A piano's serial number is the most reliable way to determine its actual age, and it is independent of anything a seller tells you.

Finding the serial number

On a grand piano, the serial number is usually stamped on the cast iron plate, visible when the lid is raised - often near the tuning pins at the front of the plate, though placement varies by manufacturer.

Looking it up

  • Reference works like the Pierce Piano Atlas cross-reference thousands of manufacturers' serial number ranges against production years, and most piano technicians own a copy or can look one up during an inspection.
  • Several online piano age calculators offer the same lookup for a specific serial number and brand, often for free or a small fee.
  • Some manufacturers also publish their own serial number ranges directly.

Knowing the real production year matters beyond curiosity: it helps put a soundboard's or action's condition in context, and it protects against a seller (knowingly or not) understating a piano's actual age.