Triskaidekaphobia leads many hotels to omit floor 13

Many hotels and buildings omit the number 13 from their floor numbering due to triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13. This phenomenon is driven by long-standing superstitions that associate the number with bad luck.

A survey by CityRealty of 629 apartment buildings with 13 or more floors found that only 55 buildings still refer to the 13th floor as “floor 13,” meaning approximately 91% use alternative names or symbols. In some locations, such as New York, floors may be labeled as “12B” or “14A.”

This practice extends beyond residential buildings. Otis Elevators estimates that roughly 85% of elevators worldwide have renamed the 13th floor. Other sectors, including hospitals and airlines, also avoid the number to prevent discomfort among clients or passengers. A 2007 Gallup poll indicated that 13% of respondents felt uncomfortable staying on a 13th floor. Cultural variations exist, such as the avoidance of the number 4 in certain Asian regions.