# Is it stupid how buildings have no 13th floor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 1, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471 "2003-07-01T00:59:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lithium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lithium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lithium)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/1 "2003-07-01T00:59:50Z")
Serious question here. You guys seem like rationally minded people …well most of you, heh. 😛 Anyway, how did this superstition become so powerful that almost every single Apt and Office buildings have no 13th floor? When did this madness start? The logical answer is that Apt owners think that they may not sell any apts on this floor, but hey mark down the price and I’ll live there with no complaints. Office buildings on the other hand have no excuse for it though, it just enters the domain of unfounded superstition. I also want to know if houses are allowed to have the #13 on their front door? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/2 "2003-07-01T01:09:50Z")
I have never been in a building that had more than 13 floors that didn’t have a 13th floor. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist I guess. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/3 "2003-07-01T01:09:54Z")
At least 13 is less common than 4, which is the forbidden unlucky number in Chinese-speaking places. (It sounds very similar to “death” in Chinese … good luck finding a hospital room # ending in 4) ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/4 "2003-07-01T01:10:05Z")
Oh buildings over here do. My brother used to live on the 13th floor. He got burgled and attacked by a nasty chap who climbed into his window. Then he moved. ---
**Author:** ![Lithium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lithium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lithium)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/5 "2003-07-01T01:12:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Reeder \* > \*\*I have never been in a building that had more than 13 floors that didn’t have a 13th floor. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist I guess. \*\* Weird, my experience has been just the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/6 "2003-07-01T01:13:34Z")
Meh. Its’ tradition and it makes for good riddles. I think the fear of 13 goes back to the Last Supper. Jesus plus the twelve apostles made thirteen. Jesus left first and got killed soon afterwards. I also remember the purging of the Knights Templar, a group that can be connected with the Masons, happened on Friday the thirteenth. I’m sure I’ve seen #13 on houses, but I can’t think of one right now. I really don’t see why not. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/7 "2003-07-01T01:34:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lithium \* > \*\*Weird, my experience has been just the opposite. \*\* Uh-huh. I’m agreeing with **Reeder** here. I’ve never been in a building that had at least 13 floors that didn’t have a 13th floor. Do you have an example of a building that doesn’t? As for addresses, the [Palms Playhouse](http://www.palmsplayhouse.com/palmwher.html) in Winters, CA; the [Tarrytown, NY](http://www.jazzforumarts.org/Consched.htm) Music Hall; and [url=“[http://www.rockportusa.com/shops/shop.html](http://www.rockportusa.com/shops/shop.html)”]Rockport, MA\*\* has a number of shops and galleries with the 13 address. Frankly, I don’t think the situation described in the OP happens very often at all. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/8 "2003-07-01T01:42:52Z")
I remember reading somewhere that owners of buildings skip having a thirteenth floor for more than superstitious reasons. When it comes to selling the building, a seventeen story building has more value than a sixteen story one. I work in a Catholic hospital, and there is no room 13 in the MICU or SICU; however, there is one in the O.R. ---
**Author:** ![Lithium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lithium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lithium)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/9 "2003-07-01T01:47:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*Uh-huh. I’m agreeing with **Reeder** here. I’ve never been in a building that had at least 13 floors that didn’t have a 13th floor. Do you have an example of a building that doesn’t? > > As for addresses, the [Palms Playhouse](http://www.palmsplayhouse.com/palmwher.html) in Winters, CA; the [Tarrytown, NY](http://www.jazzforumarts.org/Consched.htm) Music Hall; and [url=“[http://www.rockportusa.com/shops/shop.html](http://www.rockportusa.com/shops/shop.html)”]Rockport, MA\*\* has a number of shops and galleries with the 13 address. > > Frankly, I don’t think the situation described in the OP happens very often at all. \*\* Well, I’m in Canada, maybe that makes a difference. Come to some of our buildings and you’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/10 "2003-07-01T01:52:29Z")
Ah. Perhaps then. Buildings constructed around the turn of the century (20th) sometimes had no thirteenth floor due to superstition. But that fell by the wayside in the US, for the most part, by the time of heaviest skyscraper construction. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/11 "2003-07-01T01:53:40Z")
It’s my understanding that casino/hotels never have a thirteenth floor because they’re afriad that all the superstitious folk would refuse to stay there. I think William Poundstone said that in one of his books. As a result, the 14th Floor is actually the 13th floor, even though it’s really not. Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Lithium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lithium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lithium)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/12 "2003-07-01T01:55:27Z")
> [@](#): > > The tongue-twisting term for the fear of the number 13 is triskaidekaphobia [http://www.naplesnews.com/today/restate/a120401k.htm](http://www.naplesnews.com/today/restate/a120401k.htm) triskaidekaphobia, lol ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/13 "2003-07-01T02:39:36Z")
Ask the guy who designed elevator control panels for ten years! At most, five percent of the panels for tall buildings did not have 13th floors, mostly casinos and apartments. If it had ever been the norm it isn’t anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/14 "2003-07-01T03:18:53Z")
I used to live at 1300 L\_\_\_\_\_ Road, and my father lives at 666 T\_\_\_ Drive. And I still have relatives in a town where one third of the phone numbers are ‘+1 xxx 666 xxxx’. So it seems that Canadians aren’t scared of these numbers for geograpgic addresses and phone numbers. But, yes, there are a fair number of buildings in the Toronto area without a floor numbered thirteen. My building doesn’t have a thirteenth floor either. Of course, it has no 12th, 11th, 10th,… or 5th floor, either. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![skyzoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@skyzoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skyzoo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/15 "2003-07-01T03:37:57Z")
ooohhhh…eerie, **Sunspace!** … your post was #13…:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/16 "2003-07-01T04:15:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Ask the guy who designed elevator control panels for ten years! I’d like to know what that job entailed. Coming up with new ideas for button arrangements? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/17 "2003-07-01T04:15:41Z")
AAAIIIEEEEE… _superstitious quiver of fear_ NOT. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/18 "2003-07-01T04:54:42Z")
I live in apartment 112. My neighbor is 114… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/19 "2003-07-01T05:07:05Z")
I’ve been plenty of buildings without a floor NUMBERED 13, and yes, it’s quite stupid. I remember being very happy when I discovered the building I did my recent internship in was not afraid of having a floor with that number. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471/20 "2003-07-01T05:15:32Z")
The Delta terminal at DFW airport didnt have a gate 13…When I worked security there it was a running joke, telling people the restroom was near gate 13. It may now though…that was a long time ago. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-stupid-how-buildings-have-no-13th-floor/185471.md?page=2)