AbstractThe general framework for identifying tidal duration asymmetry proposed by Song et al. (2011) is extended to express fortnightly variability in duration asymmetry. The extended metrics are verified and studied using observed sea level data at 481 stations worldwide. The results reveal that fortnightly variability is universal and that duration asymmetry can be stronger during neap tide than during spring tide. The fortnightly variability in duration asymmetry is primarily induced by three types of tidal interactions: interactions within the principal tidal constituents, interactions between high‐frequency and principal tidal constituents, and interactions between long‐period and principal tidal constituents. Among these interactions, the first type is most important at most of the stations and is related to the form number F. The contributions of different interactions can be quantified using their frequencies, amplitudes and phases. Global patterns of the fortnightly variation are illustrated using TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry data. The findings show that remarkable fortnightly variation in the tidal duration asymmetry occurs in most open oceans and is significant around an amphidromic point. The metrics derived in this study can be used to examine any time‐varying characteristics in tidal asymmetry (not limited to duration asymmetry) by selecting a suitable frequency threshold.