changeover days.
- ♋ Cancer
- July 1 through 22
- ♌ Leo
- July 23 through 31
- Days on the cusp
- July 21 through 23
July dates for Cancer and Leo
Every birthday from July 1 through July 21 falls under Cancer. Leo covers birthdays from July 24 through July 31. The part of the sky that held the Sun when you were born is what your Sun sign names. By July 15, the Sun has reached about 23°14′ Cancer. By July 28, the Sun is in Leo, near 5°20′.
A calendar date by itself won't tell you your sign if you were born on July 22 or July 23. Across those 2 days, the Sun completes 29°59′ Cancer and then moves into 0°00′ Leo. Your birth year, birth time and birthplace help us determine which side of that line you're on. The result can shift with a gap of only a few hours.
The Sun's yearly entry into Leo
| Year | Sun enters Leo |
|---|---|
| 2020 | July 22, 4:36 AM EDT |
| 2021 | July 22, 10:26 AM EDT |
| 2022 | July 22, 4:07 PM EDT |
| 2023 | July 22, 9:50 PM EDT |
| 2024 | July 22, 3:44 AM EDT |
| 2025 | July 22, 9:29 AM EDT |
| 2026 | July 22, 3:13 PM EDT |
| 2027 | July 22, 9:04 PM EDT |
| 2028 | July 22, 2:53 AM EDT |
| 2029 | July 22, 8:41 AM EDT |
| 2030 | July 22, 2:25 PM EDT |
| 2031 | July 22, 8:10 PM EDT |
Does Leo's start date vary by year?
Yes. Depending on your birth year, the Sun enters Leo on July 22 or July 23. Your calendar has 365 days, but Earth needs about 365 days and 6 hours to orbit the Sun. Each year, those extra 6 hours move the changeover time later. Adding February 29 during a leap year shifts that timing back for you.
That shift may bring the Sun to 0°00′ Leo in 1 year, at 10:15 AM. One year later, the arrival time falls around 4:05 PM. Your time zone matters here as well. A shift at 11:30 PM in New York occurs at 8:30 PM in Los Angeles. To be sure, you'll want the time your birth certificate shows.
Shared Cancer and Leo traits, plus their differences
The 2 July signs seem warm, protective and fiercely loyal to your loved ones to astrologers. In traditional astrology, the Moon rules Cancer while the Sun rules Leo. These 2 are called the luminaries, a simple word for the brightest lights up in the sky. Astrologers say that link gives these 2 signs a deep care for family, home and close bonds.
Look closer and their elements and styles set them apart. Cancer is what astrologers call a water sign, leading with quiet care, strong intuition and private feelings. Leo, in their reading, is a fire sign whose warmth comes openly through humor, pride and bold action. Cancer guards you privately, while Leo publicly steps up to cheer you on.
Questions people have
Born on the Cancer and Leo cusp, can you have 2 signs?
The cusp marks the dividing line between 2 zodiac signs. The Sun occupies only 1 sign at a time, even if your birth was minutes from that line. You land at either 29°59′ Cancer or 0°00′ Leo. Mercury or Venus is often found in the following sign. This, astrologers say, explains why you relate to traits found in each sign.
How can you determine your July sign without knowing your birth time?
First, find out what time the Sun entered Leo in the year and time zone of your birth. A change at 11:45 PM leaves you almost certainly a Cancer for nearly the entire day. A switch near 2:15 PM means the calendar date by itself can't settle the question. You can ask your county vital records office for your full birth certificate to see the hospital time.
Why do I behave unlike a typical Cancer or Leo?
Only 1 part of your birth chart is your Sun sign. Astrologers also read your rising sign and your Moon sign. The sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth is your rising sign. If you're a Leo who's shy, or a Cancer who's outgoing, astrologers consult those placements to explain how you act every day.