When does Ramadan start?

Ramadan starts with the sighting of the new crescent moon. The countdown shows the astronomical estimate, always confirm with your local religious authority.

Why does Ramadan start on a different date every year?

The Islamic calendar is lunar (~354 days per year), so Ramadan shifts approximately 10–11 days earlier each solar year.

How many days is Ramadan?

Either 29 or 30 days, determined by the actual appearance of the new crescent moon at month's end. It ends when Shawwal crescent is sighted, marking Eid ul-Fitr.

What is Laylatul Qadr?

The Night of Power, the night the Qur'an was first revealed. It falls in the last 10 nights of Ramadan, most commonly sought on odd nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th). Described in the Qur'an as better than a thousand months.

What is the difference between Sehri and Iftar?

Sehri (Suhoor) is the pre-dawn meal eaten before Fajr, after which fasting begins. Iftar breaks the fast at Maghrib (sunset).

Ramadan Countdown, Days Until Next Ramadan

Quick Answer

The Ramadan countdown shows days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the next Ramadan begins, or, if Ramadan is in progress, which day it is today. Ramadan starts with the sighting of the new crescent moon (hilal) and lasts 29 or 30 days.

What Is Ramadan Countdown?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar (Hijri) calendar, the month in which the Qur'an was first revealed. It is observed by over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting from dawn to sunset, intensive prayer, Qur'an recitation, reflection, and charity.

Because the Islamic calendar is lunar (~354 days per year), Ramadan shifts roughly 10–11 days earlier every solar year, cycling through all four seasons over ~33 years. This tool shows a live countdown based on astronomical calculation, the official start depends on actual moon sighting (hilal), which may differ by 1–2 days by country.

How to Use

1The countdown is fully automatic, it shows time remaining until Ramadan begins, or the current Ramadan day if the month is in progress.
2The counter updates in real time (days, hours, minutes, seconds).

Formula

Islamic calendar

1 Hijri year ≈ 354.37 days (12 lunar months of ~29.5 days each)

Shift per year

Ramadan starts ~10–11 days earlier each solar year

How Ramadan shifts: if it begins March 1 this year, it begins ~February 19 next year (10 days earlier).

Over 33 years, Ramadan completes a full cycle through all months of the solar calendar.

Tips & Things to Know

Moon sighting matters: the astronomical calculation gives an approximate date, official start is declared by local religious authorities after actual hilal sighting.
Ramadan is 29 or 30 days, the exact length is determined by the moon, not fixed in advance.
The Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr), better than a thousand months, falls in the last 10 nights, most likely on the odd nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th).
Laylat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Power) falls in the last 10 nights of Ramadan, odd nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th) are most significant. Many Muslims increase prayer and Qur'an recitation in this period.
The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid-ul-Fitr on the 1st of Shawwal. Those who cannot fast due to illness or travel make up missed days later (Qadha) or pay Fidya if they cannot make them up.
Fasting timings vary widely by location, dawn-to-sunset is about 11 hours near the equator but can reach 20+ hours in far northern regions during summer Ramadan. Always check a reliable local prayer timetable.

Ramadan Countdown