New Balance model finder

New Balance identifier: find the model number from a photo

Sneaker AI works as a New Balance identifier on iPhone. Take a photo of any New Balance and it returns the model number, colorway and style code, whether it is a 550, a 2002R or a 990v6, plus a reference resale price.

Holding the shoe? The style code on the tongue label tells you the exact release. Then run a legit check before you pay.

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Photographing a sneaker with an iPhone at a sneaker show to identify it in Sneaker AI

3 steps

How to identify a New Balance shoe

From a photo to the model number and exact colorway.

01
Photograph the side
Get the “N” logo and the full midsole in frame. The midsole shape separates most New Balance models.
02
Get the model number
Sneaker AI returns the model, the colorway and the style code, plus what the pair sells for.
03
Confirm and legit check
Match the code on the tongue label, then send the pair for a legit check if you are buying.

Model numbers

How New Balance names its shoes

New Balance names most shoes with a model number instead of a name: 550, 574, 990, 2002R, 9060, 530, 1906R. The number is the shoe’s identity. It does not reliably tell you the price, the year or how new the design is.

Versions: some running lines are updated in versions, written with a “v.” The 990v6 is the sixth version of the 990, and each version has its own shape and overlays.
The “R” suffix: models like the 2002R and 1906R are reissues of older running shoes, brought back as lifestyle sneakers.
Same number, different build: some models come in a premium Made in USA or Made in UK version and a standard version. The label tells you which one you have.

Style code

How to read a New Balance style code

The style code is printed on the size tag inside the tongue and on the box label. It packs the category, the model number and the colorway into one string. Take BB550WT1, a white and green 550:

Part	Example	What it usually means
Prefix	BB	Category or gender: BB for basketball, M for men’s, W for women’s, U for unisex. Kids’ sizes use their own prefixes.
Model number	550	The model
Suffix	WT1	The colorway and, on some lines, the version

On versioned lines, the last digit is usually the version: M990GL6 is a grey 990v6. Width, such as D for standard men’s or 2E for wide, is usually printed next to the size.

New Balance is not perfectly consistent. Prefixes have changed over the years, and the same colorway can carry a different code in men’s, women’s or unisex sizing. So search the full code on Google, newbalance.com or a resale marketplace and check that the photos match your pair. A correct code proves the model, not that the pair is real: counterfeiters copy codes too.

Made in USA / UK

Made in USA and Made in UK New Balance

New Balance still makes some shoes in its own factories in the US and the UK. These pairs use premium materials, cost more, and are labeled clearly:

Made in USA: the tongue label usually reads “Made in USA,” and the insole and box often repeat it. The 990 series is the best-known line; the 992, 993 and 998 are others.
Made in UK: the label usually reads “Made in UK” (older pairs often say “Made in England”). The 991, 1500, 576 and 920 are common UK models.
Everything else: standard pairs are made in Asia, and the size tag shows the country. That is normal, not a sign of a fake.

Check the label against the model. A “Made in USA” label on a model that is never made there is a red flag.

Popular models

Popular New Balance models and how to spot them

Most New Balance shoes share the big “N” on the side, so the midsole and upper do the identifying:

Model	Type	How to recognize it
550	Retro basketball	Leather low-top, perforated toe box, large “N,” thick flat cupsole
530	Retro runner	Mesh with synthetic overlays, often with silver or metallic accents; chunky, layered midsole
574	Classic runner	Suede and mesh upper, rounded shape, ENCAP midsole
990	Premium runner	Suede and mesh, often grey; Made in USA label; each version (v1 to v6) has its own shape
2002R	Retro tech runner	Layered mesh and suede upper; chunky midsole with ABZORB and N-ergy cushioning
1906R	Retro tech runner	Mesh with metallic overlays; technical runner look with ABZORB and N-ergy cushioning
9060	Modern lifestyle	Sculpted, wavy midsole with pod-like heel cushioning; mixed mesh and suede upper
327	Retro-inspired runner	Oversized “N” that runs off the side; studded outsole that wraps up the toe and heel

Choosing between them for everyday wear? Our guide to the best New Balance sneakers for women covers colorways and styling for the 9060, 1906R, 530, 2002R and 550.

Fake vs. real

How to tell if New Balance are fake

New Balance fakes have followed the brand’s popularity, especially the 550, 9060, 2002R and collaboration pairs. These checks catch most of them:

Style code: the code on the tongue label returns your exact model and colorway and matches the box label.
“N” logo: dense, even stitching with clean edges and no gaps.
Midsole: crisp, deep lettering and foam that feels like a retail pair, not hard plastic.
Materials: suede with a soft nap that changes shade when you brush it, and no harsh chemical smell.
Labels: “Made in USA” or “Made in UK” only on lines made there.

Checking a 550? Read how to tell if New Balance 550s are fake for the model-specific tells. For the general process, see the complete sneaker authentication guide. Or let Sneaker AI do it: the AI scan flags common replica tells, and the expert legit check adds two human authenticators and a certificate if the pair passes.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the model number of my New Balance shoes?

Look at the size tag on the inside of the tongue. The style code printed there contains the model number, such as 550 in BB550WT1. The box label shows the same code. If the tag has worn off, scan a side photo in Sneaker AI and it returns the model, colorway and style code.

What does the code on a New Balance tag mean?

It is the style code. It usually starts with letters for the category or gender (for example BB for basketball, M for men's, W for women's, U for unisex), then the model number, then letters and digits for the colorway and, on some lines, the version. Conventions vary between lines, so search the full code to confirm the exact release.

What does v6 mean on a New Balance 990?

It means the sixth version of the 990. New Balance updates some running lines in versions, and each version has its own shape and overlays. The version usually shows up as the last digit of the style code, as in M990GL6.

How can I tell if my New Balance are fake?

Check that the style code on the tongue label returns your exact model and colorway and matches the box label, that the "N" logo has dense, even stitching, that midsole lettering is crisp, and that the shape matches retail photos of the same release. A "Made in USA" or "Made in UK" label on a model that is not made there is a strong red flag.

How do I know if my New Balance are Made in USA?

Made in USA pairs say so clearly, usually on the tongue label and often on the insole and box too. The 990 series is the best-known Made in USA line. Standard pairs made in Asia show their country of manufacture on the size tag.

How do I tell a New Balance 550 fake vs. real?

Compare the pair with retail photos of the same colorway. Check the shape of the toe and heel, the perforations on the toe box, the stitching on the "N" and around the heel tab, and whether the style code on the tag matches the box label and returns your colorway.

Keep going

Related tools and guides

Brand guide

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Find the number. Check the pair.

Download Sneaker AI to identify any New Balance by photo, decode its style code, and find out if it’s real.