Last Updated on July 21, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Yes, many hotels do skip the 13th floor to avoid triskaidekaphobia, ease guest unease, and protect bookings. In the U.S., elevator panels often jump from 12 to 14, though some properties proudly keep 13 visible as a bold branding choice. You’ll also find hotels that rename it 12A or 14. Floor numbering can vary by culture, and there’s more behind these choices than superstition alone.
Why Hotels Skip the 13th Floor
If you’ve ever stayed in a hotel and noticed the floor numbers jump from 12 to 14, you’ve seen a common response to triskaidekaphobia, the fear of 13. Hotels often skip the label because guest perceptions matter: if enough people expect bad luck, they may feel uneasy, and that can shape bookings and reviews. About 85% of elevator panels omit the 13th-floor button, showing how seriously many properties treat this belief. The practice isn’t new; it took hold in the early 20th century, when tenant preferences and luck-driven thinking influenced building design. Cultural influences also play a big role, since superstitions shift across regions. Some hotels, like the Hilton Chicago and Marriott Marquis in Houston, keep the 13th floor and use it as a bold marketing choice for guests who see the number as neutral or lucky. In some countries, other numbers trigger similar avoidance, proving these customs are learned, not universal.
How Triskaidekaphobia Affects Hotel Floors
If you’re staying in a hotel, you may notice that triskaidekaphobia shapes the floor plan by pushing designers to skip the 13th floor altogether. Hotels often make this choice to ease guest anxiety, and many elevator panels still leave out the 13 button because superstition can affect comfort and bookings. Even so, some properties do include a 13th floor, showing that attitudes are starting to shift.
Hotel Floor Omissions
Why do so many hotels seem to jump from the 12th floor straight to the 14th? You’re seeing triskaidekaphobia at work, and it shapes floor design in ways that put guest preferences first. Many properties leave out the 13th floor because they believe the number can unsettle travelers and hurt occupancy. That caution shows up everywhere: about 85% of elevator panels skip a 13 button. In early NYC skyscrapers, omitting 13 started with aesthetics, then superstition took hold. Still, not every hotel hides it; places like Hilton Chicago and Marriott Marquis in Houston include a 13th floor. Surveys show why: 13% of Gallup respondents feel uneasy about it, so hotels often choose the path that feels more welcoming.
Superstition-Driven Design Choices
Triskaidekaphobia—the fear of the number 13—has pushed many hotels to design around guest superstitions, and that often means skipping the 13th floor altogether. When you step into a tower, you’ll often see superstitious architecture at work: elevator panels jump from 12 to 14, and about 85% leave out the 13th button. This choice isn’t random; it grew in the early 20th century, when high-rises rose and hotels tried to protect guest comfort. Cultural perceptions still matter, too, because roughly 13% of guests say they’d feel uneasy on the 13th floor. Yet you’ll also find hotels like the Hilton Chicago and Marriott Marquis Houston refusing the taboo, proving hospitality can challenge fear and make space for freer, braver choices.
Which Hotels Keep the 13th Floor?
You’ll find that some hotels, like the Hilton Chicago, Marriott Marquis Houston, and Renaissance New York Times Square, proudly keep the 13th floor instead of hiding it. They often use that choice as a branding move, signaling confidence and appealing to guests who don’t worry about the number 13. Around the world, hotels such as London’s Carlton and even properties that adjust numbering for local sensitivities show how superstition, design, and culture all shape floor labels.
Notable Hotel Exceptions
While many hotels skip the 13th floor, several well-known properties embrace it instead. You’ll find the Hilton Chicago, Marriott Marquis Houston, Renaissance New York Times Square, and the Carlton Hotel in London all displaying 13 openly. That choice reflects historical significance and shifting cultural perceptions, letting you move through space without inherited fear.
| Hotel | City | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Chicago | Chicago | Prominent 13th floor |
| Marriott Marquis | Houston | Included for guests |
| Renaissance Times Square | New York | Challenges avoidance |
| Carlton Hotel | London | Proudly showcases 13 |
| Other examples | Global | Rare but real |
These exceptions show you that architecture can resist old taboos. When you enter these properties, you’re not boxed in by superstition; you’re invited to experience design on its own terms, with freedom to choose what the number means to you.
Branding Meets Superstition
Branding and superstition often pull hotels in opposite directions: many major chains, including Marriott and Hilton, still skip the 13th floor to match guest anxieties, even though the choice isn’t universal. You can see branding psychology at work here: if numbering a floor differently helps you feel safer, the hotel protects comfort and reputation at once. That superstition impact can shape room rates, guest reviews, and even resale value. Some properties soften the issue by calling the level 14 or 12A, keeping the space while dodging discomfort. Others lean bold and keep 13 visible, inviting you to decide for yourself. When a hotel trusts your freedom over fear, it turns a floor number into a statement about confidence, culture, and choice.
Global Numbering Customs
Around the world, hotel floor numbering follows local superstition more than any universal rule: in the U.S., many properties skip the 13th floor, and about 85% of elevator panels leave out the 13 button altogether, but that’s far from a global standard. You’ll see cultural significance shape the count in surprising ways. In Asia, many hotels avoid 4 instead, so regional variations can erase the 4th floor. Some properties resist fear: the Hilton Chicago, Marriott Marquis Houston, and London’s Carlton Hotel keep a real 13th floor. Others adapt for comfort, like the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The Renaissance New York Times Square even uses 13 as a bold marketing move, giving you a stay that feels freer, less conventional, and unmistakably local.
How Hotels Handle Room Number 13
Many hotels handle the number 13 with a mix of caution and creativity, especially when it comes to room assignments and floor labels. You’ll often see room numbers ending in 13 skipped, or the 13th floor renamed to ease guest preferences and respect cultural beliefs. In fact, about 85% of elevator panels leave out a 13th-floor button entirely. Some properties, like Hotel Burnham and The Essex House in New York City, label that level as the 14th floor instead. Others use a softer workaround, such as calling it 12A, so you can move through the building without the stigma. Still, not every hotel avoids it. Places like the Hilton Chicago and Marriott Marquis in Houston include the 13th floor openly, recognizing that many guests don’t feel uneasy about the number. That choice gives you a clearer, more honest layout while still honoring different perspectives.
Hotel Chains That Skip 13
If you stay in a hotel run by a major chain, you’ll often notice that the 13th floor is missing from the elevator panel. Marriott and Hilton usually skip it, and they’re not alone: roughly 85% of hotel elevators leave out that button. In hotel design, this choice helps shape guest perceptions, easing worry for travelers who still associate 13 with bad luck. You’ll see the same pattern in distinctive properties too, such as the Sherry-Netherland in New York City, which avoids 13 in both floor labels and room numbers. Some chains still include it, like the Hilton Chicago and the Marriott Marquis in Houston, but those are exceptions. For many operators, omitting 13 is a practical move that supports comfort and can protect property value. When you check in, you’re seeing a quiet industry standard designed to keep your stay smooth, welcoming, and free from unnecessary friction.
Why Some Hotels Leave the 13th Floor Visible
While most hotels hide the 13th floor, some choose to leave it visible as a deliberate design and marketing choice. When you book a stay at places like the Hilton Chicago, Marriott Marquis Houston, or Renaissance New York Times Square, you’re seeing floor design that doesn’t bow to old fear. These hotels use the 13th floor to signal confidence, modernity, and a rational attitude toward superstitions. If you don’t share triskaidekaphobia, that visible floor can make your stay feel bolder and more memorable. It also helps hotels stand out in a crowded market, turning a once-avoided number into a distinctive feature. By honoring guest preferences for authenticity and novelty, they invite you to challenge inherited taboos and enjoy a more liberated travel experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Hotels Usually Skip the 13TH Floor?
Yes, you’ll often find hotels skip the 13th floor because of superstitious beliefs. In hotel architecture, many buildings jump from 12 to 14, though some properties keep 13 to appeal to guests who don’t mind it.
What Floor Gets Skipped in Hotels?
Usually, you’ll see the 13th floor skipped in hotel architecture, though some regions skip 4th instead. Superstitious beliefs shape floor numbering, and design choices aim to ease your stay. Sometimes, you’ll see no 13 button.
Why Is 13 Not Used in Hotels?
Hotels skip 13 because superstitious beliefs make you uneasy, and the number’s cultural significance can affect comfort and bookings. You’ll often see 14 instead, since owners cater to fears and maximize guest confidence.
Do Hotels Skip Floor 14?
No, you usually won’t see hotels skip floor 14. You’ll notice floor numbering often jumps from 12 to 14 because of superstition beliefs about 13, but 14 stays, helping you navigate freely and confidently.
Conclusion
So, do hotels skip the 13th floor? Often, yes—they sidestep it like it’s a ghost in the elevator, especially if triskaidekaphobia still casts a long shadow. Some hotels hide the number, others keep it plain as day. Whether you’re checking in or counting floors, you’ll see that fear can reshape architecture in surprisingly dramatic ways. In the end, hotel design doesn’t just build space; it builds comfort, one carefully numbered floor at a time.