Python Loop N Times: Repeat Code Using range()

You often need to run the same block of code a fixed number of times—ten retries, five samples, or n steps of a simulation. In Python the usual pattern is for with range, optionally discarding the index with _. This page shows how to loop exactly n times, count from 1 through n, mirror the logic with while, repeat strings, use itertools.repeat, and avoid off-by-one mistakes.

For the full story on for, see Python for loop. For how range endpoints work, see Python range. For condition-driven repetition, see Python while loop.

Tested on: Python 3.13.3; kernel 6.14.0-37-generic.

Best way to loop N times in Python

When the repeat count is known up front, prefer a for loop over range and throw away the index if you do not need it:

n = 5
for _ in range(n):
    print("tick")

That prints tick on five lines. The underscore tells readers the loop variable is intentionally unused.

Loop N times using for range()

range(stop) yields 0, 1, …, stop - 1, so the loop runs stop times. range(start, stop) stops before stop; range(start, stop, step) adds a step (for example only even indices).

for i in range(4):
    print(i, end=" ")
print()

That prints 0 1 2 3 on one line—four iterations.

Loop 10 times in Python

To run a body exactly ten times with a counter from 0 to 9:

for i in range(10):
    print(i, end=" ")
print()

That prints the digits 0 through 9 separated by spaces.

Loop 5 times or 3 times in Python

Change only the argument to range:

for _ in range(5):
    print("five")

for _ in range(3):
    print("three")

You get five lines containing five and three lines containing three.

Loop N times without using the index variable

Use _ (or any name you ignore) so linters and readers know the index is not part of the logic:

for _ in range(3):
    print("no index")

That prints no index three times.

Loop from 1 to N instead of 0 to N-1

If you want the variable inside the loop to read 1 … N, start at 1 and stop at N + 1, because range excludes the stop bound:

n = 5
for k in range(1, n + 1):
    print(k, end=" ")
print()

That prints 1 2 3 4 5 . Using range(1, n) would stop at n - 1 and is a common off-by-one bug.

Repeat code N times using a while loop

Initialize a counter, test it each time, and increment manually. Easy to get wrong if you forget the update or the condition:

n = 4
count = 0
while count < n:
    print("while", count)
    count += 1

That prints four lines with count equal to 0 through 3.

Repeat a string N times in Python

For text duplication you usually multiply a string instead of looping:

print("xo" * 4)

That prints xoxoxoxo as a single new string.

Repeat values using itertools.repeat()

itertools.repeat(obj, times) is an iterator that yields obj exactly times times—handy when you want a for header but no real counter:

import itertools

for _ in itertools.repeat(None, 3):
    print("again")

That prints again on three lines. Omitting times would repeat forever, so always pass a count unless you break out early.

for loop vs while loop for repeating N times

for plus range keeps increment and bound in one place, which reduces mistakes compared to hand-rolled while counters.

Common mistakes when looping N times

• Using range(n) when you meant range(1, n + 1) (or the reverse), which shifts every value by one.
• Writing range(1, n) when you need to include n—remember the stop value is excluded.
• Mutating a while counter inside the body in a way that skips or repeats iterations (for example forgetting count += 1).
• Using for i in range(len(items)) when you only need elements; prefer for item in items or enumerate when you need both index and value.

Python loop N times quick reference table

Summary

To loop n times in Python, for _ in range(n) is the clearest default; use range(1, n + 1) when you want human-friendly numbering from 1 through n. while loops can repeat a fixed count but demand manual counter discipline. Strings duplicate with *; itertools.repeat pairs with for when you want a counted iterator without a numeric index. Match range stop values to whether the last value should be included, and reserve while for cases where the iteration count is not fixed in advance.

References

• The for statement
• range
• itertools.repeat