how often does friday the 13th happen

Friday the 13th happens at least once every year, and at most three times in a single year.

Quick Scoop

• There is always at least one Friday the 13th every calendar year.

• A year can have 1, 2, or 3 Fridays the 13th, but never 0 and never more than 3.

• On average, Friday the 13th comes about 1.72 times per year, or roughly once every 212 days.

• The gap between two Friday the 13ths can be as short as 1 month or as long as 14 months.

How often does Friday the 13th happen?

Think of it this way:

• Over many years, you’ll see Friday the 13th a little more than once a year , often twice, and occasionally three times in a year.

• Calendar math over a 400‑year cycle shows 688 Fridays the 13th, giving that 1.72‑per‑year average.

In a single year

• 1 Friday the 13th: quite common; many years have just one.

• 2 Fridays the 13th: also common; for example, 2024 had two (September and December).

• 3 Fridays the 13th: rare; the next time is 2026 (February, March, November).

A fun rule of thumb: any month that starts on a Sunday will have a Friday the 13th.

Mini “fun fact” angle

Because of how the Gregorian calendar repeats, the 13th of the month lands on a Friday slightly more often than on other weekdays over long stretches of time. So Friday the 13th is not just spooky by reputation—it’s also a tiny bit statistically favored.

TL;DR: Friday the 13th shows up at least once every year, up to three times a year, averaging around 1–2 times per year over the long run.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.