How Old Is My Toro Lawn Mower(5 Quick Ways)

Knowing the age of your Toro lawn mower is essential for proper maintenance, ordering the right replacement parts, estimating resale value, and understanding its expected lifespan.

This guide walks you step-by-step through how to determine the age of your Toro lawn mower, where to locate the model and serial numbers, how to decode them, and why knowing the age matters.

How Old Is My Toro Lawn Mower

You can find out how old your Toro lawn mower is by locating its model and serial number, usually found on the mower deck, frame, or under the seat, and entering it into Toro’s official Parts & Manuals lookup tool, which shows the exact manufacturing year.

Toro serial numbers often contain year-identifying digits, and if the serial tag is missing, you can estimate age using the engine’s date code from Briggs & Stratton, Honda, or Kohler, where the code typically indicates the year, month, and day of engine production.

Matching your model to Toro’s historical product lists or comparing design features can also help determine the mower’s age.

Why You Should Know the Age of Your Toro Mower

A mower’s age affects:

Maintenance schedule (oil changes, air filters, belts, spark plugs).
Availability of parts – older models may have discontinued parts.
Resale value – newer models fetch higher prices.
Troubleshooting accuracy – repair instructions differ by year.
Warranty validity – Toro warranties usually range from 2 to 5 years.

If you’re buying a used Toro mower, age also helps you avoid overpriced or poorly maintained machines.

Step 1: Locate the Model and Serial Number

The most reliable way to determine the age of your Toro mower is through its model and serial number, often found on a metal or sticker tag. Depending on the mower type, the tag may be located in different places:

For Walk-Behind Toro Mowers

Check these areas:

Rear of the mower deck (near the left or right wheel)
On the frame near the engine
Under the bagging system
On the side of the mower housing

For Toro Riding Mowers & Zero-Turn Models

Look here:

Under the seat
On the mower frame close to the engine
On the mower’s rear hitch area
Near the steering column (older models)

For Snowblowers & Other Toro Equipment

The tag is usually:

On the rear housing
Near the handles
On the engine mount area

Write down the model and serial number exactly as they appear.

Step 2: Decode the Toro Serial Number

Toro serial numbers contain digits that reveal the year your mower was manufactured. Toro uses different formats depending on the age of the machine.

Modern Toro Serial Number Format (2000s–Present)

Most Toro serial numbers start with a 5- or 6-digit prefix.

The first two digits generally represent the year, and the next numbers identify the manufacturing plant and production order.

Example:

Serial Number: 402345678

“40” may indicate 2014 (last digit 4 is the year, digit 0 may indicate decade cycle)

However, Toro has changed formats over the years. The best practice is to use Toro’s official lookup tool.

Step 3: Use the Toro Serial Number Lookup Tool

Toro provides an easy online lookup system:

Go to Toro’s official website
Open the Parts & Manuals or Support page
Enter your model and serial number
The system will bring up:
- Year of manufacture
- Parts catalog
- Manuals
- Product specifications

This is the most accurate way to determine the mower’s age.

Step 4: Check the Engine Manufacturing Date

If the mower serial tag is missing or unreadable, you can still estimate the age using the engine code.

Most Toro mowers use engines from:

Briggs & Stratton
Kohler
Honda

Briggs & Stratton Engine Date Code

Briggs engines have a date-coded number, typically:

First two digits = year
Next two digits = month
Next two digits = day

Example:

Code: 150423 = April 23, 2015

Honda Engine Date

Honda uses a code stamped near the engine block. You can cross-check it on Honda’s support site.

Kohler Engine Date

Kohler uses a serial number format with an embedded year and manufacturing sequence.

The mower itself is usually assembled the same year or a year after the engine.

Step 5: Check Old Toro Catalogues or Charts

For mowers from the 1980s, 1990s, or early 2000s, you can match your model number to Toro’s historic product lists.

These lists show:

Year of production
Discontinued models
Serial number ranges

This method is especially useful for older Toro Recycler and Super Recycler models.

Step 6: Identify Age by Visible Features (Less Accurate)

If all labels are missing, use visual clues:

Older Toro Mowers Often Have:

More metal parts and fewer plastics
Square or box-shaped deck designs
Metal gas tanks (very old models)
Manual choke levers on handlebars

Newer Toro Mowers Have:

Sleeker, curved deck design
Automatic choke systems
Plastic fuel tanks
SmartStow folding frames

Though not exact, this can help you estimate a general age range.

Why the Age of Your Toro Mower Matters

Knowing your mower’s age helps you:

Order the correct drive belts, blades, filters, and carburetor parts
Determine if repairs are worth the cost
Confirm whether the mower is still under warranty
Buy or sell used equipment at a fair value

Toro mowers often last 10–20 years with proper maintenance, so age directly affects longevity.

How to Extend the Life of an Older Toro Mower

Change engine oil at least once per season
Replace the air filter yearly
Use fresh, ethanol-free fuel when possible
Sharpen or replace blades regularly
Clean the deck to prevent rust
Store the mower indoors

With these steps, a Toro mower can run smoothly far beyond its expected lifespan.

Final words

To find out how old your Toro lawn mower is, check the model and serial number, decode it using Toro’s support tools, or use the engine date code if the main tag is unreadable. You can also rely on older catalogs or visual features to estimate age. Once you know the manufacturing year, maintaining the mower becomes much easier and more accurate.