Where the serial number is on a GE appliance
GE puts the model and serial on one tag. The position varies more than it does on most brands, so GE lists several possible spots for each product type.
- Ceiling of the fresh-food section (GE, Kenmore, KitchenAid quad-door)
- Beside, behind or under the crisper drawers (GE, Kenmore)
- Outside, low on the front (a second label on Samsung; GE bottom front edge on some models)
- On the rim, trim or frame of the door opening, often at the top (Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, GE)
- Outside, lower right front corner (some GE models)
- Under the lid, on the tub rim or the back of the opening (Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire, LG, GE near the right hinge)
- Back of the control panel or the back panel (GE, LG; Samsung top-loaders on the back)
- Outside, lower corner of the cabinet (some GE models)
- Left or right side of the drum opening (GE). Ventless Whirlpool and Maytag dryers: behind the water tank
- Left edge of the tub frame (Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, GE, Samsung)
- Right edge of the tub frame (GE, Frigidaire, Samsung)
- Side or top edge of the door, or its inside (LG, GE, Frigidaire, Bosch, Samsung)
- Oven frame or side trim, seen with the door open (Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire, GE, LG)
- Frame of the storage drawer, with the drawer pulled out (Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire, LG, GE)
- Under the cooktop or behind the control panel on some models (GE; Frigidaire and Maytag cooktops underneath)
Basis: Official manufacturer help pages (Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, GE, LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, Bosch) and Sears PartsDirect for Kenmore. Diagrams are simplified; your model's exact spot can differ.
| Appliance | Where GE says the tag can be |
|---|---|
| Top-freezer fridge | Fresh-food section, left wall near the top; left or right wall near the crisper drawer; freezer ceiling near the front; near the temperature controls; behind the crisper drawers; bottom front edge |
| Bottom-freezer fridge | Fresh-food section, left or right wall near the top; or the freezer section’s left or right wall |
| Side-by-side fridge | Fresh-food floor (remove the crispers); behind the crispers; left or right wall near the crispers or near the top; fresh-food ceiling |
| Top-load washer | Under the lid near the right hinge; back of the control panel; exterior bottom-left corner; exterior back near the water inlets |
| Front-load washer | Inside the door panel on the wash compartment face; exterior right side, lower front corner |
| Dryer | Inside front face of the drum opening, left or right side, with the door open |
| Dishwasher | Left or right front inside edge of the tub; right side edge of the door |
| Range | Front frame behind the oven door; under the front control panel; behind the rear control panel (gas, a metal flag); under the left front coil (electric); under a lift-up cooktop; left leg behind the drawer or kick panel; front frame inside the drawer |
Basis: official (GE Appliances Model and Serial Number Locator pages).
Two tips from GE:
- GE and GE Profile model numbers always begin and end with a letter. That helps you tell the model line from the serial line.
- Newer tags may carry a QR code that opens that product’s information on your phone.
How to read the date
Look only at the first two letters of the serial:
- 1st letter = month
- 2nd letter = year
Both use the same 12 letters.
| Letter | As 1st letter (month) | As 2nd letter (year) |
|---|---|---|
| A | January | 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 |
| D | February | 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 |
| F | March | 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 |
| G | April | 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 |
| H | May | 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 |
| L | June | 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 |
| M | July | 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 |
| R | August | 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 |
| S | September | 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 |
| T | October | 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 |
| V | November | 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 |
| Z | December | 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 |
Basis: official (GE, “How to Determine the Age or Manufacture Date”; the Café page carries the same chart). GE’s chart also lists 1970–1976 for L through Z on the same 12-year cycle, plus some earlier years. They’re left out here because they don’t apply to appliances still in use.
The rest of the serial (six digits and a trailing letter) is a production sequence. It doesn’t carry date information.
Worked examples
- LR821547C: L = June, R = 2008 or 2020. On a current-style unit that’s June 2020.
- RL059433C: R = August, L = 2006 or 2018, so most likely August 2018.
- ZR525322 (GE refrigerator TBX22PAYARBB): Z = December, R = 1996, 2008 or 2020. electrical-forensics.com documents this unit as December 1996, a reminder that the most recent reading isn’t always right.
- GE’s own example: a serial beginning GA was built in April 2001 or April 2013. Under the current chart it could also be April 2025.
- A GE appliance built in September 2026 starts SD.
Examples 1–3 are real units documented by electrical-forensics.com. Each is decoded with GE’s chart.
The decade problem and how to settle it
A 12-year cycle means a working appliance can often match two dates, for example 2013 or 2025. GE’s own advice: most owner’s manuals show a print date on the front or back page. It “may not exactly match” the serial date, but if it’s close, you’ve picked the right cycle.
Other ways to decide:
- Model number era. Look the model up on GE’s support site. A model with current manuals and parts isn’t from the older cycle.
- Paperwork. A receipt, delivery note or registration email settles it.
- Design. Controls, finish and features differ a lot across 12 years.
Why the date matters for warranty
Of the brands covered on this site, GE is the only one whose US policy we found that ties the build date to warranty. GE’s “Warranty Begins” page, as of September 2026, says: “When proof of purchase or ownership is not available, the manufacturing date of the appliance will be used to determine the age of the appliance and warranty period of an appliance.”
If you’re buying a nearly new GE appliance without a receipt, the serial date is therefore the date GE would work from. Confirm current terms with GE before you rely on remaining coverage.
What the age means for a used purchase
Once you have the year, compare it with typical lifespans:
For a GE range, use the repair or replace calculator together with the build date.
Limitations
- The chart covers GE Appliances products: GE, GE Profile, Café, Monogram and Hotpoint. Haier-branded products, and some products GE sources from other manufacturers, may use different codes.
- Kenmore units with the 363 model prefix were built by GE and use this chart. Other Kenmore prefixes don’t; see the Kenmore page.
- The build date doesn’t tell you how much the unit has been used, how it was maintained or whether it has been repaired.
Next steps
- Enter the serial in the checker above.
- Check for open recalls with the recall check.
- Use the used appliance buying checklist to inspect the unit itself.
- For fridges from any brand, see how old is my refrigerator.
Checked against the sources below on 26 September 2026.