why is there no 13th floor
Sophia Vance
Updated on May 12, 2026
Some hotels skip the number 13 and go straight to 14 when numbering floors. This is true for other tall buildings as well. It is because of the disorder triskaidekaphobia and a general dislike of or superstition regarding the number 13.
What is the superstition about the 13th floor?
When skyscrapers started being built in 1885, it was rare for a hotel or other building be more than 12 stories high. That’s because superstitious builders thought that omitting the 13th and subsequent floors would increase street congestion and ominous shadows, and lower property values.
Why is there no 4th floor in hospitals?
The number 4 sounds like the hanja for “death” (사) (although Korean has no tones), so the floor number 4 or room number 4 is almost always skipped in hospitals, funeral halls, and similar public buildings. In other buildings, the fourth floor is sometimes labelled “F” (for “Four”) instead of “4” in elevators.
Why do hotels have Bibles?
These are not left there haphazardly, but rather they are distributed by an organization, The Gideons International, as a means of evangelism. The Gideons hope to spread the good news of their faith to weary travelers by distributing Bibles in hotel rooms.
What floor do elevators skip?
Most commonly, 13 is skipped, as in: 12, 14, 15 The floor labeled “14” on the elevator is the thirteenth floor and the number 13 is skipped on the elevator console.
Which floor do Chinese buildings often skip?
In Chinese culture, fourth floor is usually omitted from most elevator fixtures in a Chinese building, this is because the number means “death (死)”.
Why are people scared of the number 13?
According to folklore historian Donald Dossey, the unlucky nature of the number “13” originated with a Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party in Valhalla. The trickster god Loki, who was not invited, arrived as the 13th guest, and arranged for Höðr to shoot Balder with a mistletoe-tipped arrow.
Who Wrote the Bible?
That single author was believed to be Moses, the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt and guided them across the Red Sea toward the Promised Land.
Is it OK to take soap from hotel?
What you can take: soap. If there’s one thing most hotels reliably have in their rooms, it’s soap. And according to Ousman Conteh, general manager at Claridge House Chicago, these mini bottles are OK to take from your hotel room. “Often hotels receive negotiated pricing for items from another brand,” he says.
Do skyscrapers have a 13th floor?
Since the introduction of modern skyscrapers, owners have continued to worry about superstitious tenants refusing to inhabit that “unlucky” floor. The Otis Elevator Company reports that 80 to 90% of the elevators it has installed in skyscrapers and large hotels do not have a 13th floor button.
Is 13 an unlucky number in India?
The number 13 is actually a very lucky number. In fact, in India, the 13th day of the lunar fortnight is known to be highly auspicious and is called Triyodashi. It belongs to Lord Shiva and is said to bestow long life, peace and good fortune.
Do hotels have a 13th floor?
Ever wonder why you’ve never stayed in a hotel room on the 13th floor? The answer is simple: The floor doesn’t exist. It all comes down to triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13.