NAICS code lookup
Find the right NAICS code by searching for what your business does, or look up the NAICS codes any small business registered in SAM.gov. Every code shows its SBA size standard and how many federal contracts are open under it right now.
Free, with no sign-up. Codes are the 2022 NAICS codes that SBA and SAM.gov use. Size standards are from SBA's table effective Mar 17, 2023.
NAICS codes with the most open federal contracts
Open notices on SAM.gov right now, updated hourly.
| Code | Industry | SBA size standard | Open contracts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 336413 | Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 1,250 employees | 568 |
| 541715 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | 1,000 employees (different for some contracts) | 298 |
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | $45 million average annual receipts | 269 |
| 336412 | Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 1,500 employees | 259 |
| 333998 | All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 700 employees | 217 |
| 237990 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $45 million average annual receipts (different for some contracts) | 201 |
| 332911 | Industrial Valve ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 750 employees | 195 |
| 334412 | Bare Printed Circuit Board ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 750 employees | 180 |
| 541330 | Engineering Services | $25.5 million average annual receipts (different for some contracts) | 163 |
| 335312 | Motor and Generator ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 1,250 employees | 159 |
| 332510 | Hardware ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 750 employees | 150 |
| 332919 | Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 750 employees | 135 |
| 334419 | Other Electronic Component ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 750 employees | 123 |
| 333996 | Fluid Power Pump and Motor ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 1,250 employees | 122 |
| 334511 | Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument ManufacturingMostly Defense supply orders | 1,350 employees | 110 |
What is a NAICS code?
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) sorts businesses by industry. Each code has up to six digits, and each extra digit narrows it down: 561 is administrative and support services, 5617 is services to buildings and dwellings, and 561720 is janitorial services. Federal contracting uses the full six-digit codes.
NAICS codes matter in government contracting in three places:
- Your SAM.gov registration. You list the codes for work you do and mark one as primary. Agencies and primes search for businesses by these codes.
- Every contract opportunity. The contracting officer assigns one NAICS code to each solicitation. Its size standard decides who counts as small for that contract.
- Finding work. Searching open notices by your codes is the fastest way to find contracts that fit. Search open contracts by NAICS code.
How to choose your NAICS codes
- List what you actually sell, specifically: "office cleaning" and "floor refinishing," not just "cleaning."
- Search each item above, and read the full definitions at census.gov/naics.
- Check neighboring codes that share the first four or five digits. Several may fit.
- Compare each code's size standard with your receipts or headcount, so you know where you count as small.
- Look at how many contracts are open under each code, and which agencies buy that work.
The full walkthrough is in How to choose NAICS codes for government contracts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my NAICS code?
Search above for words that describe what you sell, then read each code's full definition on census.gov/naics to confirm it fits. Pick the code that covers most of your business as your primary, and add every related code for work you can actually do.
Do I have to buy or apply for a NAICS code?
No. NAICS codes are free, and nobody assigns or sells them. You choose your own codes and list them in your SAM.gov registration. Be wary of anyone charging for a "NAICS code registration."
Can I look up another company's NAICS codes?
Yes. Search by company name above to see the NAICS codes a small business listed in its SAM.gov registration, which one is primary, and the codes SAM.gov rates it small under.
How many NAICS codes can a business have?
You can list several NAICS codes in your SAM.gov registration and mark one as your primary. Each contract opportunity carries a single NAICS code, and its size standard decides whether you count as small for that contract.
What is an SBA size standard?
It's the cutoff for counting as a small business under a NAICS code: either average annual receipts (averaged over your last five completed fiscal years) or average employees (averaged over the last 24 months). The current table took effect Mar 17, 2023.
Which NAICS version does federal contracting use?
The 2022 NAICS codes. SBA and SAM.gov switched to them in October 2022. OMB has proposed a 2027 update, but new codes can't be used in federal contracting until SBA publishes size standards for them.
What's the difference between a NAICS code and a PSC?
A NAICS code describes your industry. A Product and Service Code (PSC) describes what the government is buying. Notices on SAM.gov list both, but your size depends on the NAICS code.
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FedReady is an independent company, not affiliated with SBA, SAM.gov, the Census Bureau or any government agency. Always confirm a size standard on SBA's size standards tool before you certify your size in a bid.