General Electric · 12-Year Repeating Date Cycle
GE Serial Number Age Lookup
Find your GE appliance manufacture date.
GE Appliances (including Hotpoint, GE Profile, and Café) encodes the manufacturing month and year directly into the first two letters of the serial number. Enter your serial number below for instant decoding.
GE Date Code Decoder
Enter your GE serial number.
Locate the rating plate on your GE refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, or range to decode its production month and year.
Enter your GE serial number above
Type the serial number from your appliance data tag to decode the production month, possible manufacture years, and estimated age.
How GE Encodes Age in Serial Numbers
GE appliance serial numbers almost universally begin with two alphabetical letters followed by six or seven numeric digits. The first letter identifies the month, and the second letter designates the year across a 12-year repeating cycle:
Example: Serial Number HD123456G
- First Letter (
H): Month of manufacture = May. - Second Letter (
D): Year code = 2014 (or 2002 / 2026). - Remaining Characters (
123456G): Sequential manufacturing sequence and factory suffix.
1st Letter: Month Code
| Letter | Month |
|---|---|
| A | January |
| D | February |
| F | March |
| G | April |
| H | May |
| L | June |
| M | July |
| R | August |
| S | September |
| T | October |
| V | November |
| Z | December |
Note: Letters B, C, E, I, J, K, N, O, P, Q, U, W, X, and Y are excluded from month codes to prevent misreading.
2nd Letter: Year Code (12-Year Cycle)
| Letter | Possible Years |
|---|---|
| A | 2001 · 2013 · 2025 |
| D | 2002 · 2014 · 2026 |
| F | 2003 · 2015 |
| G | 2004 · 2016 |
| H | 2005 · 2017 |
| L | 2006 · 2018 |
| M | 2007 · 2019 |
| R | 2008 · 2020 |
| S | 2009 · 2021 |
| T | 2010 · 2022 |
| V | 2011 · 2023 |
| Z | 2012 · 2024 |
GE cycles year letters every 12 years. Compare your appliance's cosmetic styling to tell if it is 2002, 2014, or 2026.
How to Tell Which 12-Year Cycle Applies
Because GE year letters repeat every 12 years, look for these physical clues on your appliance to distinguish the correct decade:
Refrigerant Label
Refrigerators using R-12 were built prior to 1996. Units using R-134a were manufactured primarily between 1996 and 2018. Units specifying R-600a (isobutane) were manufactured in 2018 or later.
Controls & Displays
Older GE appliances (pre-2005) feature mechanical rotary dials and analog push buttons. Mid-era units (2005–2016) use green/amber LED segmented numerals. Modern units feature capacitive glass touch panels and white LED displays.
Energy Guide Label
If the yellow EnergyGuide tag is still taped inside the appliance, check the copyright or standard revision year printed in the bottom corner; it provides a definitive lower bound on manufacturing.
Where to Find the Serial Tag on GE Appliances
GE Refrigerators & Freezers
Located inside the fresh food compartment on the upper left ceiling or top side wall, or behind the vegetable crisper bin on the lower left.
GE Washers & Dryers
Top-load washers: Under the lid on the back rim. Front-load washers: Inside the door opening on the cabinet frame. Dryers: Inside the door well on the front cabinet edge.
GE Dishwashers
Affixed along the front left tub rim just inside the door seal, visible when the door is opened downward.
GE Ranges & Ovens
Affixed behind the lower storage drawer on the bottom oven frame, or on the door frame of the lower oven cavity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I decode a GE serial number to find the age?
GE encodes the manufacture date in the first two letters of the serial number: the first letter indicates the month (e.g., H = May), and the second letter represents the year across a 12-year repeating cycle (e.g., D = 2014 or 2002).
How can I tell which 12-year cycle applies to my GE appliance?
Check physical cues: pre-1996 refrigerators use R-12 refrigerant, 1996–2018 units use R-134a, and 2018+ units use R-600a. In addition, older GE models feature rotary mechanical dials while modern units feature capacitive touch glass panels.
Where is the serial number located on a GE washer or dryer?
On top-load GE washers, look under the lid on the back rim. On front-load washers, look inside the door opening on the cabinet frame. On dryers, check inside the door well on the front cabinet edge.
Disclaimer: This serial lookup tool provides an informational estimate based on General Electric's published 12-year cycling date code conventions. It does not inspect mechanical condition or electrical safety. Always verify production details on your appliance's physical rating tag. For diagnostic repairs, consult your official GE owner manual or a licensed appliance technician.