Date math
Zodiac Sign Calculator
Enter your birth date to instantly find your zodiac sign, its element, ruling planet, and personality traits.
All 12 signs Cusp check Instant
What Is a Zodiac Sign?
Your zodiac sign — also called your sun sign or star sign — is the constellation the Sun was passing through on the day you were born. The Western (tropical) zodiac divides the year into twelve segments of roughly 30 days each, and the sign you get depends only on the month and day of your birthday. Your birth year does not change your sun sign.
This calculator maps your birth date to one of the twelve signs and shows its element, ruling planet, symbol, date range, and the traits that sign is traditionally associated with. If your birthday falls near the boundary between two signs, it also flags that you were born "on the cusp."
Example: a birth date of July 23 → Leo ♌ — a Fire sign ruled by the Sun, spanning July 23 to August 22.
The 12 Zodiac Signs and Their Dates
Each sign covers a fixed range of dates. The exact boundary can shift by a day depending on the year, so birthdays right on the edge should be double-checked against an exact birth chart.
| Sign | Dates | Element | Ruling planet |
|---|---|---|---|
| ♈ Aries | Mar 21 – Apr 19 | Fire | Mars |
| ♉ Taurus | Apr 20 – May 20 | Earth | Venus |
| ♊ Gemini | May 21 – Jun 20 | Air | Mercury |
| ♋ Cancer | Jun 21 – Jul 22 | Water | Moon |
| ♌ Leo | Jul 23 – Aug 22 | Fire | Sun |
| ♍ Virgo | Aug 23 – Sep 22 | Earth | Mercury |
| ♎ Libra | Sep 23 – Oct 22 | Air | Venus |
| ♏ Scorpio | Oct 23 – Nov 21 | Water | Pluto |
| ♐ Sagittarius | Nov 22 – Dec 21 | Fire | Jupiter |
| ♑ Capricorn | Dec 22 – Jan 19 | Earth | Saturn |
| ♒ Aquarius | Jan 20 – Feb 18 | Air | Uranus |
| ♓ Pisces | Feb 19 – Mar 20 | Water | Neptune |
The Four Elements
Astrology groups the twelve signs into four elements, and signs that share an element are traditionally seen as the most naturally compatible.
- Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) – bold, energetic, spontaneous, and driven by passion.
- Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) – grounded, practical, patient, and dependable.
- Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) – curious, communicative, social, and idea-driven.
- Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) – emotional, intuitive, empathetic, and deeply feeling.
The classic pairing is Fire with Air (which fuels it) and Earth with Water (which nourishes it). These are general traditions, not rules — real compatibility depends on far more than a sun sign.
Born on the Cusp
If your birthday falls within a day or two of where one sign ends and the next begins, you were born "on the cusp." Because the Sun's exact moment of entry into a new sign shifts a little each year, a cusp birthday can land in either sign depending on your birth year and time of day.
For example, someone born on August 22 or 23 sits right on the Leo–Virgo boundary. If your birthday is a cusp date, the calculator will say so — and the only way to be certain is to cast an exact birth chart using your time and place of birth.
Common Uses
- Quick sign lookup – Settle "what's your sign?" for yourself, friends, or a new date.
- Compatibility checks – Compare two people's elements to see the classic pairings.
- Birthday content – Plan a themed birthday, gift, or card around someone's sign.
- Cusp questions – Find out whether a boundary birthday leans one way or the other.
- Curiosity and trivia – Learn a sign's element, ruling planet, and traits at a glance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my zodiac sign?
Your zodiac sign is determined by the position of the Sun on the day you were born, which maps to the month and day of your birth date. Enter your birth date above and the calculator returns your Western (tropical) sun sign instantly. The birth year does not change your sign.
What are the 12 zodiac signs and their dates?
The twelve signs are Aries (Mar 21–Apr 19), Taurus (Apr 20–May 20), Gemini (May 21–Jun 20), Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 22), Leo (Jul 23–Aug 22), Virgo (Aug 23–Sep 22), Libra (Sep 23–Oct 22), Scorpio (Oct 23–Nov 21), Sagittarius (Nov 22–Dec 21), Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19), Aquarius (Jan 20–Feb 18), and Pisces (Feb 19–Mar 20).
What does it mean to be born on the cusp?
Being born on the cusp means your birthday falls within a day or two of the boundary between two signs. If you were born on a cusp date, the exact sign can depend on your birth year and time, because the Sun's entry into a sign shifts slightly each year. The calculator flags cusp birth dates so you can check your precise sign.
Does my birth year affect my zodiac sign?
No. Your Western zodiac (sun) sign depends only on the month and day of your birth, not the year. The birth year matters for the Chinese zodiac, which assigns an animal to each year. For your Western sign, only the calendar date counts.
What are the four zodiac elements?
Each sign belongs to one of four elements. Fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Signs that share an element are traditionally considered highly compatible.
What is the difference between a sun sign and a star sign?
They are the same thing. "Sun sign" and "star sign" both refer to the zodiac constellation the Sun was passing through on your birthday. This is what people usually mean when they ask "what's your sign?" A full birth chart also includes a moon sign and rising sign, which need your exact birth time and place.