NAICS Code Lookup Tool

Find your industry code for government contracting

Every federal contract solicitation includes a NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code that identifies the type of work being procured. Your NAICS code determines which contracts you can find, which size standard applies to your business, and whether you qualify for small business set-asides. Use this reference to identify the right codes for your business.

How to Find Your NAICS Code

1

Identify your primary business activity

Determine what your company does as its core revenue-generating activity. Focus on the product or service that represents the majority of your work, not ancillary activities.

2

Browse the 2-digit NAICS sectors below

Start with the 20 high-level NAICS sectors to find the broad industry category that matches your business. For example, IT consulting falls under Sector 54 (Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services).

3

Drill down to the 6-digit code

Within each sector, codes get more specific: 2-digit (sector) to 3-digit (subsector) to 4-digit (industry group) to 5-digit (industry) to 6-digit (national industry). You need the full 6-digit code for government contracting.

4

Check the SBA size standard for that code

Each 6-digit NAICS code has an associated SBA size standard that determines if your business qualifies as "small." This affects which set-aside contracts you can bid on.

5

Register the code in SAM.gov

Add your primary NAICS code (and any secondary codes) to your SAM.gov entity registration. Contracting officers search by NAICS code, so accurate registration is critical for visibility.

Why NAICS Codes Matter for Government Contracting

Contract Discovery

Contracting officers assign a NAICS code to every solicitation. If you search by your NAICS code on SAM.gov or Bureauify, you find contracts specifically in your industry.

Size Standard Determination

Each NAICS code maps to an SBA size standard. Your eligibility as a “small business” is determined by the NAICS code on the specific contract, not a universal threshold.

Market Research Visibility

Before issuing solicitations, contracting officers search SAM.gov for qualified vendors by NAICS code. Having the right codes in your registration makes you visible during market research.

Set-Aside Eligibility

Small business set-aside contracts (8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone) use the NAICS code’s size standard to determine which businesses can compete. The wrong code could disqualify you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a NAICS code?

NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) is a standardized system used by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to classify businesses by industry. Each code is a 6-digit number that identifies a specific industry. The federal government uses NAICS codes on every contract solicitation to categorize the type of work being procured.

How many NAICS codes can my business have?

There is no limit to the number of NAICS codes you can list on your SAM.gov registration. However, you should only include codes that genuinely represent work your company performs. Listing too many irrelevant codes can reduce your credibility with contracting officers. Most small businesses list between 3 and 10 codes.

What is the difference between a NAICS code and a PSC code?

NAICS codes classify the contractor's industry, while PSC (Product and Service Codes) classify what the government is buying. A single NAICS code can map to many PSC codes. For example, NAICS 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services) might appear on contracts with PSC codes for software development, IT consulting, or systems integration.

How do NAICS codes affect small business set-asides?

Each NAICS code has an SBA-defined size standard (either annual revenue or number of employees). If your business falls below the threshold for a given NAICS code, you qualify as a small business for contracts under that code. The contracting officer assigns a single NAICS code to each solicitation, and the size standard for that specific code determines eligibility.

How often do NAICS codes change?

NAICS codes are revised every 5 years by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The most recent revision was in 2022. Revisions may add new codes, retire old ones, or reclassify industries. Businesses should review updates to ensure their registered codes are still current.

Can I bid on contracts with a different NAICS code than mine?

Yes. Any business can bid on any contract regardless of their registered NAICS codes. However, for small business set-aside contracts, you must meet the size standard for the NAICS code assigned to that specific solicitation. Your SAM.gov NAICS codes primarily help contracting officers find you during market research.

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