Leap Year Checker
Check if any year is a leap year and learn why. See nearby leap years and understand the leap year rules.
How It Works
Enter any year to check whether it is a leap year. The checker applies the Gregorian calendar rules:
- If the year is divisible by 400 → it is a leap year
- Else if the year is divisible by 100 → it is not a leap year
- Else if the year is divisible by 4 → it is a leap year
- Otherwise → it is not a leap year
The tool also shows:
- An explanation of why the year is or isn't a leap year
- The previous and next leap years
- A list of nearby leap years for quick reference
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a leap year?
A leap year is a year with 366 days instead of the usual 365. The extra day is added to February, which has 29 days in a leap year instead of 28. Leap years occur to keep our calendar aligned with the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
What are the rules for leap years?
A year is a leap year if: (1) it is divisible by 4, AND (2) it is NOT divisible by 100, UNLESS (3) it is also divisible by 400. So 2024 is a leap year (divisible by 4), 1900 was not (divisible by 100 but not 400), and 2000 was (divisible by 400).
How often do leap years occur?
Leap years occur approximately every 4 years. However, the century rule (divisible by 100 but not 400) means that 3 out of every 400 years that would otherwise be leap years are skipped.