Timing · Chinese astrology
Chinese Zodiac Calculator
Find your Chinese zodiac animal and element from your birth date. It uses the Chinese New Year date, not 1 January, so January and February birthdays come out right.
The 12 Chinese zodiac signs and their years
Years are Chinese years. They start at Chinese New Year, not on 1 January, so people born in January or February may belong to the year before.
| Animal | Years (1924–2030) |
|---|---|
| Rat | 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924 |
| Ox | 2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925 |
| Tiger | 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926 |
| Rabbit | 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927 |
| Dragon | 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928 |
| Snake | 2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929 |
| Horse | 2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930 |
| Goat | 2027, 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931 |
| Monkey | 2028, 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932 |
| Rooster | 2029, 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933 |
| Dog | 2030, 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934 |
| Pig | 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935 |
How the five elements sit on top of the zodiac
Your animal is only half of your Chinese year. Each year also carries one of five elements, so a Horse year can be a Metal Horse or a Fire Horse, and the two read differently. The element follows the last digit of the Chinese year.
| Element | Last digit of the year |
|---|---|
| Metal | 0, 1 |
| Water | 2, 3 |
| Wood | 4, 5 |
| Fire | 6, 7 |
| Earth | 8, 9 |
Twelve animals and five elements line up again every 60 years. Each year is also Yin or Yang: even years are Yang and odd years are Yin. The year 2027, for example, is a Yin Fire Goat year. Read about the 2027 Fire Goat year.
Chinese astrology also has a deeper system, Five Elements (BaZi), which reads the year, month, day and hour of your birth. Try the Five Elements tool. It changes year at the start of spring, around 4 February, so it can differ from this calculator for early-February birthdays.
Why Chinese New Year is not 1 January
The Chinese calendar follows both the Moon and the Sun. Its months start at the new Moon, and its year starts at the new Moon that falls near the middle of winter, between late January and mid-February. That is why Chinese New Year moves around on the Western calendar.
It matters most for birthdays in January and February. Chinese New Year in 1990 was on January 27, 1990. Someone born on January 26, 1990 is Earth Snake, and someone born the next day is Metal Horse. In 2027 the date is February 6, 2027, so a baby born the day before is a Horse and a baby born that day is a Goat.
This calculator uses the Chinese New Year date for every year from 1924 to 2030. The dates follow the calendar in China, so a birth right around midnight in another time zone can fall on the other side of the line.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my Chinese zodiac sign?
Use the Chinese New Year date, not 1 January. If you were born on or after the Chinese New Year of your birth year, your sign is that year's animal. If you were born before it, your sign is the animal of the previous year. For example, January 26, 1990 is Earth Snake and January 27, 1990 is Metal Horse.
Why is my Chinese zodiac different from my birth year?
The Chinese year starts at Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February. If your birthday is in January or February, check the New Year date for your birth year. People born before it belong to the previous year's animal.
What is a Chinese zodiac element?
Each zodiac year also has one of five elements: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire or Earth. The element depends on the last digit of the Chinese year. Years ending in 0 or 1 are Metal, 2 or 3 Water, 4 or 5 Wood, 6 or 7 Fire, and 8 or 9 Earth. So Metal Horse is a different year from Fire Horse.
How often does the same sign and element repeat?
Every 60 years. Twelve animals and five elements line up again after 60 years, so a Metal Horse born in 1990 shares a sign with the Metal Horse years of 1930 and 2050.
Is the Chinese zodiac the same as my Western zodiac sign?
No. Western astrology uses the Sun's position in 12 signs across the year, so the sign changes about once a month. The Chinese zodiac assigns one animal to a whole year. The two systems are separate, and many people read both.
Is the Chinese zodiac accurate or scientific?
It is a cultural tradition, not a scientific test, and it cannot predict your life. The date calculation is exact. The personality images are traditional symbols, and they are best used for reflection and fun.
What are the 12 Chinese zodiac animals in order?
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. The cycle then starts over with the Rat.
Your animal is one layer of your chart
Timing adds your Western birth chart and Five Elements, so you can read all of them side by side.
Updated October 2026