NAICS Code Lookup: Find Your Code in 5 Minutes

Every federal contract solicitation includes a NAICS code. If you do not know your codes, you cannot find relevant opportunities, register correctly in SAM.gov, or determine whether your business qualifies as "small" for a given contract. This guide walks you through finding the right codes in five minutes.

What NAICS Codes Are

NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) is a six-digit coding system that classifies every business in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico by its primary economic activity. The federal government uses NAICS codes for three purposes in contracting:

• Matching contracts to vendors. Agencies search SAM.gov by NAICS code to find qualified businesses.
• Determining small business eligibility. Each NAICS code has a size standard (revenue or employee threshold). Your business must be under the threshold to qualify as "small" for contracts under that code.
• Classifying solicitations. Every RFP, RFQ, and solicitation is assigned a primary NAICS code. This determines which size standard applies.

NAICS Code Structure

The six digits narrow from broad to specific:

| Digits | Level | Example | |--------|-------|---------| | 2 | Sector | 54 = Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | | 3 | Subsector | 541 = Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | | 4 | Industry Group | 5415 = Computer Systems Design and Related Services | | 5 | Industry | 54151 = Computer Systems Design and Related Services | | 6 | National Industry | 541511 = Custom Computer Programming Services |

Solicitations always use the full six-digit code. Your SAM.gov registration should also use six-digit codes.

Step 1: Describe What You Do

Write one or two sentences describing the primary service or product your business provides. Be specific. "IT services" is too broad. "Custom software development for healthcare organizations" is better. "Commercial building construction" is better than "construction."

Step 2: Search the NAICS Database

You have several options:

GovContractData NAICS Lookup: Use our NAICS lookup tool to search by keyword and see which codes appear most frequently in federal contract awards. This shows you the codes agencies actually use, not just theoretical classifications.

Census Bureau: The official Census NAICS search lets you search by keyword and browse the full code hierarchy. Read the detailed descriptions to confirm a code matches your work.

SBA Size Standards Table: The SBA publishes a table of size standards for every NAICS code. This is useful when you need to verify the revenue or employee threshold.

Step 3: Verify With Past Awards

This is the step most businesses skip, and it matters the most. Search for contracts similar to your work on GovContractData and look at which NAICS codes are assigned to those awards. The code that seems logical to you may not be the one contracting officers actually use.

For example, a company that provides cybersecurity consulting might assume its code is 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services). But if you search cybersecurity contracts on GovContractData, you might find that many are awarded under 541519 (Other Computer Related Services) or even 541611 (Administrative Management Consulting Services) depending on the nature of the work.

Step 4: Check the Size Standard

Each NAICS code has a size standard that determines the maximum revenue or employee count for "small" classification:

| NAICS Code | Description | Size Standard | |------------|-------------|---------------| | 541511 | Custom Computer Programming | $34 million revenue | | 541512 | Computer Systems Design | $34 million revenue | | 236220 | Commercial Building Construction | $45 million revenue | | 561210 | Facilities Support Services | $47 million revenue | | 334111 | Electronic Computer Manufacturing | 1,250 employees | | 541330 | Engineering Services | $25.5 million revenue | | 541611 | Administrative Management Consulting | $24.5 million revenue | | 541613 | Marketing Consulting | $19 million revenue |

If your revenue is $30 million, you qualify as small under 541511 ($34M threshold) but not under 541611 ($24.5M threshold). This distinction directly affects which set-aside contracts you can bid on.

How Many Codes to List

List two to five codes on your SAM.gov registration. Your primary code should be the one that generates the most revenue. Additional codes should reflect real work you perform today, not aspirational services.

Rules of thumb:

• List only codes where you have past performance. Contracting officers check.
• Your primary code determines your default size standard. Choose carefully.
• More is not better. Listing 15 codes signals that you do not know what you do.

Common NAICS Code Mistakes

Choosing too broad a code. NAICS 54 (Professional Services) is a sector, not a valid code. You need all six digits. Even 5415 is only four digits. Use 541511, 541512, etc.

Picking aspirational codes. If you have never done cybersecurity work, do not list 541512 because you plan to someday. Agencies verify past performance.

Ignoring cross-industry codes. Some services span multiple codes depending on context. IT consulting for a manufacturing client might be 541511 (programming) or 541611 (management consulting). Search past awards to see how agencies classify similar work.

Using outdated codes. NAICS codes are revised every five years. The current version (2022) includes codes that did not exist in prior versions. Make sure you are using current codes.

Confusing NAICS with PSC codes. Product Service Codes (PSC) are a separate classification system the government uses alongside NAICS. PSC codes describe what was bought; NAICS codes describe the vendor's industry. You need NAICS codes for SAM.gov registration.

NAICS Codes and Set-Aside Eligibility

Your NAICS code directly affects set-aside eligibility because the size standard varies by code. A company with $30 million in revenue qualifies as small under some codes but not others. Before bidding on a set-aside contract, verify the size standard for the NAICS code on that specific solicitation.

The SBA also uses NAICS codes to determine eligibility for the 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, and SDVOSB programs. Your certification is tied to specific NAICS codes where you have demonstrated capability.

Find Your Code Now

Use the GovContractData NAICS Lookup tool to search by keyword and see real federal contract data for each code. Or search past awards by NAICS code to understand spending patterns, top agencies, and competitive landscape in your industry.

Browse specific NAICS pages like 541511 (Computer Programming) or 236220 (Commercial Construction) to see award data and top contractors in each category.