How can I tell how old my dishwasher is?
Find the model and serial label, then read the date code with your brand’s rule. The checker above decodes it for you. The serial gives the build date, not the purchase or installation date.
Step 1: Find the label
Open the door fully. The label is on the edge of the tub frame or on the side or top edge of the door, where you only see it with the door open.
- 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)
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.
| Brand | Where the manufacturer says to look |
|---|---|
| Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid | Left side of the tub frame (KitchenAid double-drawer models: right side of the top drawer) |
| GE | Left or right front inside edge of the tub; or the right side edge of the door |
| Bosch | On the top of the door, or on the right-hand side of the door |
| LG | Right side of the door, with the door open |
| Samsung | Top of the door’s inner rim, the left or right side of the door rim, or the inside edge of the tub |
| Frigidaire, Electrolux | Inside of the door, or the right side of the tub, with the door open |
| Kenmore | Rim of the tub or inside edge of the door; sometimes behind the kickplate |
Basis: official manufacturer help pages (Whirlpool, KitchenAid, GE, Bosch US, LG, Samsung Canada, Frigidaire) and Sears PartsDirect for Kenmore.
Read the serial (“S/N”, or “FD” on Bosch), not the model number on the same label.
Step 2: Decode the serial by brand
| Brand | Where the date is | Cycle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag (modern) | Year character after the 1–2 letter plant code, then a 2-digit week | Digits: 2010s; K, L, M, P, R, S, T, U, W, Y: 2000s; X, A–J: 1990s or 2020s | F522… (illustrative) = week 22, May 2015 |
| GE family | 1st letter = month, 2nd letter = year | 12 years | SD = September 2002, 2014 or 2026 |
| Bosch, Thermador | FD number: first two digits = year, last two = month | Unique 1970–2029 | FD 9111 = November 2011 |
| Frigidaire, Electrolux | 3rd character = last digit of the year; 4th–5th = week | 10 years | TH00257759 = week 02, January 2000 |
| LG | 1st digit = last digit of the year; digits 2–3 = month | 10 years | 410… = October 2004, 2014 or 2024 |
| Samsung | 15 characters: 8th = year, 9th = month (1–9, then A, B, C). 11 characters: 4th = year, 5th = month | 20 years | see the year table |
| Kenmore | Decode with the real maker’s rule, from the model prefix | Varies | 665 = Whirlpool, 587 = Frigidaire, 363 = GE (a few prefixes are disputed; see the Kenmore guide) |
Basis: GE’s and LG’s rules are official (their support pages). The Frigidaire example is a real unit documented by electrical-forensics.com. The Whirlpool-family, Bosch and Samsung rules come from independent date-code references cross-checked against documented units. Full tables: Whirlpool, KitchenAid, GE, Frigidaire, LG, Kenmore.
How old is my Bosch dishwasher?
Bosch (and Thermador) dishwashers use a different system: the FD number on the rating label.
- Read the four digits after FD. The first two are the year and the last two are the month.
- For 50–99, add 1920: FD 9111 = November 2011.
- For 00–09, the code has wrapped into the 2020s: FD 0301 = January 2023.
Basis: electrical-forensics.com (rule and the FD 9111 example) and tab-tv’s chart (FD 0301). Bosch’s own documentation says where the FD is but not how to read it, so treat post-2019 readings as likely rather than certain. Full table and label positions: Bosch serial number lookup.
How old is my Whirlpool or KitchenAid dishwasher?
Both use Whirlpool’s code. After the one or two plant letters comes the year character, then two digits for the week. An illustrative serial starting F522 is plant F, year 5 (2015), week 22: late May 2015. A letter C in the year spot means 1993 or 2023; a dishwasher with app-connected controls would be the 2023 one. See the KitchenAid guide for the full table.
How old is my GE dishwasher?
GE publishes its chart: the first letter is the month and the second is the year. The code repeats every 12 years, so a serial starting SD means September 2002, 2014 or 2026. The model number decides which. Letter tables are in the GE guide.
Step 3: Settle the decade
- Model number. Look it up on the maker’s support site; the manuals and parts listed show the era.
- Owner’s manual print date, usually on the front or back page.
- Paperwork: a receipt, installation invoice or registration card.
- Design: control panels and rack layouts change between model generations, so compare with photos of the model online.
If the label is missing or unreadable
- Check both door edges and both sides of the tub, and on Kenmore behind the kickplate.
- Use the model number alone to get the era and run a recall check.
- Ask the seller for the installation invoice or manual.
What the age means
Dishwashers typically last about 10 years, and most published figures run from 9 to about 15: see how long dishwashers last. Consumer Reports notes that with dishwashers the data typically leans toward replacing rather than repairing. Weighing a repair? Use the repair or replace calculator.
Limitations
- The serial shows the build date, not the sale, installation or service history.
- Only GE and LG publish their date rules; the others come from well-corroborated independent references.
- Bosch’s 2020s FD readings and Samsung’s 2026 code are less certain than older ranges.
Next steps
- Enter the brand and serial in the checker above.
- Run the recall check with the model number.
- Inspect the dishwasher with the used appliance buying checklist.
Checked against the sources below on 26 September 2026.