Why You’ll Almost Never See a 13th Floor in New York Elevators

Have you ever looked at the buttons in an elevator and thought, “Wait... where’s 13?” You’re not alone! Whether you’re heading to a hotel room in Manhattan or an office building upstate, there’s a good chance you’ll go straight from floor 12 to 14.

It’s not a tech glitch or a quirky design decision, it’s actually a long-running tradition based on something pretty simple: superstition.

People Have Been Weird About the Number 13 for a Long Time

The fear of the number 13 and there’s even a name for it: triskaidekaphobia, which has been around forever. Some trace it back to Norse mythology, others blame Judas for being the 13th guest at the Last Supper. And of course, Friday the 13th just made things worse.

Because of all that, 13 has gotten a pretty bad rep over the years. So when it came time to start building multi-story hotels and office towers, developers figured, why take a chance? Just skip it.

New York’s Buildings Love Tradition

While some of New York’s architecture is cutting-edge, many buildings still hang onto traditional features. And skipping the 13th floor? That’s practically a given in many older high-rises and even in some newer ones. No one wants guests feeling spooked about staying in room 1305 so they just avoid labeling the floor altogether.

Wait! The 13th Floor Is Still There?

Absolutely! The floor physically exists. It has to. But it might be labeled as something else (like 12A or M), used for maintenance and mechanical systems, or just quietly renamed 14. So technically, if you're standing on the 14th floor, there’s a good chance you're actually on the 13th.

Would You Stay on Floor 13 if It Had the Label?

Some people are totally fine with it. Others? Not so much. A Gallup poll found that around 13% of Americans admit they’d be uncomfortable staying on the 13th floor. So, building owners just make it easier for everyone and leave it off.

Next Time You’re in an Elevator, Take a Look

Now that you know, check the buttons next time you hop in a hotel or office elevator. You might notice the number 13 is still missing. It's a small, quirky detail, but one that shows how even a little superstition can still shape how we design the world around us.