NAICS Code Lookup: Find the Right Code for Any Business

What a NAICS code is

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS, said "nakes") is the standard federal agencies use to classify businesses by what they do. The United States, Canada and Mexico developed it together, and it replaced the old SIC system starting in 1997. The U.S. version is published by the Office of Management and Budget and maintained with the Census Bureau, which hosts the official search.

The current version is NAICS 2022. The list is revised every five years; OMB has published proposed updates for a 2027 revision, so expect some codes to change then. The 2022 revision mostly affected retail: for example, pharmacies moved from 446110 to 456110 and optical goods stores from 446130 to 456130. If a form or older guide shows a 446 code, it is out of date.

How the 2- to 6-digit structure works

Each extra digit narrows the industry. Here is plumbing as an example:

Digits	Level	Example
23	Sector	Construction
238	Subsector	Specialty Trade Contractors
2382	Industry group	Building Equipment Contractors
23822	NAICS industry (same in U.S., Canada, Mexico)	Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors
238220	National industry (U.S.)	Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors

Almost every form that asks for a NAICS code wants all six digits.

How to find your NAICS code

• Search the official tool. Go to census.gov/naics, choose 2022 NAICS, and type a plain keyword such as "locksmith" or "self-storage." The search covers the official index of more than 20,000 activity descriptions, so specific terms work better than broad ones.
• Read the definition. Click the code and read what it includes and excludes. Cross-references tell you when a similar activity belongs elsewhere.
• Choose by primary activity. If you do several things, pick the code for the activity that brings in the most revenue. You can list secondary codes on SAM.gov and many other forms.
• Stay consistent. Use the same primary code on your tax return, SAM.gov registration and loan applications unless you have a reason not to.

NAICS code lookup by company name

There is no government database that lists the "official" NAICS code for every company, because codes are self-selected. The Census Bureau assigns codes for its own statistics, but that data is confidential. These public sources do show codes chosen by specific companies:

• SAM.gov entity search: federal contractors and grant recipients list a primary NAICS code and any others. Some entities opt out of public display.
• SBA Small Business Search: shows NAICS codes for small businesses with SBA profiles, searchable by name or code.
• SEC EDGAR: public companies are tagged with an SIC code (not NAICS) on their company page.
• Ask the company. If you need it for a bid or subcontract, the company can tell you which code it registered.

Paid data vendors also sell NAICS codes for millions of companies, but those are the vendor's own estimates, not codes the business chose or a government assigned.

NAICS vs. SIC codes

SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) codes are four digits and were last revised in 1987. NAICS replaced SIC for federal statistics, but SIC lives on in a few places, most visibly the SEC's EDGAR system. If a form asks for an SIC code, it wants the four-digit code, not your NAICS code. The two do not map one-to-one, because NAICS split many old SIC industries (especially services and technology) into finer categories.

Where your NAICS code actually matters

• SBA size standards. Whether you count as "small" for SBA loans and federal set-asides depends on your NAICS code. Each code has its own revenue or employee limit in the SBA size standards table.
• Federal contracting. SAM.gov registration asks for your codes, and every federal solicitation names one NAICS code. A wrong or missing code can mean you never see relevant bids.
• Tax returns. The principal business codes on Schedule C and business returns are based on NAICS.
• Permits and licensing. Some state and local business license and zoning forms ask for it.
• Insurance and lending. Underwriters and lenders often ask for it to gauge risk. Workers' compensation uses separate class codes, so do not assume your NAICS code sets that rate.
• Surveys. Census Bureau surveys, including the Economic Census, use it to classify your responses.

NAICS 2022 codes for common local business types

Each code below was checked against the official 2022 NAICS structure file published by the Census Bureau. Where a category spans two codes, both are listed; choose the one that matches your main revenue source.

Business type	NAICS 2022	Official title
Plumbers	238220	Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors
HVAC	238220	Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors
Electricians	238210	Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors
Roofers	238160	Roofing Contractors
Landscaping	561730	Landscaping Services
Painters	238320	Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
General contractors	236118 / 236220	Residential Remodelers / Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Cleaning services	561720	Janitorial Services (includes maid services); carpet cleaning is 561740
Pest control	561710	Exterminating and Pest Control Services
Movers	484210	Used Household and Office Goods Moving
Locksmiths	561622	Locksmiths
Dentists	621210	Offices of Dentists
Doctors	621111	Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)
Chiropractors	621310	Offices of Chiropractors
Physical therapy	621340	Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists
Counseling	621330	Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians)
Eye care	621320 / 456130	Offices of Optometrists / Optical Goods Retailers
Pharmacies	456110	Pharmacies and Drug Retailers
Lawyers	541110	Offices of Lawyers
Accountants	541211 / 541213	Offices of Certified Public Accountants / Tax Preparation Services
Insurance agents	524210	Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
Real estate agents	531210	Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers
Property management	531311 / 531312	Residential / Nonresidential Property Managers
Self storage	531130	Lessors of Miniwarehouses and Self-Storage Units
Restaurants	722511 / 722513	Full-Service Restaurants / Limited-Service Restaurants
Hair salons	812112	Beauty Salons (barber shops are 812111)
Auto repair	811111	General Automotive Repair
Car dealers	441110 / 441120	New Car Dealers / Used Car Dealers
Marketing agencies	541613	Marketing Consulting Services
Advertising agencies	541810	Advertising Agencies
Web design	541511	Custom Computer Programming Services (index: "Web page design services, custom"); pure graphic design is 541430
IT services	541512 / 811210	Computer Systems Design Services / Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (computer repair)
Staffing agencies	561320 / 561311	Temporary Help Services / Employment Placement Agencies

Codes are for the business's primary activity. A dental lab is 339116, not 621210; a roofing supply store is not a roofing contractor. When in doubt, read the definition on census.gov.

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