A piano serial number is usually stamped, engraved or printed inside the instrument. The exact location varies by manufacturer and piano type, but most numbers can be found without dismantling the piano.
Quick answer
Start by opening the top lid and looking at the cast-iron plate near the tuning pins. On many upright and grand pianos, this is the most common place to find the serial number.
UPRIGHT PIANO
Where to look on an upright
Open the top lid and inspect the upper inside area before removing any panels.
Cast-iron plate near the tuning pinsLook across the metal frame at the top of the piano. The number may be stamped or printed directly on the plate.
Inside the upper cabinetCheck the plate, wooden pinblock area and nearby structural surfaces visible after opening the top lid.
Behind the upper front panelSome instruments place the number inside the cabinet. Only remove a panel if it is designed to come off easily and you know how it is secured.
Soundboard or internal wooden partsOlder pianos may have stamped or printed numbers on internal wood. These are less consistently placed than plate markings.
GRAND & BABY GRAND
Where to look on a grand
Raise the lid and inspect the plate and tuning-pin area from above.
Cast-iron plate near the tuning pinsThis is one of the most common locations. Look for a clearly stamped or printed sequence of digits.
Plate openings and cross-bracesInspect visible sections of the metal frame. The serial number may be placed near a plate opening or brace.
Soundboard areaSome manufacturers place identifying numbers on visible wooden surfaces inside the piano.
Areas under the music deskIf the desk can be moved normally as part of its design, check the surfaces beneath it. Do not dismantle the action just to search for a number.
Serial number or model number?
Pianos can contain several different numbers. The serial number is the one normally used to estimate the production year.
Marking
What it usually means
Useful for dating?
Serial number
A production sequence assigned to an individual piano.
Yes — this is the number PianoLookup uses.
Model number
Identifies a piano design, size or series shared by many instruments.
Usually not by itself.
Part / casting number
Identifies a component or casting rather than the whole piano.
No.
Technician marking
Handwritten service notes, dates or inventory marks added later.
Not as a manufacturer serial number.
How to recognize the right number
Manufacturer serial numbers are commonly a sequence of digits, sometimes with a letter prefix.
A serial number is usually more prominent and permanent than handwritten service notes.
If several numbers are present, record all of them before deciding which one is the serial number.
For Yamaha, Kawai and other manufacturers with factory-specific prefixes, keep the letters together with the digits.
If the number is faded or hard to read
Use a flashlight from the side rather than shining it straight at the marking.
Take several close-up photos from slightly different angles.
Do not sand, scrape or use solvent on a stamped or printed number.
Try entering the most likely reading in PianoLookup. If a letter prefix is visible, include it.
Safety: a piano is extremely heavy and contains high string tension. Do not tip, dismantle or move the instrument just to look for a serial number. If the only suspected marking requires action removal or significant disassembly, ask a piano technician.
What if you still cannot find it?
Check the manufacturer name first and compare several visible markings. On older instruments, refinishing, repairs or replacement parts can make the original serial number difficult to locate. Some pianos also contain multiple production, case or component numbers.
If you find a likely number, use the brand-specific lookup rather than guessing from appearance alone.
Found the number?
Use PianoLookup to compare it with the historical serial-number ranges currently stored for the manufacturer.
