diff --git a/include/openthread/instance.h b/include/openthread/instance.h
index 6b7fe1b21..49fd72732 100644
--- a/include/openthread/instance.h
+++ b/include/openthread/instance.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ extern "C" {
  * @note This number versions both OpenThread platform and user APIs.
  *
  */
-#define OPENTHREAD_API_VERSION (324)
+#define OPENTHREAD_API_VERSION (325)
 
 /**
  * @addtogroup api-instance
@@ -102,6 +102,17 @@ otInstance *otInstanceInit(void *aInstanceBuffer, size_t *aInstanceBufferSize);
  */
 otInstance *otInstanceInitSingle(void);
 
+/**
+ * Gets the instance identifier.
+ *
+ * The instance identifier is set to a random value when the instance is constructed, and then its value will not
+ * change after initialization.
+ *
+ * @returns The instance identifier.
+ *
+ */
+uint32_t otInstanceGetId(otInstance *aInstance);
+
 /**
  * This function indicates whether or not the instance is valid/initialized.
  *
diff --git a/src/cli/README.md b/src/cli/README.md
index 782cc47f9..fbaee2053 100644
--- a/src/cli/README.md
+++ b/src/cli/README.md
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ Done
 - [fem](#fem)
 - [history](README_HISTORY.md)
 - [ifconfig](#ifconfig)
+- [instanceid](#instanceid)
 - [ipaddr](#ipaddr)
 - [ipmaddr](#ipmaddr)
 - [joiner](README_JOINER.md)
@@ -1491,6 +1492,16 @@ Bring down the IPv6 interface.
 Done
 ```
 
+### instanceid
+
+Show OpenThread instance identifier.
+
+```bash
+> instanceid
+468697314
+Done
+```
+
 ### ipaddr
 
 List all IPv6 addresses assigned to the Thread interface.
diff --git a/src/cli/cli.cpp b/src/cli/cli.cpp
index 105f4a31f..a3a3b05c5 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli.cpp
+++ b/src/cli/cli.cpp
@@ -4002,6 +4002,29 @@ exit:
     return error;
 }
 
+template <> otError Interpreter::Process<Cmd("instanceid")>(Arg aArgs[])
+{
+    otError error = OT_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS;
+
+    /**
+     * @cli instanceid
+     * @code
+     * instanceid
+     * 468697314
+     * Done
+     * @endcode
+     * @par api_copy
+     * #otInstanceGetId
+     */
+    if (aArgs[0].IsEmpty())
+    {
+        OutputLine("%lu", ToUlong(otInstanceGetId(GetInstancePtr())));
+        error = OT_ERROR_NONE;
+    }
+
+    return error;
+}
+
 const char *Interpreter::AddressOriginToString(uint8_t aOrigin)
 {
     static const char *const kOriginStrings[4] = {
@@ -8605,6 +8628,7 @@ otError Interpreter::ProcessCommand(Arg aArgs[])
         CmdEntry("history"),
 #endif
         CmdEntry("ifconfig"),
+        CmdEntry("instanceid"),
         CmdEntry("ipaddr"),
         CmdEntry("ipmaddr"),
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_JOINER_ENABLE
diff --git a/src/core/api/instance_api.cpp b/src/core/api/instance_api.cpp
index 06db73ce3..ad2a89e16 100644
--- a/src/core/api/instance_api.cpp
+++ b/src/core/api/instance_api.cpp
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ otInstance *otInstanceInit(void *aInstanceBuffer, size_t *aInstanceBufferSize)
 otInstance *otInstanceInitSingle(void) { return &Instance::InitSingle(); }
 #endif // #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MULTIPLE_INSTANCE_ENABLE
 
+uint32_t otInstanceGetId(otInstance *aInstance) { return AsCoreType(aInstance).GetId(); }
+
 bool otInstanceIsInitialized(otInstance *aInstance)
 {
 #if OPENTHREAD_MTD || OPENTHREAD_FTD
diff --git a/src/core/common/instance.cpp b/src/core/common/instance.cpp
index d0aebecd3..10d545d66 100644
--- a/src/core/common/instance.cpp
+++ b/src/core/common/instance.cpp
@@ -245,6 +245,7 @@ Instance::Instance(void)
     , mPowerCalibration(*this)
 #endif
     , mIsInitialized(false)
+    , mId(Random::NonCrypto::GetUint32())
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/common/instance.hpp b/src/core/common/instance.hpp
index 8ce6eba09..3a5f4fa73 100644
--- a/src/core/common/instance.hpp
+++ b/src/core/common/instance.hpp
@@ -207,6 +207,17 @@ public:
     static Instance &Get(void);
 #endif
 
+    /**
+     * Gets the instance identifier.
+     *
+     * The instance identifier is set to a random value when the instance is constructed, and then its value will not
+     * change after initialization.
+     *
+     * @returns The instance identifier.
+     *
+     */
+    uint32_t GetId(void) const { return mId; }
+
     /**
      * This method indicates whether or not the instance is valid/initialized and not yet finalized.
      *
@@ -645,6 +656,8 @@ private:
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_REFERENCE_DEVICE_ENABLE && (OPENTHREAD_FTD || OPENTHREAD_MTD)
     static bool sDnsNameCompressionEnabled;
 #endif
+
+    uint32_t mId;
 };
 
 DefineCoreType(otInstance, Instance);
diff --git a/tests/scripts/expect/cli-misc.exp b/tests/scripts/expect/cli-misc.exp
index 8b8b4d5ee..522a0faac 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/expect/cli-misc.exp
+++ b/tests/scripts/expect/cli-misc.exp
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ send "ifconfig\n"
 expect "up"
 expect_line "Done"
 
+send "instanceid\n"
+expect -re {\d+}
+expect_line "Done"
+
 send "ipaddr add ::\n"
 expect_line "Done"
 send "ipaddr del ::\n"