Leap years
The next leap year is 2028, with 29 February 2028. The last one was 2024.
The rule from the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750.
Show the workings
| Step | Sum | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| A leap year | 2028 divides by 4 | 366 days |
Where the figures come from
- A leap year comes every this many years: 4 years. Source: Calendar (New Style) Act 1750, section 2. Checked 14 November 2026.
- Hundredth years are common years, not leap years: 100 years. Source: Calendar (New Style) Act 1750, section 2. Checked 14 November 2026.
- Except every fourth hundredth year, which is a leap year: 400 years. Source: Calendar (New Style) Act 1750, section 2. Checked 14 November 2026.
- Days in a leap year: 366 days. Source: Calendar (New Style) Act 1750, section 2. Checked 14 November 2026.
Leap years this century
- 2000
- 2004
- 2008
- 2012
- 2016
- 2020
- 2024
- 2028
- 2032
- 2036
- 2040
- 2044
- 2048
- 2052
- 2056
- 2060
- 2064
- 2068
- 2072
- 2076
- 2080
- 2084
- 2088
- 2092
- 2096
The rule
The Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 sets which years are leap years in Great Britain:
- Every year that divides by 4 is a leap year.
- Except hundredth years, which divide by 100: they are not.
- Except every fourth hundredth year, which divides by 400: it is a leap year after all.
| Hundredth year | Leap year |
|---|---|
| 1900 | No: it does not divide by 400 |
| 2000 | Yes: it divides by 400 |
| 2100 | No: it does not divide by 400 |
| 2200 | No: it does not divide by 400 |
That gives 97 leap years in every 400, so the calendar's average year is 365.2425 days long.
Born on 29 February?
Our age calculator counts a 29 February birthday as 28 February in other years, so it never goes missing.
Rule checked 14 November 2026 at legislation.gov.uk.