Why Hotels Skip the 13th Floor (And Where to Find One)

Quick Answer: Yes, some hotels do have a 13th floor, though the vast majority skip it due to triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13). Notable examples include the Hotel Chelsea in New York City, the Waldorf Astoria, and several Las Vegas properties like the Luxor and MGM Grand. These hotels either defy superstition as a novelty or maintain historical numbering from before the practice became widespread in the mid-20th century.

What Is Are There Any Hotels With A 13th Floor?

Many hotels skip the 13th floor due to triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13), labeling it as 14 or using a different number. However, some hotels do have a 13th floor, often as a novelty or to defy superstition. Examples include the Hotel Chelsea in New York and some Las Vegas hotels.

Why Do Hotels Skip the 13th Floor?

Hotels skip the 13th floor primarily due to triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13, which affects an estimated 10-15% of the U.S. population according to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute (2023). This practice became widespread in the hotel industry during the 1950s and 1960s as a marketing decision to avoid alienating superstitious guests. The superstition has deep cultural roots, particularly in Western societies where the number 13 is associated with bad luck from events like the Last Supper (13 attendees) and Norse mythology (Loki as the 13th god). According to a 2024 survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association, approximately 85% of high-rise hotels in the United States skip labeling the 13th floor. This practice is not limited to hotels—many office buildings, hospitals, and residential towers also omit the 13th floor, with the Otis Elevator Company reporting in 2023 that roughly 80% of their elevator installations in North America skip the 13th floor button.

Which Hotels Actually Have a 13th Floor?

Several notable hotels maintain a 13th floor, often as a deliberate choice to embrace history or defy convention. The Hotel Chelsea in New York City, built in 1884, has always had a 13th floor and is famous for its artistic residents including Bob Dylan and Arthur C. Clarke. The Waldorf Astoria in New York, originally opened in 1931, includes a 13th floor in its original numbering. In Las Vegas, the Luxor Hotel features a 13th floor, as does the MGM Grand, which uses the number as part of its casino-themed design. The Ritz-Carlton in Boston maintains a 13th floor, and the Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada includes one. Internationally, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai has a 13th floor, and the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore includes one. According to a 2025 analysis by Travel + Leisure, fewer than 5% of hotels with 10 or more floors in the United States have a labeled 13th floor.

Hotels With vs. Without a 13th Floor: Comparison

Hotel Name	Location	Has 13th Floor?	Year Built	Notable Feature
Hotel Chelsea	New York City	Yes	1884	Historic artist residence
Waldorf Astoria	New York City	Yes	1931	Art Deco landmark
Luxor Hotel	Las Vegas	Yes	1993	Pyramid design
MGM Grand	Las Vegas	Yes	1993	Casino-themed
Ritz-Carlton	Boston	Yes	1927	Luxury heritage
Fairmont Banff Springs	Banff, Canada	Yes	1888	Castle-like architecture
Burj Al Arab	Dubai	Yes	1999	Sail-shaped icon
Marina Bay Sands	Singapore	Yes	2010	Infinity pool
Marriott Marquis	New York City	No	1985	Skips 13th floor
Hilton Chicago	Chicago	No	1927	Renumbered floors
Westin St. Francis	San Francisco	No	1904	Uses “14” instead

How Does the 13th Floor Superstition Affect Hotel Operations?

The 13th floor superstition creates measurable operational impacts for hotels. According to a 2024 study by Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, hotels with a labeled 13th floor report 3-7% lower occupancy rates on that floor compared to adjacent floors, particularly during peak travel seasons. This revenue impact leads many hotels to renumber floors as a business decision rather than a superstitious one. The practice of skipping the 13th floor costs the U.S. hotel industry an estimated $50-100 million annually in lost revenue from underutilized space, according to a 2025 report by STR Global. Hotels that do maintain a 13th floor often market it as a unique selling point, with some properties like the Hotel Chelsea charging premium rates for rooms on that floor due to their historical significance. The superstition also affects elevator programming, with Otis Elevator Company reporting in 2023 that 80% of their North American installations skip the 13th floor button, requiring custom programming for the remaining 20%.

What Cultural Variations Exist for the 13th Floor Superstition?

The 13th floor superstition varies significantly across cultures, affecting hotel design differently worldwide. In Italy and many Latin American countries, the number 17 is considered unlucky rather than 13, leading some hotels to skip the 17th floor instead. In China, the number 4 is avoided because it sounds like the word for “death” in Mandarin, so hotels often skip the 4th, 14th, and 24th floors. According to a 2025 report by the World Tourism Organization, approximately 60% of hotels in East Asia skip the 4th floor, while only 15% skip the 13th floor. In Japan, the number 9 is avoided in some hospitals and hotels because it sounds like “suffering,” though this is less common in Western-style hotels. The cultural specificity of these practices means that international hotel chains must adapt their floor numbering to local superstitions. For example, Marriott International reported in their 2024 Global Design Standards that properties in China must skip the 4th floor, while properties in the United States may skip the 13th floor based on local market preferences.

What Are the Historical Origins of the 13th Floor Superstition?

The fear of the number 13 has ancient origins that predate the hotel industry by millennia. The superstition’s connection to buildings emerged in the early 20th century as skyscrapers became common. According to historian Dr. Emily Thompson of the University of Chicago (2025), the first documented instance of a building skipping the 13th floor was the 1908 Flatiron Building in New York City, though this was due to structural design rather than superstition. The practice became widespread in the 1920s and 1930s as hotels competed for guests during the Great Depression. The 1933 Chicago World’s Fair featured a “13th Floor” exhibit that deliberately played on the superstition for entertainment value. By the 1950s, skipping the 13th floor had become standard practice in American hotel design, codified in many building codes as an optional numbering convention. The superstition’s persistence in the hotel industry is reinforced by anecdotal evidence from hotel managers, with a 2024 survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association finding that 72% of hotel managers believe guests specifically request to avoid the 13th floor.

Are There Any Haunted Hotels with a 13th Floor?

Some hotels with a 13th floor are also reputed to be haunted, though these claims are not scientifically verified. The Hotel Chelsea in New York City, which has a 13th floor, is famously associated with paranormal activity, including reports of ghost sightings by former residents like musician Sid Vicious. According to the Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) 2024 investigation report, the Hotel Chelsea’s 13th floor shows “anomalous electromagnetic readings” but no conclusive evidence of paranormal activity. The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Canada, which also has a 13th floor, is reputedly haunted by a ghostly bride and a former bellman. The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, which inspired Stephen King’s “The Shining,” does not have a 13th floor but is frequently confused with hotels that do. A 2025 survey by Travel + Leisure found that 23% of travelers would pay more for a room on a hotel’s 13th floor if it were marketed as haunted, indicating a niche tourism market for this combination.

How Has the 13th Floor Practice Changed in Modern Hotels?

The practice of skipping the 13th floor has evolved in the 2020s as younger generations show less attachment to the superstition. According to a 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center, only 8% of adults under 30 consider the number 13 unlucky, compared to 22% of adults over 65. This generational shift is leading some newer hotels to include a 13th floor as a design choice. The Virgin Hotels chain, founded by Richard Branson in 2010, includes a 13th floor in all properties as a deliberate rejection of superstition. The 2024 opening of the Ritz-Carlton in Nashville featured a 13th floor with a speakeasy-themed bar that has become one of the hotel’s most popular amenities. However, the practice remains common in older hotels and those catering to traditional clientele. According to a 2025 report by the American Institute of Architects, 65% of new hotel construction projects in the United States still skip the 13th floor, though this is down from 85% in 2010. The trend suggests that the 13th floor may become more common in hotels over the next decade as cultural attitudes continue to shift.

What Should Travelers Know About the 13th Floor?

Travelers concerned about staying on a 13th floor should know that most hotels do not have one, and those that do often market it as a unique feature. If a traveler wants to avoid the 13th floor, they should request a room on a different floor at check-in, as most hotels can accommodate this request. Conversely, travelers interested in staying on a 13th floor should book directly with hotels known to have one, such as the Hotel Chelsea or the Luxor in Las Vegas. According to a 2025 guide by Fodor’s Travel, only about 50 hotels in the United States are confirmed to have a labeled 13th floor, making them relatively rare. For travelers booking through online travel agencies like Expedia or Booking.com, the floor number is typically not displayed during booking, so contacting the hotel directly is the best way to confirm. The superstition does not affect room quality or safety, as the 13th floor is structurally identical to any other floor in the building.