The serial number is the piano's birth certificate. Makers numbered their pianos in order as they left the factory, so once you know the number and the brand, you can look up the year it was built. Most of the time it's on the cast-iron plate, the gold-coloured metal frame that holds the strings. Here is where to look on an upright and on a grand, what the number looks like, and what to do if you can't find it.
On an upright piano
An upright (vertical) piano stands against the wall with its strings running up and down. Start at the top: lift the lid and look down inside.
On the plate, near the tuning pins
Lift the top lid and shine a flashlight down onto the plate. Look along the top edge, near the rows of tuning pins, especially at the far left and far right. The number is stamped into the iron or painted on it in black or gold. This is where most uprights have it.
Lower on the plate, behind the music desk
If the top edge shows nothing, look further down the plate. On some uprights the number sits on a flat part of the plate, between the plate's bars, behind the music desk. The front board above the keys often lifts out to give you a better view; ask a technician if it doesn't come away easily.
On the back of the piano
Pull the piano a little away from the wall and look at the back. Some makers stamp the number on the soundboard, on one of the wooden back posts, or on a label near the top. This is common on smaller uprights, spinets and consoles.
Under the keyboard or on the keybed
On some older pianos the number is stamped on the wooden keybed under the keys or on the frame the keys sit on. You won't see it without taking the keyboard apart, so leave this one to a technician.
On a grand piano
On a grand piano the strings lie flat. Raise the lid on its prop stick and look at the plate from the keyboard end.
On the plate, under the music desk
The most common place: on the plate near the tuning pins, just behind the music desk. Many music desks slide out or lift off, so remove it first if it is in the way. Look along the row of tuning pins from left to right.
Elsewhere on the plate or soundboard
If it isn't near the pins, follow the plate along both sides towards the tail. Some makers put the number on a flat part of the plate at the bass or treble end, or on the soundboard beside it, where you can read it between the strings.
On the case, the keyframe or underneath
Some grands also carry the number on the inside of the rim, on the keyframe under the keys, or on the underside of the piano. Treat these as places to double-check rather than to start. The keyframe is for a technician: the action has to come out to reach it.
What a serial number looks like
A piano has several numbers on it, and only one of them is the serial number. Here is how to tell them apart.
- No. 248117Serial number
Serial number
A number on its own, 4 to 7 digits long, sometimes after "No." It is stamped into the plate or painted on it, and sometimes also printed on a label.
- U1Not the serial number
Model
Letters with a short number name the model, not the individual piano. You'll often find it on the back or inside the case.
- PAT. JUNE 3 1879Not the serial number
Patent date
A date after "Pat." or "Patented" tells you when an invention used in the piano was patented. The piano itself may be decades younger.
- 4 B 7Not the serial number
Casting number
Raised figures cast into the iron, often near the edges of the plate, are part numbers from the foundry. Serial numbers are pressed in or painted on, not raised.
- 1 – 88Not the serial number
Key and part numbers
Small numbers written on keys, hammers or action parts mark their position, or the action maker's own serial. They aren't the piano's number.
Our lookup uses digits only. If your number has a letter, a space or a dash in it, enter just the digits.
If you can't find it
Don't worry: some numbers are just hard to see. Old paint, dust and dim light hide a lot.
- Use a strong flashlight and shine it at a low angle across the plate. Stamped digits throw small shadows that are easier to read than the metal itself.
- Take a photo with your phone's flash and zoom in. The camera often picks up digits your eye misses.
- Wipe the dust off gently with a dry cloth. Don't use liquids on the plate or strings.
- If the piano was rebuilt or refinished, the number may be painted over. A technician can usually still find it, or date the piano from its design and parts.
- Check old paperwork: receipts, insurance documents and tuning records often list the serial number.
Questions
Is the serial number the same as the model number?
No. The model number (such as U1 or Model M) is shared by every piano of that design. The serial number belongs to your piano alone and tells you when it was made.
How many digits does a piano serial number have?
Usually 4 to 7. Older pianos and small makers have shorter numbers; big makers like Yamaha and Kawai reached 7 digits.
Can two pianos have the same serial number?
Not from the same maker. Different brands do share numbers, which is why the lookup asks for the brand as well.
Does the serial number tell me what my piano is worth?
It tells you the age, which is one part of the value. Condition, brand, model and recent maintenance matter more. A technician's inspection gives you the full picture.
Is it safe to open the piano to look?
Lifting the top lid of an upright or raising a grand's lid is safe. Don't touch the strings or tuning pins, and leave taking out the keyboard or action to a technician.