Samsung Serial Number Lookup: Year and Month Codes
Samsung appliance serial numbers use five parts: a three- to seven-character prefix, a year code, a month code, a five-digit unit sequence, and sometimes a final control character. For example, in the serial number R1XW234567S, the date code is W2: W means 2023 and 2 means February, so the manufacture date is February 2023. Samsung used the year letters L, P, Q, S, Y, and Z again 20 years later. If both dates are in the past and no model is entered, Appliage shows both. The serial alone cannot tell you which one belongs to your machine.
If your serial number has one of these codes, we advise you to enter the model number as well because Appliage compares the model’s production period with the two possible years. This usually narrows the result to one year. If both years still fit, Appliage shows both possible dates.
Appliage decodes two Samsung year tables. Both put the year code and then the month code just before the five digit unit sequence, so count from the end of the serial number, not from the start. The current table begins at F for 2014 and runs to the present. Samsung’s earlier table covers 2005 through 2013. The current table sits under Samsung Age Rules below, and the older codes appear with the decode examples.
Both tables use the same positions, so the shape of the serial number cannot separate them. Six letters, Y, L, P, Q, S, and Z, sit in both tables twenty years apart. For those, the model number decides: Appliage matches it against dated records and shows both years when the records span both periods or no model number is entered. Every other year code belongs to one table only.
Samsung Serial Number Decode
- start 3–7 leading characters
- date code 1 year code
- date code 2 month code
- next 5 unit sequence
- end optional control
Do not locate the date code by counting from the left because the prefix can contain three to seven characters. Instead, find the five-digit unit sequence near the end of the serial number. The two characters directly before it are the year and month codes. If the serial number has a control character, it comes after the unit sequence.
Samsung month codes
| Code | Month |
|---|---|
| 1 | January |
| 2 | February |
| 3 | March |
| 4 | April |
| 5 | May |
| 6 | June |
| 7 | July |
| 8 | August |
| 9 | September |
| A | October |
| B | November |
| C | December |
Samsung year codes for 2014–2030
| Code | Published meaning |
|---|---|
| F | 2014 |
| G | 2015 |
| H | 2016 |
| J | 2017 |
| K | 2018 |
| M | 2019 |
| N | 2020 |
| R | 2021 |
| T | 2022 |
| W | 2023 |
| X | 2024 |
| Y | 2025 |
| L | 2026 |
| P | 2027 |
| Q | 2028 |
| S | 2029 |
| Z | 2030 |
The tables above show the month and year codes from Samsung’s warranty booklet.
Examples
The year table above covers 2014 through 2030. Six of its codes also appear in Samsung’s older 2005–2013 table, so each can mean two years:
- Y: 2005 or 2025
- L: 2006 or 2026
- P: 2007 or 2027
- Q: 2008 or 2028
- S: 2009 or 2029
- Z: 2010 or 2030
Each pair is 20 years apart. The older table also includes B for 2011, C for 2012, and D for 2013. These three codes do not appear in the current table, so each indicates one specific year.
Appliage uses the model number to decide which of the two years applies. Its database contains dated records for 2,044 U.S. Samsung appliance models. Appliage selects the older year only when dated records for that model place it before 2014. Records for a newer model can select the later year. If the model records cover both periods, or you do not enter a model number, Appliage shows both possible years.
All other Samsung year codes in this guide indicate one specific year. The first example uses R, which means only 2021, so the serial number is enough to return one date.
Samsung Serial Number Example 1: 01H057BR600001
Enter serial number 01H057BR600001. The model number is WA55A7300AE/US, but it is not needed to decode this example because R indicates only 2021. Appliage returns June 2021.
- Split the serial number as 01H057B | R | 6 | 00001. The last five digits, 00001, are the unit sequence.
- R is the year code and means 2021. The 6 immediately after it is the month code and means June.
The second example shows why the model number matters when a year code has two meanings.
Samsung Serial Number Example 2: ABCYB12345
Enter serial number ABCYB12345 and model number DV203AES/XAA. Appliage returns November 2005.
- Split the serial number as ABC | Y | B | 12345. The last five digits, 12345, are the unit sequence.
- Y is the year code and can mean 2005 or 2025. B is the month code and means November.
- Samsung documented model DV203AES/XAA in 2010, so the older meaning of Y applies: 2005.
You cannot decode your appliance’s manufacture date from the model number alone, but Appliage can use it with the serial number to identify the correct year. In this example, the model’s production period shows that Y means 2005, while B in the serial number means November. Therefore, the manufacture date is November 2005.
Home appliances only, starting in 2005
Samsung’s published code tables cover home appliances made in 2005 or later. These tables cannot date an older appliance.
Samsung phones, televisions, monitors, and soundbars use different serial number systems. This guide applies only to home appliances such as refrigerators, laundry machines, dishwashers, ranges, microwaves, and vacuums.
The decoded date is the manufacture date, not the purchase date. It also does not determine whether the appliance is still under warranty. Warranty coverage depends on your purchase record and the terms for that product. Use these rules only when the rating plate says Samsung.
Sources
- Samsung warranty booklet. On page 16, Samsung explains the date positions and year letters for 2014–2030.
- Samsung manufacture date help. Samsung lists the earlier year letters for 2005–2013.
- CPSC: Samsung washer recall (23-080). The recall includes 14 US washer models and their serial ranges.
For other brands, see our appliance serial number lookup.