Where Is the Model Number on a Dishwasher?

It only shows when the door is open. Here is the exact spot for every major brand, what the first letters of the number mean, and what to do when the label wore off.

The first time our dishwasher left a film on every glass, I went looking for a new filter. The parts site wanted a model number. I checked the front, the kick plate, and the inside of the tub before I found the label: a thin strip on the door edge that you only see with the door fully open.

That is the whole trick. The label is designed to be hidden when the dishwasher is closed. Here is where each brand puts it.

The one spot that works on most dishwashers

Open the door until it lies flat. Pull the bottom rack out if it blocks your view. Then check these in order:

1. The top edge of the door, the flat surface facing the ceiling when the door is open.
2. The left and right side edges of the door.
3. The tub rim, the frame around the opening that the door closes against. Look at the upper corners.
4. Under the control panel, on fully integrated models where the buttons sit on top of the door.
5. Behind the kick plate at the bottom front, which usually comes off with two screws.

On stainless tubs the label is often a small silver sticker. Some brands etch it straight into the steel, which makes it faint. Tilt your phone flashlight across it at an angle and the characters pop.

Dishwasher model number location by brand

Where a brand publishes its own location, this table uses it.

Bosch is the odd one out. Its label never says "model number." It says E-Nr, and next to it sit an FD date code and a Z-Nr serial. Our guide to reading the Bosch E-Nr and FD number decodes all three, including the build date.

Kenmore is the other quirk. Sears sold dishwashers built by Whirlpool, Frigidaire, and others under one name, and the three digits before the dot tell you the real maker. A model that starts with 665 came from Whirlpool, so Whirlpool parts usually fit.

When the label wore off

Ten years of steam is hard on a sticker. If yours is blank or peeled, try these before you call anyone.

• Look for a second label. Many dishwashers repeat the label on the side of the tub, visible once you remove the lower front panel, or on the back.
• Check the paperwork. The manual, the installation sheet taped inside the door, and the yellow EnergyGuide card all list the model.
• Search your email. The retailer's receipt or delivery confirmation names the exact model. So does an installer's invoice.
• Call the brand with the serial. If the serial is readable but the model is not, the manufacturer can usually match one to the other.

If you bought the house with the dishwasher already in it, none of that paperwork exists. That is the moment a photo of the label pays for itself.

every appliance in one list, with the model number on each row.

What you'll use it for

The National Association of Home Builders puts a dishwasher's typical life at about 9 years, the shortest of the big kitchen appliances. You will need the number more than once in that stretch.

Parts. Rack wheels, spray arms, filters, and door gaskets are matched by model. A gasket for one revision can be a quarter inch off on the next.

Repairs. Angi lists the typical dishwasher repair at $160 to $300. The tech quotes the part by model number, so having it ready saves a callback. Our appliance lifespan guide covers when a repair stops being worth it.

Recalls and warranty. Recall notices list model and serial ranges. You can check yours free with our recall check tool. For coverage, the serial plus your purchase date answers whether the dishwasher is still under warranty.

Save it before the next breakdown

I add every appliance to kept the day it arrives now. One photo of the label, and the model, serial, and purchase date sit on a card I can pull up from the parts aisle.

an item card in kept. model, purchase date, and warranty end on one screen.

The fridge next to it hides its label somewhere else entirely. Here is where to find the model number on a refrigerator, and the full appliance model number finder for everything else.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the model number on a dishwasher?

Open the door all the way. The model number is on a label along the inside edge of the door or on the tub rim the door closes against. Check the top edge of the door first, then the left and right sides, then under the control panel on models with buttons on top of the door. If none of those have it, remove the kick plate at the bottom front.

Where is the model number on a KitchenAid dishwasher?

KitchenAid puts the model and serial label on the left edge of the dishwasher door, visible when the door is open. KitchenAid dishwasher model numbers usually start with KDTE, KDFE, KDPE, or KDTM.

Where is the model number on a Whirlpool dishwasher?

Whirlpool lists two spots: the upper left corner of the tub frame, or the underside of the control panel on models with top controls. On double drawer models the label is on the right side of the top drawer. Whirlpool dishwasher model numbers often start with WDT or WDF.

How do I find my dishwasher model number if the sticker is gone?

Look for a second label on the side of the tub behind the lower front panel, or on the back. Then check the manual, the installation sheet, and the EnergyGuide card. Your retailer receipt or delivery email names the exact model too. If only the serial number is readable, the manufacturer can usually look up the model from it.

Can I find my dishwasher model number by serial number?

Usually, yes. The serial number is unique to your unit, and the manufacturer's support team can match it to the model. Call or chat with the brand's support line and have the serial ready. Parts sites cannot do this lookup, so you need the model number itself before you order.