Refrigerator Age Calculator
How old is your fridge?
Enter your brand and serial number — we decode the build date, calculate age, and apply the ENERGY STAR 10-year replace cutoff.
Serial starts with a letter (year) + 2-digit week. Example: F1234567 (F = 2006).
The methodology
Supported serial formats and calculation rules
These are the formats this calculator supports. Serial formats and repeated year codes vary by model; confirm the manufacturing date on the rating plate or with the manufacturer.
Whirlpool
First character selects the year: C = 2002; D = 2003; E = 2004; F = 2006; G = 2007; H = 2008; J = 2009; K = 2010; L = 2011; M = 2012; N = 2013; P = 2014; R = 2015; S = 2016; T = 2017; U = 2018; V = 2019; W = 2020; X = 2021; Y = 2022. Characters 2–3 supply the week.
Weeks 1–53 become month = min(12, ceiling(week ÷ 4.33)). An unsupported week leaves the month unknown.
KitchenAid
Uses the Whirlpool year-code table and week conversion shown above.
Maytag
Uses the Whirlpool year-code table and week conversion shown above.
GE / GE Profile
First character selects the month: A = 1; B = 2; C = 3; D = 4; E = 5; F = 6; G = 7; H = 8; J = 9; K = 10; L = 11; M = 12. Second character selects the year: A = 2001; B = 2002; C = 2003; D = 2004; E = 2005; F = 2006; G = 2007; H = 2008; J = 2009; K = 2010; L = 2011; M = 2012; N = 2013; P = 2014; R = 2015; S = 2016; T = 2017; U = 2018; V = 2019; W = 2020; X = 2021; Y = 2022; Z = 2023. Unsupported letters return no decoded date.
Samsung
Requires at least six characters. Character 5 supplies the year digit; character 6 supplies a month from 1–9. Other month characters leave the month unknown.
The year digit is added to the current decade. If that year is in the future, subtract 10. This selects the most recent matching year, not a uniquely verified manufacturing date.
LG
The first character supplies the year digit. Characters 2–3 supply a month from 1–12; otherwise the month is unknown.
The year digit is added to the current decade. If that year is in the future, subtract 10. This selects the most recent matching year, not a uniquely verified manufacturing date.
Frigidaire / Electrolux
The first character supplies the year digit. Characters 2–3 supply the week.
The year digit is added to the current decade. If that year is in the future, subtract 10. This selects the most recent matching year, not a uniquely verified manufacturing date.
Weeks 1–53 become month = min(12, ceiling(week ÷ 4.33)). An unsupported week leaves the month unknown.
Bosch / Thermador
An FD YYMM pattern uses year = 2000 + YY and month = MM. Without FD, the first four characters are interpreted as YYMM, accepting years from 2000 through the current year. A month outside 1–12 leaves the month unknown.
Age and planning calculation
The calculation uses the first day of the decoded month, or month 6 when the month is unknown. Age = elapsed milliseconds ÷ (365.25 × 24 × 60 × 60 × 1000), rounded to one decimal place.
Years left = max(0, 12 − rounded age), rounded to one decimal place. This is time remaining on the planning assumption, not a forecast of failure.
The first matching verdict applies: age at least 10 gives “Replace now”; otherwise age at least 12 × 0.7 (8.4) gives “Plan ahead”; a lower age gives “It's fine.” An unsupported serial returns no decoded result.
Serial-number decoders
Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, LG, Frigidaire, and Bosch each encode the build date differently. Decoders sourced from manufacturer service documentation.
Planning lifetime
12 years, the refrigerator lifetime ENERGY STAR assumes in its savings comparison. Years left counts down from it as a planning figure, not a forecast of when a refrigerator fails.
ENERGY STAR 10-year cutoff
Refrigerators 10 years or older may use up to 35% more energy than newer ENERGY STAR certified models. Energy-savings payback is typically 2–4 years.
Frequently asked
Tools that pair with this one
Past the 10-year cutoff?
Answer five questions to explore a starting product group, with prices where available. Verify dimensions, features and warranty terms on each product page.
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