A Guide to Louis Vuitton Date Codes

The Louis Vuitton date code is a key to unlocking an LV bag’s history. Too often mistaken for a serial number or authenticity marker, the alpha-numeric date code on a Louis Vuitton bag simply indicates when and where the item was made. But information like this helps you enjoy your LV bag all the more.

At Madison Avenue Couture, we have authenticated thousands of gorgeous LV bags, from new Speedys to vintage Neverfull totes, and, of course, the lovely Murakami line. While the Louis Vuitton date codes are just a tiny facet of the process, we recognize that understanding them can only deepen your appreciation of your bag. Whether you’re considering a vintage piece, verifying details before resale, or simply admiring the one you own, these codes offer insight into your bag and the hands that made it.

Let's explore Louis Vuitton date codes — how to find them, and how to decode them by year. We'll also see what changed when the brand switched to microchips in 2021.

What Is a Louis Vuitton Date Code?

A Louis Vuitton date code is a letter-and-number combination stamped or printed on most Louis Vuitton bags made from the early 1980s through early 2021. It indicates the location and date of the bag's manufacture. It is not a serial number and not proof of authenticity.

Many people assume that the Louis Vuitton code date confirms a bag is genuine. In reality, counterfeiters often copy real codes, and some authentic bags may have worn or missing codes. That’s why professional authentication always looks at every facet of the bag's quality,  including materials, stitching, and hardware,  rather than relying on the date code alone. Learn how you can spot a fake Louis Vuitton bag in our guide.

Even so, the date codes of Louis Vuitton play an important role in the resale market, especially for vintage LV handbags. Knowing how to read them can help verify production details, assess condition relative to age, and understand the bag’s place in Louis Vuitton’s history.

Where to Find the Date Code on a Louis Vuitton Bag

Louis Vuitton date codes are typically stamped directly into the bag’s lining or onto a sewn-in leather tab. The exact location varies depending on the bag style, interior material, and year of production, which can make them tricky to locate.

Here’s where to find the code on some of the most popular Louis Vuitton styles:

• Speedy and Keepall: Check the leather tab inside the interior pocket or along a seam near the top edge.
• Neverfull: Often stamped on a leather tab inside the interior zip pocket.
• Alma: Usually found on a small leather tab inside the bag, stitched along the interior seam.
• Small Leather Goods (SLGs): Look inside compartments, behind card slots, or along pocket seams, depending on the piece.

Louis Vuitton date code placement and formatting can vary by production year, even within the same style, so authenticators evaluate the code in context rather than in isolation.

The bag’s lining material, too, affects both the LV date code's location and durability. Louis Vuitton uses a heat stamp to imprint the code into the interior, embossing the fabric. On canvas linings, the code is typically stamped directly into the fabric, often beneath a pocket or along a seam. On Alcantara (a suede-like microfiber), the code may be tucked into a corner or deep pocket and can be much harder to spot. Over time, Alcantara’s soft texture can cause the stamp to fade significantly — even disappearing entirely on some authentic vintage bags. On leather-lined bags, the code is usually embossed into a leather tab sewn into a seam or pocket lining.

Because placement has changed over time — and can even vary between sizes of the same style — finding the date code for Louis Vuitton can take a bit of searching. But once located, it gives you a starting point to decode when and where your bag was made.

How to Read a Louis Vuitton Date Code

The date code on a Louis Vuitton bag tells you when it was made, and — in most eras — where. The exact format depends on the production period:

• Early 1980s: Three or four numbers only. The codes were less standardized and may not always follow a perfectly consistent format, though they generally indicate month and year. Example: 836 = June 1983.
• Mid to Late 1980s: Numbers followed by two letters. The letters identify the factory location; the numbers still show the year and month. Example: 842TH = February 1984, France.
• 1990–2006: Two letters followed by four digits. The first and third digits represent the month, while the second and fourth digits represent the year. Example: SP0995 = September 1995, France.
• 2007–Early 2021: Same letter‑plus‑four‑digit format, but the numbers now represent week and year. The first and third digits combine to indicate the production week, while the second and fourth digits indicate the year. Example: SD1132 = 13th week of 2012, France or U.S.

Louis Vuitton Date Code Chart and Factory Codes

LV date codes appear cryptic at first, but once you understand the pattern, they can tell you a lot about a bag’s origin. Use our simplified Louis Vuitton date code chart to help decode your bag:

Note: Louis Vuitton began introducing microchips around 2019, with a full transition largely completed by 2021, gradually replacing traditional date codes. These chips help prevent counterfeits and streamline repairs — but they can’t be scanned at home and don’t contain personal tracking data.

Common Factory Codes by Country

Some factory codes (like SD) were used across multiple countries depending on the production period.

Note: A valid Louis Vuitton date code must also align with the bag’s style, materials, and construction details for that production period. Mismatches are often a red flag during authentication.

Even a clearly stamped, correctly formatted date code in the proper location can still indicate that a bag is counterfeit. For example, a code indicating a 2015 production date on a style discontinued years earlier is inconsistent with authentic production.

Inconsistencies in the date codes like these signal to authenticators that a bag requires closer inspection.

Key Louis Vuitton Date Code Inconsistencies to Watch For

Louis Vuitton date codes are one part of a broader authentication process. When evaluating a bag, experts look for inconsistencies such as:

• A format that doesn’t match the bag’s production era
• Letters and numbers arranged in a way that doesn’t follow the conventions of that time
• A stamp that looks noticeably different from authentic examples from the same period
• A decoded production date that doesn’t align with when the style was made
• A code placed in a location inconsistent with the model and production period

What Louis Vuitton Date Codes Can — and Can’t — Tell You

Some Louis Vuitton date code myths persist:

• That all fakes have the wrong code
• A bag missing a code is fake, or
• That a date code automatically proves authenticity

In truth, many counterfeiters mimic LV date code formats convincingly, and some authentic bags, both vintage and new, may not have a visible code at all.

Still, a Louis Vuitton date code check can help you date a bag, check its origin, or support resale and repair, making you a more confident collector, whether your bag has one or not.

Here at Madison Avenue Couture, we’ve decoded thousands of Louis Vuitton bags over the years. We can confidently say: the more you know, the more you’ll love your bag.