How to Find Model Numbers on Nike Shoes

Co-authored by Victor Adrian

Last Updated: September 27, 2023 Fact Checked

Shoemakers at Nike create vibrant sneakers, whose limited production runs can turn them into valuable collector's items, with one pair of Nike "Mags" fetching $52,000 at auction in 2017.^{[1]
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Research source} If you want to check and see whether your Nikes will fetch top dollar online, or simply wish to replace a worn out pair, you can usually find the model number on the inside tag. Otherwise, you may be able to learn your model number online.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Finding the Model Number at Home

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1
Locate the tag inside your shoe. All authentic Nike shoes have a tag sewn into them with their size, barcode and model number on it. You will recognize it most easily by the barcode. Look for it inside:^{[2]
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- The tongue
- The heel
- The arch
The model number of your shoes is typically located under the size and above the barcode on the tag. It will be a six digit number followed by a three digit number (Example: AQ3366--601).

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If you still have the box that your Nike shoes came in, the model number will be printed on them. Look for it on the sticker that also displays the barcode and size.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Finding the Model Number In a Sneakers Database

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Because some Nikes become collectibles, there are several online databases in which you can search for your specific shoe. These databases should list the model number, alongside shoe’s “name” and picture.
Nike has, to date, 25 different lines of shoes (Including “Air Force One” and “Nike Running”). Usually this “line” will be prominently displayed on the outside of the shoe, and sometimes includes the name of a famous athlete (i.e. “Nike LeBron").^{[4]
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Typing your shoes' line into a collectors database should yield photos of every shoe from that line, labelled with the shoes' "names" and model numbers. Browse these photos to see if you find a match.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Finding Your Model Number on an Online Retailer

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Search for shoes like yours at a "secondary market" online retailer. A "secondary market" in this case is a site like eBay, where people can sell things second hand. If anyone is selling shoes like yours online, they should turn up with the model number listed beside an easily identifiable photo, when you search for:^{[5]
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- Their "name" - Nike shoes have unofficial names, such as “Sweet Leather Classic” and “Dunk”.
- The year you bought them in.
- Their colour.
Most retail sites give you the option of contacting sellers with questions about their products. If you find a shoe whose picture matches yours, without its model number listed, you may directly message the seller with an inquiry, and they will likely be able to tell you.
When you believe you’ve found your model number, type it into an online search engine. If you have correctly identified your model number, the results should show other shoes like it, confirming you have found the correct number.

Community Q&A

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Question

What do the dates on the tag inside the shoe mean? Launch and made in?

Community Answer

On Nike tags it is the production date, usually a few months before the shoe was released for sale.

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Tips

If you can’t properly read the details on the shoe label, try taking a couple of pictures of the shoes and sharing them on footwear online communities to get the help of aficionados to identify your shoes.

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