BACKGROUND. Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a distinct subtype of B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. To the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding its incidence patterns and associated factors. The purpose of the current study was to examine the incidence of MCL over a period of 13 years and to identify the factors associated with the incidence patterns. METHODS. Patients diagnosed with MCL between 1992 and 2004 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Tumor registries. SEER*Stat statistical software was used for analysis. RESULTS. Of the 87,166 patients diagnosed with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma during the 13‐year period between 1992 and 2004, 2459 (2.8%) had confirmed MCL. The overall incidence of MCL (per 100,000) was 0.55, which increased with age: 0.07 in patients aged <50 years, 2.97 in patients aged 70 to 79 years, and 2.78 in those aged ≥80 years. The age‐adjusted incidence rate increased from 0.27 of 100,000 in 1992 to 0.69 of 100,000 in 2004, and the annual percent change was 5.87% (P < .05). The median age at diagnosis was 68 years. The incidence of MCL was higher in men (0.84 of 100,000) than in women (0.34 of 100,000) (P < .05), and was higher in Caucasians (0.61 of 100,000) than in African Americans (0.32 of 100,000). Late‐stage (III‐IV) MCL was diagnosed in 74.6% of patients. There were significant geographic variations noted (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS. The incidence of MCL increased from 1992 to 2004, and was significantly higher in men, in Caucasians, and patients aged ≥50 years. Most patients were diagnosed with late‐stage MCL, and there also were considerable geographic variations observed in incidence rate. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.