Where is the serial number on a Mercury outboard?
For most Mercury outboard engines 8hp and higher, the serial number is located halfway down the transom bracket on the right (starboard) side, just below the powerhead. On 6hp and smaller engines, it's found on top of the swivel bracket.
Many boaters take a quick photo of their serial number with their phone—this simple habit can save hours of troubleshooting when ordering parts.
We highly recommend you take a picture of your ESN tag and keep the photo on your mobile phone in case the tag becomes unreadable or if you need this information when you’re not near your boat.
**Are you looking for Mercury Outboard parts and products for your specific engine? Check out PartsVu's Mercury Maintenance Parts Library. Common maintenance parts and products are presented by engine model allowing you to easily find the parts you need.**
What About a Mercruiser Serial Number?
On a Mercruiser sterndrive or inboard engine, typically, the tag is on the block near the starter. But, sometimes, it's down by the starter on the engine block, near the flywheel, or on the flame arrestor.
All too often, the ESN tag on a Mercruiser is not the easiest to find, so definitely take a picture and save it on your cell phone.
**Are you looking for Mercruiser parts and products for your specific engine? Check out PartsVu's Mercruiser category page. We've worked to make it as easy as possible to find the parts and products you need.**
Why Do You Need to Know Your Mercury Serial Number?
Simply put, your Mercury serial number will allow you to identify and order the right parts for your engine model and year.
Mercury manufactures many, many different models and often variations of each model. While one thermostat might be the proper selection for some variations of a given engine model, there’s no guarantee that it will be compatible will all variations of that engine—knowing your Mercury serial number is the key.
As if matters weren’t confusing enough, sometimes Mercury will change an engine model design midway thru a given engine model year.
Therefore, Mercury Marine parts are often segmented by serial number ranges. Knowing your serial number will allow you to make sure that you are ordering the right parts, whether you are utilizing a Mercury engine schematic/Mercury outboard parts diagrams, the Mercury parts library, the complete list of Mercruiser parts library, or other resources.
How do I find out what year my Mercury outboard is by serial number?
To determine the year of your Mercury outboard, use the serial number on the engine and reference a Mercury Marine serial number-to-year chart. You can also enter the serial number into the Mercury Marine or PartsVu lookup tool to identify the exact year and model.
What is the serial number location on a Mercury 9.9 outboard?
The serial number for a 9.9hp Mercury engines is usually located on the top of the swivel bracket, which may require tilting the motor to see clearly.
Where is the serial number on a Mercruiser engine?
It’s typically found near the starter or flywheel, or on the flame arrestor. Always take a photo of it for safekeeping.
How can I identify my Mercury outboard by serial number?
Use the serial number lookup on the PartsVu Mercury Maintenance Library or the Mercury Marine parts catalog to determine the engine model and year.
What year is my Mercury outboard motor?
Once you locate the serial number, compare it against Mercury’s official serial number/year chart, or enter it online in a lookup tool.
Need parts for your Mercury engine? Shop all Mercury outboards at PartsVu.
403 comments
Hi
Got a 7,5 hp Mercury kiekhaefer lightning, serial number 2532085.
All kind of info appreciated, but the year of production is most important to me.
And what is the estimated value? This one is in very good condition and well taken care of.
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PartsVu replied:
Hi Kim,
Thank you for reaching out! I looked into the serial number you provided (2532085), but unfortunately, it didn’t return any results in the Mercury database. I recommend double-checking the number—you can usually find it stamped on the mounting bracket of the engine and also inside the top cowling. Once we have a verified serial number, I’ll be happy to help identify the year of production and provide any additional information, including an estimated value based on condition. Looking forward to hearing back from you!
Best regards, Markine
Hello, good afternoon.
Could you tell me if there’s an easy way to find out the age of Mercury outboard motors? Previously, the CE label was used to tell the year, but they’ve stopped adding it. Is there any detail that indicates the year on new motors?
———
PartsVu replied:
Hello Jose, good afternoon!
Thank you for reaching out. The most reliable way to determine the age of a Mercury outboard motor is by using the serial number. You can typically find the serial number on the mounting bracket of the engine and also inside the top cowling. Once you have the serial number, we can assist you in identifying the year of manufacture. Feel free to share it with us if you’d like help with that. If you have any other questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Best regards, Markine
I have a very old 85 HP Merc outboard, would like to verify year. serial # is 7033428
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PartsVu replied:
Hi Brent,
Thanks for reaching out! The serial number 7033428 did not yield any results in our database. To help confirm the correct year of your 85 HP Mercury outboard, please double-check the serial number plate. You can typically find it on the mounting bracket of the engine and also inside the top cowling. If you’re still unsure after checking those areas, feel free to reach back out with any additional details or questions — we’re happy to help!
Best regards, Markine
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Hi Guys…can someone help with the years model of my Mariner outboard 90 HP engine please?
Serial number is: 0B262109
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PartsVu replied:
Hi Adrian,
Thanks for reaching out! Based on the serial number 0B262109, your Mariner 90HP outboard is a 1987 model. If you have any additional questions or need help with parts or maintenance information, please feel free to reach out — we’re happy to assist!
Best regards, Markine
Hello, im inquiring about a 20hp motor i recently got. That paperwork i received with said motor is claiming that it is a 2025 model but I cant confirm anything since this is my first motor for a boat .
Serial number is 1R212807.
Thankyou
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PartsVu replied:
Hi Cody,
Thanks for reaching out! Based on the serial number 1R212807, your Mercury 20HP outboard is a 2022 model. If the paperwork says 2025, that appears to be incorrect. If you have any additional questions or need help with parts or maintenance, please feel free to reach out — we’re happy to assist! Best regards,
Markine