Days Until Spring — Live Equinox Countdown

How Many Days Until Spring?

The countdown above shows the exact number of days remaining until the first day of spring — the March equinox. Unlike a fixed holiday, the equinox moves slightly each year (usually March 20, occasionally March 19 or 21), so the calculator targets the correct astronomical date and rolls over to next year's equinox once it passes.

The March equinox is a moment of renewal in the Northern Hemisphere — the return of blossoms, longer days, the start of gardening season, and the excitement of spring break. Knowing exactly how many days remain makes it easy to plan a garden, book a spring getaway, or simply look forward to warmer, brighter weeks ahead.

Example: viewed on February 1 → about 47 days until spring — the live timer ticks down hours, minutes, and seconds so the first day of spring feels closer.

Why Track Days Until Spring?

Gardening and planting – Seed starting and last-frost planning key off the spring equinox, so gardeners count down to break ground
Spring break travel – Flights and resorts for peak spring-break weeks are cheapest when booked a couple of months ahead
Allergy prep – Pollen season ramps up as spring arrives, so allergy sufferers stock up before the sneezing starts
Spring cleaning – The season is a natural cue to declutter, deep-clean, and refresh the home after winter
Daylight saving begins – Clocks spring forward in early-to-mid March, adding evening daylight right before the equinox
Wedding season kickoff – Spring opens one of the most popular stretches of the year for weddings and outdoor events
Mood lift – Longer, sunnier days ease seasonal-affective winter blues, giving the countdown a feel-good finish line

The Spring Equinox Explained

The word equinox comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) — the time when day and night are of nearly equal length everywhere on Earth. At the March equinox the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving north, shining directly over the equator so that both hemispheres receive roughly the same amount of daylight.

The March equinox marks the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, while south of the equator it begins autumn on the very same day. After the equinox, northern days keep lengthening toward the June solstice, and the Sun climbs higher in the sky with each passing week.

Astronomers define spring by this equinox, so the first day of spring shifts between March 19, 20, and 21 each year. Meteorologists use a simpler system — meteorological spring runs from the fixed dates of March 1 through May 31 — which is why you sometimes see two different "first day of spring" answers. The equinox also anchors cultural calendars worldwide, from Nowruz, the Persian New Year, to Higan in Japan, and it helps set the date of Easter each year.

Spring Countdown by Month

Here is roughly how many days until the next first day of spring from various points in the year:

January 1 — approximately 78 days until spring
February 1 — approximately 47 days until spring
March 1 — approximately 19 days until spring
March 20 — the equinox: spring begins
April 1 — approximately 353 days until next spring
May 1 — approximately 323 days until next spring
June 1 — approximately 292 days until next spring
July 1 — approximately 262 days until next spring
August 1 — approximately 231 days until next spring
September 1 — approximately 200 days until next spring
October 1 — approximately 170 days until next spring
November 1 — approximately 139 days until next spring
December 1 — approximately 109 days until next spring

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days until spring?

The live countdown at the top of this page shows you exactly how many days until the first day of spring — the March equinox. The number updates daily and automatically rolls over to the following year once the equinox has passed.

When does spring start?

Astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere begins at the March equinox, which falls on March 19, 20, or 21 depending on the year. In 2026 the equinox lands on March 20. Meteorological spring, used by climate scientists, instead starts on the fixed date of March 1 and runs through May 31.

Why does the first day of spring change each year?

The equinox is an astronomical event — the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving north — not a fixed calendar date. Because the year is about 365.25 days long, the exact instant drifts across March 19, 20, and 21, which is corrected by the leap-year system. This calculator uses the astronomical equinox date for each year.

How many weeks until spring?

The calculator above shows the breakdown including weeks. Divide the days until spring by 7 to find complete weeks remaining. For example, 70 days until spring is exactly 10 weeks.

What is the spring equinox?

The spring equinox is the moment when day and night are nearly equal in length, as the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading north. It marks the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the point after which daylight hours grow longer than nights. Cultures worldwide mark it with festivals, from Nowruz, the Persian New Year, to Higan in Japan.

Is March 20 always the first day of spring?

Not always. The March equinox usually falls on March 20, but it can land on March 19 or March 21 depending on the year and your time zone. For example, the equinox lands on March 20 across 2026 through 2036 by UTC reckoning. This calculator targets the correct astronomical date for each upcoming year automatically.