♉︎ Taurus · April 20 – May 20 · Fixed earth

Taurus Zodiac Sign: Traits, Dates & Compatibility

By Dima Tretyak · Updated October 23, 2026 · Sun dates calculated, not copied

Taurus is a steady, practical sign that builds slowly and holds on to what works. Ruled by Venus, it pairs a taste for comfort with a stubborn streak that shapes how you love, work and make choices.

Taurus at a glance

Dates: April 20 – May 20
Sun enters: April 19, 2026 at 9:39 PM EDT
Sun leaves: May 20, 2026 at 8:37 PM EDT
Symbol: ♉︎ The Bull
Element: Earth
Modality: Fixed
Polarity: Receptive
Ruler: ♀︎ Venus
Exalted here: ☽︎ Moon
In detriment here: ♂︎ Mars
In fall here: None
Opposite sign: Scorpio
Same element: Virgo, Capricorn
Natural house: 2nd · money & values

Taurus traits

Taurus belongs to the earth element, which points to practicality, patience, the senses and steady building. If you were born under this sign, you probably trust what you can see, touch and test. Ideas matter less to you than results, and you tend to judge a plan by whether it holds up over time. Good food, a quiet home and pleasant surroundings often matter more than they might to other signs. The receptive polarity adds a taking-in quality: Taurus often watches and absorbs before it acts.

The modality is fixed, which holds on, sustains and resists change. This is where the loyalty of Taurus comes from, and also the obstinacy. Once you have settled on an opinion, a routine or a person, you may keep to it long after others have moved on. You tend to speak in a quiet, firm tone rather than a loud one. Fixed energy gives strong willpower and staying power, but it can harden into dogmatism when you live only for yourself.

Venus rules Taurus, so love, attraction, pleasure, art and harmony set the tone. Money also shows up here as comfort rather than as a game to win. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, meaning it is honored here and shows its best. Feelings, habits and daily needs settle into a calm, persistent rhythm, with a good-natured and somewhat sensuous temperament and a possible gift for music or painting. Mars, the planet of drive and anger, is in detriment, since Taurus sits opposite Mars's home sign. Mars works against its nature here: your drive is slow to start and hard to stop, and you tend to dislike sudden conflict. The opposite sign, Scorpio, shares your determination and tenacity but is more intense and secretive, which is why it can feel like a mirror.

Strengths

Reliability is the core of Taurus. You tend to finish what you start, and people often trust you with plans because you carry them out without fuss. Patience lets you work at a slow pace without scattering your energy. Your willpower is strong, and your quiet firmness can steady a room that is full of nerves. Venus adds warmth and a good eye for beauty and comfort, so you may make spaces and moments feel pleasant. Loyalty comes naturally, and friends often count on you to stay the same.

Weaknesses

The shadow of Taurus is obstinacy. Because the sign is fixed, you may dig in on a view simply because it is yours, and dogmatism can follow when you only consider your own needs. When desire outweighs will, comfort can turn into laziness or over-indulgence. Mars in detriment suggests that anger may build quietly and then arrive as a hard refusal rather than an open argument. Conservatism is a plus until it blocks a change that would help you. Noticing when steadiness has turned into stuckness is a useful habit.

Taurus in love

With Venus as ruler, love is central to Taurus. You tend to show affection through steady presence and a comfortable home rather than grand speeches. Trust builds slowly, but once given it often lasts. Fixed energy makes you faithful, and it can also make you slow to forgive or to adjust. Virgo and Capricorn share your earth practicality, so the pace and priorities may feel familiar. Scorpio, your opposite, offers the pull of opposites: similar determination, very different intensity.

Taurus as a friend

Taureans are often faithful friends. You may not have a huge circle, but the people in it can expect you to show up and remember what matters to them. The Moon's exaltation gives a sociable, good-natured side, especially around good food, music or a relaxed evening. Your firm opinions can cause friction if you refuse to bend, so friends may sometimes need to ask directly. Once a friendship is settled, you tend to treat it as long-term.

Taurus at work

Taurus does well where patience and follow-through count. You are good at carrying out plans entrusted to you, and your persistence can wear down problems that others abandon. The Moon here is said to suit long-established businesses, real estate or heavy goods, and the Venus influence points toward art and design. Change at work may feel uncomfortable, so you might need extra time to adapt to new systems. Coworkers often see you as dependable and steady under pressure.

The three decans of Taurus

Decan	Sun from (2026)	Sub-sign	Ruler
1 · 0°–10°	April 20	♉︎ Taurus	♀︎ Venus
2 · 10°–20°	April 30	♍︎ Virgo	☿︎ Mercury
3 · 20°–30°	May 10	♑︎ Capricorn	♄ Saturn

The first decan, 0°–10° with the Sun from April 20, is colored by Taurus itself and ruled by Venus. It is the most typical version of the sign: sensual and patient, with a love of comfort. The second decan, 10°–20° from April 30, carries Virgo and is ruled by Mercury. Thinking and speech sharpen the practical streak, adding a methodical, precise side that can also turn self-critical. The third decan, 20°–30° from May 10, carries Capricorn and is ruled by Saturn. Duty and structure come to the fore, so this group may be more ambitious and reserved, with a responsible, thrifty streak.

Taurus compatibility

Questions

✦What are the dates for Taurus?

The Sun is in Taurus from April 19, 2026 at 9:39 PM EDT to May 20, 2026 at 8:37 PM EDT. The exact day can shift by one from year to year, so people born on April 19 or May 20 should check their birth year.

✦What element and modality is Taurus?

Taurus is a fixed earth sign (receptive), ruled by Venus.

✦What are Taurus traits?

Taurus is often described as practical and patient, with a love of comfort. Persistence and reliability are also common descriptions. The same fixed quality can show up as stubbornness or a resistance to change. How these traits appear depends on the rest of the chart.

✦What is Taurus's ruling planet?

Venus rules Taurus, which links the sign to love and pleasure, along with art and harmony. It helps explain the appetite for comfort and beauty. The Moon is exalted here, while Mars is in detriment.

✦Who is Taurus most compatible with?

Virgo and Capricorn share Taurus's earth element, so they tend to share its practical outlook and steady pace. Scorpio, the opposite sign, brings the attraction of opposites, with similar determination but a different intensity. Compatibility depends on much more than Sun signs.

✦What is Taurus's opposite sign?

The opposite sign is Scorpio. Both are determined and tenacious, but Scorpio is more intense and secretive, while Taurus is calmer and more open about its comforts. Each may notice in the other what it lacks.