Chinese Zodiac Calculator
Enter a date of birth to find the Chinese zodiac animal sign and element for that year.
About this calculator
This chinese zodiac calculator maps a birth year to one of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, plus the five-element cycle (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) that repeats every ten years.
Because the Chinese lunar new year usually falls between late January and mid-February, births in that window can technically belong to the previous year's sign — treat results near the boundary as an estimate.
How it works
Enter the date of birth
The birth year is used to determine the animal and element.
Calculate
The year is matched against the twelve-animal, ten-stem cycle.
See the result
View the animal sign and its associated element.
Frequently asked questions
Why might my sign be 'off' by one year?
The Chinese new year doesn't fall on January 1st — it shifts between late January and mid-February — so births in early January or early-to-mid February can belong to the prior year's animal.
What do the elements mean?
Each animal sign is also paired with one of five elements on a repeating ten-year cycle, giving 60 unique year combinations in the full cycle.
Is this the same as Vietnamese or other lunar zodiacs?
Several East and Southeast Asian cultures use related but not identical lunar zodiac systems; this tool reflects the Chinese version.