Quick answer
On most Toro mowers made from 2000 to about 2015, the first digits of the 9-digit serial number give the year. A serial starting with 2 is from the 2000s, and the next digit is the year (26xxxxxxx ≈ 2006). A serial starting with 31 is from the 2010s, and the third digit is the year (315xxxxxx ≈ 2015). Toro changed its serial format around 2016, so for newer mowers enter the model and serial in Toro’s parts lookup or ask a Toro dealer.
Knowing your Toro’s age helps you order the right parts, download the right manual, check for recalls, and price it fairly if you sell it. Here’s how to find the serial number, read it, and confirm the year when the number alone isn’t enough.
Step 1: Find the model and serial number plate
Every Toro has a sticker or metal plate with two numbers: the model number (usually 5 digits, such as 20371) and the serial number (usually 9 digits). Toro lists these locations:
Walk-behind mowers
Top or back of the rear housing, either side of the housing, or under the control panel.
TimeCutter & Z Master
Below the right-hand control lever, or on the frame under the seat.
Lawn tractors
Steering tower, footrest frame, seat mounting plate, lower dash panel or the mower deck.
Rear-engine riders
Side panels, under the seat, or the top rear of the frame.
Clean the plate with a damp cloth if it’s faded, and take a photo of it. You’ll need both numbers for parts and support.
Step 2: Read the year from the serial number
| Serial number starts with | Approximate year | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 2000 | 200xxxxxx |
| 21 – 29 | 2001 – 2009 (second digit = year) | 260xxxxxx ≈ 2006 |
| 310 | 2010 | 310xxxxxx |
| 311 – 315 | 2011 – 2015 (third digit = year) | 315xxxxxx ≈ 2015 |
| Newer formats (often starting with 4) | About 2016 onward: not a direct year code | Use Toro’s lookup or a dealer |
Two things to keep in mind:
- Production year isn’t always model year. Toro builds next season’s mowers months ahead, so a mower sold in spring 2015 may carry a 2014 serial.
- The ranges are a pattern, not a published rule. Toro’s parts catalogs group mowers by serial ranges (for example “315000001 – 315999999”), and those ranges line up with the years above. Toro itself says the model and serial together are what identify your exact mower.
Step 3: Confirm the year (especially for newer mowers)
- Toro’s parts lookup. Enter the model and serial at toro.com. The parts list and manual that come up are for your serial range, which tells you the production group.
- Ask a Toro dealer. Dealers can see the exact build date from the model and serial in Toro’s system. A phone call usually takes two minutes.
- Check the engine date code. Many Toro walk-behinds and riders use Briggs & Stratton or Kohler engines with their own stamped code. On Briggs engines, the first six digits of the code are usually the build date (YYMMDD). Since the engine is built shortly before the mower, this gets you within a few months.
- Look at the paperwork. The receipt, warranty registration or the operator’s manual form number will often narrow it down.
Why the year matters
- Parts: Toro changes blades, belts, wheels and carburetors within the same model number. The serial range decides which part fits.
- Manuals: Service specs, belt routing and oil capacity can change between serial ranges.
- Recalls and warranty: Recall notices are tied to specific model and serial ranges, and Toro’s warranty runs from the purchase date.
- Resale: Buyers will ask the age, and an accurate year builds trust and helps you price fairly.
Frequently asked questions
My Toro serial number starts with 4. What year is it?
It’s almost certainly from after Toro’s serial format change around 2016, but the year isn’t spelled out in the digits the way older serials were. Enter the model and serial in Toro’s parts lookup, or give both numbers to a Toro dealer for the exact build date.
My serial number only has 8 digits.
Shorter serials usually mean the mower predates 2000, when Toro used an older numbering system. A dealer can date it, and the engine’s date code is a good cross-check.
Is the model number enough to find parts?
Not always. Toro often keeps the same model number for several years while changing parts underneath. Always search with both the model and the serial number.
The plate is missing. Can I still find the year?
Partly. Check the engine’s date code, the original receipt or registration, and compare the deck shape, handle and controls with Toro catalog photos. A dealer may still identify the model from photos, but parts matching will be harder.
Sources and method: Plate locations come from Toro’s model and serial number guide (toro.com). The year pattern reflects how Toro’s serial ranges appear in its parts catalogs and how dealers read them. Toro doesn’t publish an official decoder, so confirm with a dealer when the exact year matters.
Update log: November 2026: rewrote the guide. We corrected the serial examples, added Toro’s official plate locations, a decoding table, the post-2016 format change, other ways to confirm the year, and an FAQ.