Child staying home alone for few hours?

[StarB3]

When is a suitable age to let a child/teenager stay home on their own in the evening for a few hours? My son is 12, 13 in couple of months. He stays home in the day for a few hours sometimes when I'm at work and he's completely trustworthy. Very mature and sensible. He's at the age where he doesn't want to stay over with grandparents if I have an evening out anymore ( I go out about once a month, if that). Grandparents can't come over to mine as they aren't good at staying awake too late so it wouldn't be fair to keep them up. They only live 2 minutes away. If I go out locally it's also only 2 minutes up the road. I'm a lone mum so the only babysitting option is my parents, or my adult daughter if she is free. So what are is suitable to let a child/ teenager be home alone of an evening? Not all night of course

Ime at 13 your dc wouldn't even notice you had gone out!
Embrace the freedom op.
Your dc will be more than fine.
As long as someone is contactable by phone!

Dd was 10 when we left her from 5pm to 8pm. She's 12 and a half now and perfectly OK till the early hours, but I draw the line at half nine-10😆.
Very responsible/sensible though. Also quite independent from age 8.
Built it up from home alone in daytime, then dusk, then darker outside.

Depends on the child and how you are set up for emergency calls etc. Mine would hate it full stop that doesn't mean it's wrong.

Sounds like your ds is sensible and has been fine when alone through the day so he may be more capable and practical than the children I knew at 12years of age however I personally feel it's too young.
Great the grandparents only live two mins away. I think I'd be asking them to check- in on him the first couple of times you go out on an evening if you decide it's ok.
I'd also be going through emergency situations and having phone numbers written somewhere.

From about 12, but does depend on child and circumstances

Thank you for your opinions. I feel a bit less worried about it now.