Lunar ↔ Solar Date Converter — Today's Lunar Date, Zodiac & Leap Month
Jun 23, 2026
Ever wondered what today's date is on the lunar calendar? Or needed to find the Gregorian date for a memorial rite (제사) listed only as "the 15th day of the 9th lunar month"? The lunar and solar calendars run on different cycles, so the same lunar date falls on a different Gregorian date every year — and when a leap month (윤달) appears, the calculation gets even trickier. This guide explains the difference between the two calendar systems and shows you how to convert any date in two simple steps using a free online tool.
Lunar ↔ solar conversion in both directions. Zodiac sign, 60-year cycle (간지), and leap-month status shown automatically. Free, no sign-up needed.
Convert Lunar / Solar Date →Solar vs. Lunar Calendar — What's the Difference?
The Gregorian (solar) calendar is based on the time it takes Earth to orbit the Sun — about 365.25 days. This is the calendar used in everyday life worldwide.
The lunar calendar follows the Moon's phases (new moon to new moon), with each month lasting roughly 29.5 days. A lunar year is about 354 days — 11 days shorter than a solar year. To keep the two in sync, a leap month (윤달) is added roughly every 32–33 months, inserting an extra copy of the same month into that year.
In Korea, traditional occasions such as ancestral rites (제사), elders' birthdays, and national holidays like Chuseok and Seollal are all set by the lunar calendar — which is why their Gregorian dates shift each year.
Why You Need a Converter — Real-Life Examples
- Memorial rites (제사) — The anniversary of a loved one's passing is often recorded as a lunar date. You need the Gregorian equivalent each year to plan ahead.
- Birthdays of elders — Many older Koreans celebrate their birthday on its lunar date. Finding the solar date lets you make reservations or arrange gifts in time.
- Calendar reminders — Adding a recurring lunar-based event to a digital calendar requires the correct solar date each year.
- Today's lunar date — Quickly look up the current lunar date, zodiac sign, or 간지 for today.
How to Convert — 2 Steps
- Enter the date and choose direction — Open the lunar/solar converter, type in the date, and select whether you want Solar → Lunar or Lunar → Solar.
- Read the result — The converted date appears instantly, along with the 60-year cycle name (간지), zodiac animal (띠), and whether the lunar date falls in a leap month. No extra calculation needed.
Good to Know — Leap Months and the Zodiac
What Is a Leap Month (윤달)?
About every 32–33 months, the lunar calendar inserts a duplicate of the same month to make up for the ~11-day annual shortfall against the solar year. For example, in a year with a "leap 3rd month," lunar March appears twice. If you were born in a leap month, or a memorial rite falls in a leap month, the calculation differs from a regular month — the converter flags this automatically so you never miss it.
The 60-Year Cycle (간지) and the 12 Zodiac Animals (띠)
The 간지 system combines 10 Heavenly Stems (천간) with 12 Earthly Branches (지지) to create a 60-year repeating cycle used to label years. The 12 Earthly Branches each correspond to an animal — the familiar Korean/Chinese zodiac signs.
| Branch | Animal | Recent years (solar) |
|---|---|---|
| 자(子) | Rat | 2020, 2008, 1996 |
| 축(丑) | Ox | 2021, 2009, 1997 |
| 인(寅) | Tiger | 2022, 2010, 1998 |
| 묘(卯) | Rabbit | 2023, 2011, 1999 |
| 진(辰) | Dragon | 2024, 2012, 2000 |
| 사(巳) | Snake | 2025, 2013, 2001 |
| 오(午) | Horse | 2026, 2014, 2002 |
| 미(未) | Goat | 2027, 2015, 2003 |
| 신(申) | Monkey | 2028, 2016, 2004 |
| 유(酉) | Rooster | 2029, 2017, 2005 |
| 술(戌) | Dog | 2030, 2018, 2006 |
| 해(亥) | Pig | 2019, 2007, 1995 |
Important: the 간지 year changes on Lunar New Year (음력 1월 1일), not January 1st. People born in January or early February may belong to the previous year's zodiac sign. The converter shows the correct sign based on the actual lunar date.
Related Tools
If you specifically want to convert a parent's or elder's lunar birthday to a solar date — and also calculate milestone birthdays like the 환갑 (60th) or 칠순 (70th) — try the dedicated Lunar Birthday Converter. It takes a birth date and target year and does all the arithmetic for you.
For a deeper look at Korean birthday traditions and how to plan a 환갑·칠순 celebration, see our blog post Converting a Lunar Birthday · Planning a Hwangap or Chilsun Party.
Enter a date, pick a direction, done. Free.
Convert Now →Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does the same lunar date fall on a different solar date every year?
Yes. Because the lunar calendar follows the Moon's cycle, the equivalent Gregorian date shifts by roughly 10–30 days each year. Use the converter and select the year you need to get the exact solar date.
Q. What is the zodiac sign for someone born in a leap month?
A leap month is treated as the same month it duplicates, so the zodiac sign is identical to that of the corresponding regular month. For annual rites in a leap month, when no leap month exists that year, the rite is typically held in the regular month instead.
Q. I was born in January or February but the tool shows a different zodiac. Is that right?
Yes, this is correct. The 간지 year starts on Lunar New Year, which usually falls in late January or February. If your birthday precedes Lunar New Year, you belong to the previous year's zodiac in the lunar system.
Q. How accurate is the lunar date for today?
The tool uses official lunar calendar data from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (한국천문연구원), so the dates are accurate. The reference timezone is Korean Standard Time (KST, UTC+9).