Leap Year Calculator
Check if any year is a leap year, find upcoming and past leap years, see all leap years in a range, and count down to the next February 29th.
How to Use the Leap Year Calculator
- Use the Check a Year tab to instantly find out if any specific year is a leap year. The calculator shows the exact reason based on the three-part Gregorian calendar rule and also shows nearby leap years for reference.
- Use the Leap Year Range tab to find all leap years between any two years. This is useful for historical research planning recurring events or satisfying curiosity about how many leap years fall in a century.
- The calculator also shows when the next February 29th is from today — useful for people born on February 29 who want to know when their actual birthday falls next.
- Download the free PDF with your complete leap year report.
Example Calculation
Tab 1: Year 2024
- Result: YES — 2024 is a Leap Year
- Reason: Divisible by 4 (2024/4=506) AND not divisible by 100
- Days in 2024: 366
- Previous Leap Year: 2020
- Next Leap Year: 2028
- Next Feb 29: February 29 2028 (710 days from March 21 2026)
Tab 1: Year 1900
- Result: NO — 1900 is NOT a Leap Year
- Reason: Divisible by 4 BUT also divisible by 100 and NOT divisible by 400
Tab 2: Range 2020-2040
- Leap Years: 2020 2024 2028 2032 2036 2040 (6 leap years)
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a year a leap year?
A year is a leap year if it follows these rules in order. First the year must be divisible by 4. Second if the year is also divisible by 100 it is NOT a leap year. Third if the year is divisible by 400 it IS a leap year overriding the second rule. So 2000 was a leap year (divisible by 400) but 1900 was not (divisible by 100 but not 400). This keeps our calendar aligned with Earth's orbit around the sun.
Why do we need leap years?
Earth takes approximately 365.2422 days to orbit the sun — not exactly 365. Without leap years our calendar would drift about 6 hours per year. After 100 years the seasons would be off by 24 days. The leap year system adds one day every 4 years to compensate for this quarter-day difference keeping our calendar synchronized with the solar year and ensuring seasons stay in the same months.
What happens if you are born on February 29?
People born on February 29 are called leaplings or leap day babies. In non-leap years they typically celebrate their birthday on either February 28 or March 1 depending on personal preference and local convention. Legally in most countries their birthday is recognized on February 28 in non-leap years. The next February 29 after 2026 is February 29 2028.
Was 2000 a leap year?
Yes — 2000 was a leap year. It is divisible by 400 which overrides the rule that century years are not leap years. This makes 2000 special — it is one of only a handful of century years that are leap years. The previous century leap year was 1600 and the next will be 2400. Century years like 1700 1800 and 1900 were all NOT leap years.
How many leap years are in a century?
A typical century has 24 leap years not 25. This is because the century year itself such as 1900 or 2100 is not a leap year since it is divisible by 100 but not 400. The exception is years like 2000 which are divisible by 400 — those centuries have 25 leap years. Over a complete 400-year Gregorian cycle there are exactly 97 leap years out of 400 years.