Appliance age lookup by serial number
How old is your refrigerator, washer, dryer, dishwasher or range? Pick the appliance and the brand, then enter the serial number from the label.
Serial number age lookup
Brands we decode
Only brands whose date code we can stand behind are listed. Each page explains the code with worked examples and says how sure we are of it.
- Amana Decoder available in the tool
- Frigidaire Decoder available in the tool
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GE Month letter + year letter + 6 digits (repeats every 12 years) - Jenn-Air Decoder available in the tool
- Kenmore Decoder available in the tool
- KitchenAid Decoder available in the tool
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LG Year digit + month (2 digits) + plant letters and sequence - Maytag Decoder available in the tool
- Samsung Decoder available in the tool
- Whirlpool Decoder available in the tool
Where to find the serial number
- Refrigerator: inside the fresh-food compartment, on a side wall near the top or on the ceiling.
- Washer: on the door frame of a front-loader, under the lid of a top-loader, or on the back.
- Dryer: inside the door frame or just inside the opening.
- Dishwasher: along the edge of the door, or on the tub frame with the door open.
- Range or oven: on the frame around the oven door, behind the storage drawer or on the back.
The serial number is not the model number. The model number says what the appliance is; the serial number says when and where this particular one was built.
What if my brand is not here?
Look at the label first: many appliances print the manufacture date directly, often as a month and year. If yours does, you do not need a decoder, and you can enter it in the tool for the lifespan estimate. If it does not, the manufacturer's customer support can usually state the build date from the model and serial number. Our guides for each appliance walk through those steps.
How long home appliances last
| Equipment | Typical life |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 10–15 years |
| Washing machine | 8–12 years |
| Dryer | 10–15 years |
| Dishwasher | 8–12 years |
| Range or oven | 13–15 years |
The typical figures come from the NAHB and Bank of America 2007 study of home components, which reports first-owner use: a standard refrigerator about 13 years, a dishwasher 9, a dryer 13, a washer 10, an electric range 13 and a gas range 15. The ranges around them are planning bands, not guarantees. Use and care matter more than the brand name.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the age of my appliance?
Find the rating label, copy the serial number (not the model number) and choose the brand above. Many labels also print a manufacture date outright. If yours does, enter it, because a printed date beats any decoder.
Where is the serial number on a refrigerator, washer, dryer or dishwasher?
Refrigerators carry it inside the fresh-food compartment. Washers and dryers have it on the door frame or inside the lid. Dishwashers have it along the edge of the door or on the tub frame. Ranges have it on the oven door frame or behind the storage drawer.
Why are some appliance brands missing?
We only add a brand when its date code is confirmed by the manufacturer or checked against real labels. Several brands publish no code at all, and online guides often disagree about the year letters. A wrong date is worse than none, so we leave those brands out until we can verify them.
Is the manufacture date the same as the date I bought it?
No. An appliance usually sits in a warehouse and a store for weeks or months before it is sold, so it is a little older than your receipt suggests. For deciding when to replace it, the difference rarely matters.
Guides, tools and other lookups
Appliance guides
Other age lookups
See all guides, or read how our decoders work.