How It Works
Three simple steps to discover your Chinese zodiac profile
Enter Your Birth Date
Choose a quick year lookup or full birth date with automatic lunar calendar correction — accurate from 1900.
Discover Your Sign
Get your animal sign, Chinese character, element, yin/yang, personality tags, lucky items, and compatibility matches instantly.
Explore Deeper
Dive into full personality profiles, detailed compatibility analysis, yearly horoscopes, and feng shui tips for your sign.
The 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs
Click any sign to explore its complete personality profile
rat
Water · Yang · #1
2008 · 2020 · 2032
牛ox
Earth · Yin · #2
2009 · 2021 · 2033
虎tiger
Wood · Yang · #3
2010 · 2022 · 2034
兔rabbit
Wood · Yin · #4
2011 · 2023 · 2035
龙dragon
Earth · Yang · #5
2012 · 2024 · 2036
蛇snake
Fire · Yin · #6
2013 · 2025 · 2037
马horse
Fire · Yang · #7
2014 · 2026 · 2038
羊goat
Earth · Yin · #8
2015 · 2027 · 2039
猴monkey
Metal · Yang · #9
2016 · 2028 · 2040
鸡rooster
Metal · Yin · #10
2017 · 2029 · 2041
狗dog
Earth · Yang · #11
2018 · 2030 · 2042
猪pig
Water · Yin · #12
2019 · 2031 · 2043
Zodiac Years Reference
Complete list of Chinese zodiac signs by birth year, with exact lunar calendar dates
| # | Sign | Recent Lunar Year Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 鼠 Rat | 2032 Feb 11, 2032 – Jan 31, 2033 2020 Jan 25, 2020 – Feb 12, 2021 2008 Feb 7, 2008 – Jan 26, 2009 All years: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 |
| 2 | 牛 Ox | 2033 Jan 31, 2033 – Feb 19, 2034 2021 Feb 12, 2021 – Feb 1, 2022 2009 Jan 26, 2009 – Feb 14, 2010 All years: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 |
| 3 | 虎 Tiger | 2034 Feb 19, 2034 – Feb 8, 2035 2022 Feb 1, 2022 – Jan 22, 2023 2010 Feb 14, 2010 – Feb 3, 2011 All years: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034 |
| 4 | 兔 Rabbit | 2023 Jan 22, 2023 – Feb 10, 2024 2011 Feb 3, 2011 – Jan 23, 2012 1999 Feb 16, 1999 – Feb 5, 2000 All years: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035 |
| 5 | 龙 Dragon | 2024 Feb 10, 2024 – Jan 29, 2025 2012 Jan 23, 2012 – Feb 10, 2013 2000 Feb 5, 2000 – Jan 24, 2001 All years: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036 |
| 6 | 蛇 Snake | 2025 Jan 29, 2025 – Feb 17, 2026 2013 Feb 10, 2013 – Jan 31, 2014 2001 Jan 24, 2001 – Feb 12, 2002 All years: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037 |
| 7 | 马 Horse | 2026 Feb 17, 2026 – Feb 6, 2027 2014 Jan 31, 2014 – Feb 19, 2015 2002 Feb 12, 2002 – Feb 1, 2003 All years: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038 |
| 8 | 羊 Goat | 2027 Feb 6, 2027 – Jan 26, 2028 2015 Feb 19, 2015 – Feb 8, 2016 2003 Feb 1, 2003 – Jan 22, 2004 All years: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039 |
| 9 | 猴 Monkey | 2028 Jan 26, 2028 – Feb 13, 2029 2016 Feb 8, 2016 – Jan 28, 2017 2004 Jan 22, 2004 – Feb 9, 2005 All years: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040 |
| 10 | 鸡 Rooster | 2029 Feb 13, 2029 – Feb 3, 2030 2017 Jan 28, 2017 – Feb 16, 2018 2005 Feb 9, 2005 – Jan 29, 2006 All years: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041 |
| 11 | 狗 Dog | 2030 Feb 3, 2030 – Jan 23, 2031 2018 Feb 16, 2018 – Feb 5, 2019 2006 Jan 29, 2006 – Feb 18, 2007 All years: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042 |
| 12 | 猪 Pig | 2031 Jan 23, 2031 – Feb 11, 2032 2019 Feb 5, 2019 – Jan 25, 2020 2007 Feb 18, 2007 – Feb 7, 2008 All years: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043 |
Each range runs from one Chinese New Year to the next. Click any sign to see its full personality profile, compatibility, and horoscope.
Chinese New Year Dates
The zodiac sign changes on the lunar new year. Find the exact date here.
| Year | New Year Date | Zodiac Sign |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Jan 25 | Rat |
| 2021 | Feb 12 | Ox |
| 2022 | Feb 1 | Tiger |
| 2023 | Jan 22 | Rabbit |
| 2024 | Feb 10 | Dragon |
| 2025 | Jan 29 | Snake |
| 2026 | Feb 17 | Horse |
| 2027 | Feb 6 | Goat |
| 2028 | Jan 26 | Monkey |
| 2029 | Feb 13 | Rooster |
| 2030 | Feb 3 | Dog |
| 2031 | Jan 23 | Pig |
| 2032 | Feb 11 | Rat |
| 2033 | Jan 31 | Ox |
| 2034 | Feb 19 | Tiger |
| 2035 | Feb 8 | Rabbit |
If your birthday is before the New Year date listed, your zodiac sign is from the previous year.
2026: The Year of the Fire Horse
The Fire Horse year begins on February 17, 2026 — a year of bold momentum, passion, and change.
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse (丙午). Fire is the element of passion, energy, and transformation; the Horse brings movement, freedom, and speed. Together they create one of the most dynamic years in the Chinese zodiac cycle — a year that rewards courage, decisive action, and new beginnings. Traditionally, the Fire Horse year is seen as intense: relationships deepen quickly, careers accelerate, and those who dare to move fast can achieve remarkable progress. It also calls for balance — unchecked fire burns, so pacing yourself matters more than ever.
Explore Chinese Zodiac Culture
Go beyond the calculator — understand the stories and traditions behind your sign
Ben Ming Nian (本命年)
Your zodiac year of birth returns every 12 years. What it means, when it starts, and why red is the traditional shield.
Learn more →太Tai Sui (太岁)
Which signs offend the Grand Duke in 2026 — Horse, Rat, Ox, Rabbit — and how tradition says to reconcile.
Learn more →缘Zodiac Origin
The Great Race legend, why the Rat came first, why the Cat is missing — and the real 2,000-year history.
Learn more →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chinese zodiac?
The Chinese zodiac (生肖, shēngxiào) is a 12-year cycle where each year is represented by an animal. Based on the lunar calendar, it has been used for centuries in Chinese culture to interpret personality, predict fortune, and determine compatibility. Unlike the Western zodiac which follows monthly dates, the Chinese zodiac follows lunar years.
How do I find my Chinese zodiac sign?
Simply enter your birth date into the calculator above. It will determine your animal sign based on the lunar new year calendar. Using only the year can be about 10% inaccurate for people born in January or February — our full birth date calculator handles this automatically using accurate Chinese New Year dates from 1900 to 2035.
What are the 12 Chinese zodiac animals in order?
The 12 animals in order are: Rat (#1), Ox (#2), Tiger (#3), Rabbit (#4), Dragon (#5), Snake (#6), Horse (#7), Goat (#8), Monkey (#9), Rooster (#10), Dog (#11), and Pig (#12). Each animal has unique personality traits, elemental associations, and compatibility patterns. The Dragon is the only mythical creature in the cycle.
What is the difference between zodiac sign and element?
Your zodiac sign is determined by the 12-year animal cycle (what year you were born). Your element — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water — follows a separate 10-year Heavenly Stem cycle. Together, your animal and element create a more detailed personality profile. For example, a Wood Rat differs from a Fire Rat, though both share core Rat traits. Use our Elements Calculator to learn more.
Which zodiac signs are most compatible?
Best matches are usually signs four years apart in the zodiac cycle. Classic pairings include Rat with Dragon and Monkey, Ox with Snake and Rooster, Tiger with Horse and Dog, and Rabbit with Goat and Pig. Use our Compatibility Calculator to check any two signs, or browse the compatibility matrix above.
When does Chinese New Year 2026 start?
The 2026 Chinese New Year begins on February 17, 2026, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Horse. Anyone born on or after this date belongs to the Horse sign. Those born earlier in 2026 (Jan 1 – Feb 16) are still Snakes. Check our Year Chart for a complete reference of all 12 signs.
Does the zodiac sign change at Lichun or Lunar New Year?
There are two conventions. The mainstream method (used by this calculator and by most Chinese astrology guides) changes the sign on the Lunar New Year (the first day of the Chinese calendar). A smaller school of thought uses Lichun (Start of Spring, around February 4), the first of the 24 solar terms, as the boundary. The difference only affects people born between approximately February 4 and the Lunar New Year date. If you were born in this window, your sign depends on which convention you follow — most modern interpretations use the Lunar New Year.
Last updated: August 19, 2026
Written and reviewed by the Chinese-Zodiac-Calculator.com Editorial Team. Calculations use the traditional Chinese lunar calendar with official Chinese New Year dates from 1900 to 2035. Zodiac readings are provided for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only.