Zodiac Sign Dates: The Complete List for All 12 Signs

Key Takeaways

Zodiac sign dates can shift annually, meaning your true Sun sign requires verification if your birthday falls on a transitional day, often called a "cusp."
Every sign is defined by one of four elements (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) and one of three modalities (Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable), which together shape its fundamental personality and approach to life.
The only definitive way to confirm your Sun sign, particularly for cusp birthdays, is by generating a natal chart using your precise birth date, time, and location.

Introduction

Think you know your zodiac sign? While your birth date is the primary key, the exact start and end dates for each sign can shift slightly from year to year. This detail is especially important if you were born on the "cusp," the transitional period when the sun moves from one astrological season to the next.

Understanding the correct zodiac signs dates is the essential first step to unlocking your unique cosmic blueprint. This guide provides a complete, easy-to-scan list for all 12 signs, along with the core traits, elements (Fire, Earth, Air, Water), and modalities that define your astrological identity. Beyond just dates, you can engage with your sign's energy through a daily horoscope.

Let’s dive into the definitive list and discover what the stars reveal about your fundamental nature.

The Complete Zodiac Signs Dates List

Understanding your astrological sign begins with knowing where the sun was on your date of birth. The zodiac is divided into 12 distinct signs, each possessing a unique energy, set of personality traits, and a ruling planet. Below is a comprehensive zodiac dates list that outlines the generally accepted date ranges for all 12 signs.

Aries (March 21 – April 19): Ruled by Mars, the first sign of the zodiac is a fire sign known for its bold, ambitious, and pioneering spirit. Arians are natural leaders who dive headfirst into challenges with unwavering passion and confidence.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20): Ruled by Venus, this grounded earth sign is known for being reliable, patient, and practical. Taureans appreciate comfort, beauty, and luxury, and they are fiercely loyal to the people and principles they hold dear.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20): Ruled by Mercury, this air sign is characterized by its curiosity, adaptability, and expressive nature. Geminis are social butterflies with a quick wit, driven by an insatiable desire to learn and share information with the world.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22): Ruled by the Moon, this deeply intuitive and sentimental water sign is highly attuned to the emotional currents around them. Cancers are natural nurturers who value home, family, and security above all else.
Leo (July 23 – August 22): Ruled by the Sun, Leos are dramatic, charismatic, and confident individuals who love to be in the spotlight. This fire sign is known for its generosity, creativity, and warm-hearted, protective spirit.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22): Ruled by Mercury, Virgos are practical, analytical, and detail-oriented earth signs. They have a methodical approach to life and are driven by a desire to be helpful and improve everything and everyone around them.
Libra (September 23 – October 22): Ruled by Venus, this air sign is obsessed with balance, harmony, and justice. Libras are known for their diplomatic, fair-minded, and social nature, thriving in partnerships and seeking beauty in all things.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): Co-ruled by Pluto and Mars, Scorpios are passionate, resourceful, and powerful water signs. Known for their intensity and determination, they are not afraid to delve into the depths of any subject and value truth and authenticity.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): Ruled by Jupiter, this fire sign is the adventurer of the zodiac, driven by a quest for knowledge, travel, and truth. Sagittarians are optimistic, philosophical, and possess a great sense of humor.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): Ruled by Saturn, Capricorns are disciplined, responsible, and ambitious earth signs. They possess immense self-control and are masters of long-term planning, always working towards a tangible goal.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): Co-ruled by Uranus and Saturn, this air sign is innovative, independent, and humanitarian. Aquarians are forward-thinking visionaries who march to the beat of their own drum and are dedicated to making the world a better place.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20): Co-ruled by Neptune and Jupiter, the final sign of the zodiac is a compassionate, artistic, and intuitive water sign. Pisceans are deeply empathetic and often express their boundless imagination through creative pursuits.

With this complete list of horoscope dates established, we can now explore the foundational building blocks that give each sign its unique flavor: the elements.

Understanding the Zodiac Elements

The 12 zodiac signs are organized into four elemental groups: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. Each element represents a fundamental type of energy and consciousness that shapes a sign’s core nature and approach to life. Understanding your sign's element is the first step to a deeper astrological understanding of your motivations and instincts.

Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)

Fire signs are known for their passion, dynamism, and creativity. They are the initiators and trailblazers of the zodiac, bringing infectious energy and enthusiasm to everything they do. People with a strong fire influence in their chart are often spontaneous, inspirational, and have a powerful drive to act on instinct, express themselves, and make a tangible impact on the world.

Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)

Earth signs are grounded, practical, and dependable. They are the builders of the zodiac, focused on creating tangible results and establishing a secure foundation in the material world. Individuals with a dominant earth element are often reliable, patient, and have a strong connection to the physical senses, appreciating what is real, solid, and lasting. This makes them adept at finance, craftsmanship, and long-term project management.

Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)

Air signs are the intellectuals, communicators, and social connectors of the zodiac. They are driven by logic, abstract ideas, and the exchange of information. People with a strong air influence are often curious, analytical, and objective, skilled at seeing situations from multiple perspectives. They thrive on social interaction, collaboration, and intellectual debates.

Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)

Water signs are the emotional and intuitive heart of the zodiac. They operate from a place of feeling, empathy, and deep subconscious connection. Individuals with a prominent water element are often compassionate, imaginative, and highly sensitive to the unspoken moods and needs of others. They navigate the world through their powerful intuition, excelling in healing, artistic, and therapeutic fields.

These elemental energies provide the raw material of each sign's personality. The next layer of classification, the modalities, explains how each sign directs and expresses that energy.

The Three Modalities in Astrology

Modalities—Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable—describe how each zodiac sign channels its elemental energy into action, influencing the trends seen in a weekly horoscope. Each of the four elements contains one sign from each modality, creating a unique and dynamic combination of temperament and behavior.

Cardinal Signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn)

The Cardinal signs are the initiators. They kick off each of the four seasons and are known for being enterprising, ambitious, and proactive leaders. They excel at starting new projects, whether launching a business venture or organizing a community event.

Aries initiates with fiery, impulsive action.
Cancer initiates with emotional nurturing and protection.
Libra initiates with social connection and new ideas.
Capricorn initiates with practical, long-term, and strategic plans.

Fixed Signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius)

The Fixed signs are the stabilizers. Occurring in the middle of each season, they are known for their determination, persistence, and reliability. They take the initial spark from the Cardinal signs and build something solid and lasting, demonstrating immense focus and endurance.

Taurus stabilizes through material security and steadfast loyalty.
Leo stabilizes through consistent creative expression and leadership.
Scorpio stabilizes through deep emotional commitment and unwavering focus.
Aquarius stabilizes through unwavering ideals and strong community bonds.

Mutable Signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces)

The Mutable signs are the adapters. They mark the end of each season and are known for their flexibility, resourcefulness, and ability to navigate change. They prepare for the transition to the next season by breaking down old structures, embracing fluidity, and facilitating communication.

Gemini adapts through communication, curiosity, and information gathering.
Virgo adapts through practical adjustments, analysis, and service.
Sagittarius adapts through philosophical exploration and a broad perspective.
Pisces adapts through emotional and spiritual surrender and empathy.

While these categories provide a solid framework for understanding each sign's function, you might have noticed your birthday falls right on the edge of two different zodiac signs dates. This brings up the common and often misunderstood concept of being born on a cusp.

What Does It Mean to Be Born on the Cusp?

Many people believe that if they are born on the day a zodiac sign changes, they are a blend of two signs. However, in professional astrology, the Sun can only occupy one sign at a single moment. The confusion arises because the exact time the Sun changes signs varies slightly each year due to the Earth's orbit. This transition doesn't happen neatly at midnight; it is an astronomical event that can occur at any time during the day. Therefore, someone born on August 23rd might be a Leo in one year but a Virgo in the next.

This transitional period is what is meant by being "born on the cusp." While your Sun sign will definitively be one or the other, being born so close to the border means you may feel the energetic influence of the neighboring sign. You might find that you possess personality traits from both, creating a unique and nuanced astrological profile.

How to Find Your True Zodiac Sign by Birth Date

If your birthday falls on the first or last day of any of the star sign dates, the only way to know your true Sun sign with 100% certainty is to calculate your natal chart, also known as a birth chart. This astrological map is a precise snapshot of the sky at the exact moment you were born.

To generate an accurate chart, you will need three key pieces of information:

Your full date of birth (month, day, and year).
Your exact time of birth (as close to the minute as possible).
Your city and country of birth.

Using a reliable online birth chart calculator, you can input this information to discover your Sun sign's exact degree and placement. This removes all guesswork from the astrological sign dates and provides a definitive answer, clarifying whether you are, for example, a late-degree Aries or an early-degree Taurus.

Conclusion

Ultimately, understanding your zodiac sign is about more than just a calendar date. The astrological system is a nuanced framework built on the interplay of elements and modalities, which together define each sign’s distinct energy and approach to life. This deeper knowledge demystifies concepts like being born "on the cusp" and underscores that your true Sun sign is determined by the precise astronomical moment of your birth, not just the day.

For those whose birthday falls near a sign change, calculating a natal chart provides the definitive answer and clarity. More importantly, this first step serves as a gateway to a more profound self-understanding. Looking ahead, the real journey begins when you explore your complete celestial map—including your Moon and Rising signs—which reveals the full spectrum of your personality. The question isn't just "What is my sign?" but "What can the entire sky at my birth teach me about myself?"