How to use the Chinese zodiac calculator
- Enter your birth year, between 1900 and 2100.
- If you were born in January or February, tick the box if your birthday falls before Lunar New Year.
- Press Find my animal.
You see your animal and element, whether your year is Yin or Yang, the traditional lucky numbers and colours for your animal, and the years of your animal (every 12 years).
How it works
The zodiac runs in a 12-year cycle of animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. A year's animal follows from the year number, and its element from the last digit:
| Last digit | Element |
|---|---|
| 0, 1 | Metal |
| 2, 3 | Water |
| 4, 5 | Wood |
| 6, 7 | Fire |
| 8, 9 | Earth |
Even years are Yang and odd years Yin. Together the 12 animals and 5 elements make a 60-year cycle.
Worked examples
- 2026: the animal is the Horse, the last digit is 6 (Fire) and the year is even (Yang): a Yang Fire Horse.
- 1990: the Horse again (12 years before 2002), element Metal (digit 0), Yang: a Metal Horse.
- Born in January 1996: Lunar New Year that year fell on 19 February, so a January birthday comes before it and the animal is the Pig of 1995, not the Rat of 1996.
Lucky numbers and colours
| Animal | Lucky numbers | Lucky colours |
|---|---|---|
| Rat | 2, 3 | Blue, gold, green |
| Ox | 1, 4 | White, yellow, green |
| Tiger | 1, 3, 4 | Blue, grey, orange |
| Rabbit | 3, 4, 6 | Red, pink, purple, blue |
| Dragon | 1, 6, 7 | Gold, silver, grey |
| Snake | 2, 8, 9 | Black, red, yellow |
| Horse | 2, 3, 7 | Yellow, green |
| Goat | 3, 4, 9 | Brown, red, purple |
| Monkey | 4, 9 | White, blue, gold |
| Rooster | 5, 7, 8 | Gold, brown, yellow |
| Dog | 3, 4, 9 | Red, green, purple |
| Pig | 2, 5, 8 | Yellow, grey, brown |
These are the lists most often given, and they vary between sources and schools.
A note on gambling
Lunar New Year is a big moment in many casinos, with themed games and promotions. Enjoy the festival, but keep in mind that no animal or element changes the odds of a single spin.
For more, read your Chinese zodiac and luck, lucky colours and feng shui in casinos.
