Insight

The Difference Between Lunar and Solar Calendars

Many people notice that their age on a lunar calendar comes out slightly higher than on a solar calendar. The reason lies in how the two systems are structured.

Solar Calendars

A solar calendar, like the Gregorian calendar, is based on Earth's orbit around the sun. A year is roughly 365.25 days long, with an extra leap day added every four years to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons.

Lunar Calendars

A lunar calendar is based on the phases of the moon. A lunar year is typically around 354 days — about 10 to 11 days shorter than a solar year. That's why lunar dates appear to shift "earlier" each year relative to the solar calendar.

The Effect on Age

Because a lunar year is shorter, a person's age counted in lunar years comes out numerically higher than their solar-calendar age — roughly one extra lunar year accumulates for every 33 solar years.

AgeMaster Calculator currently calculates using the Gregorian calendar, the system used most widely around the world — the standard for school, government, and official purposes.