Powered by LevrA NAICS code lookup works two ways. To look up your own code, describe what your business does and match it to the six digit NAICS 2022 code for your main revenue activity. To look up another company's code, check where that company has reported it: SAM.gov for federal contractors, SEC EDGAR for public companies, state filings, and commercial databases like Dun and Bradstreet.
The fastest way to get your own code is the NAICS code calculator. Describe the business in a sentence and it returns the code.
Looking up your own NAICS code
There are three good ways to do it.
1. Use the calculator. Type a plain description such as "we install commercial roofing" and the calculator returns 238160, roofing contractors, along with near misses so you can see why it chose that one.
2. Search the Census Bureau's NAICS tool. The Census site lets you search NAICS 2022 by keyword or code. Keyword search works well when your industry has a common name. It works less well for businesses that describe themselves in their own terms, such as "fractional CFO" or "hot shot hauler", because the official titles use different words.
3. Browse from the top. Start at the sector and drill down. The NAICS codes list links to all 20 sectors. Browsing takes longer, but you see the exclusions in each definition, which is where most mistakes get caught.
Whichever route you use, finish by reading the official definition of the code. If the definition describes your work and the exclusions do not point you somewhere else, you have the right code. Our step by step guide on how to find your NAICS code covers edge cases like two lines of business.
Looking up another company's NAICS code
There is no official government register that lists every company's NAICS code. NAICS codes are self assigned, so a company's code is whatever it reported, or whatever a data provider guessed. These are the sources worth checking, in rough order of reliability.
| Source | Who it covers | How to search | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAM.gov entity search | Businesses registered to do federal work | Search by name or UEI | Primary NAICS and every code the company listed, self reported |
| SEC EDGAR | Public companies and some private issuers | Company search on sec.gov | Four digit SIC code, not NAICS |
| State business filings | Companies registered in that state | Secretary of state search | Some states collect NAICS on formation or annual reports |
| Dun and Bradstreet | Most operating businesses | D&B profile or a paid report | Primary and secondary SIC and NAICS, inferred by D&B |
| The company itself | Anyone | Website, capability statement, proposals | The code the company uses in its own materials |
SAM.gov
For any company that bids on federal work, SAM.gov is the best source because the company entered the codes itself. Use the entity search, find the registration, and open the core data. You will see the primary NAICS code and the full list of codes the company registered under, along with whether SAM.gov shows it as small for each code.
SEC filings
Public companies show an industry code on EDGAR, but it is an SIC code. The SEC still assigns SIC codes to filers. To get from SIC to NAICS, use a crosswalk such as the one in our NAICS vs SIC codes guide, and then check that the NAICS code actually fits the business.
State filings
Some states ask for a NAICS code when you form an entity, register for sales tax or open an unemployment insurance account. Where it is collected, it may be visible in the public record or on an annual report. Coverage varies by state, and the codes are only as current as the last filing.
Dun and Bradstreet and other data providers
D&B and other commercial databases assign codes to companies by reading their websites, filings and other signals. They are useful for a first look, and they are also the main reason two sites show two codes for the same company.
The company's own website
Federal contractors often publish a capability statement listing their NAICS codes. Many construction, consulting and staffing firms do the same on their websites.
Why lookup sites show different codes
Search any mid size company on three lookup sites and you may get three codes. That happens for a few reasons:
- Different sources. One site reads SAM.gov, another reads D&B, another converts an old SIC code.
- Different editions. A site still on NAICS 2017 will show codes like 454110 that no longer exist.
- Inference from websites. Algorithms read marketing copy. A company that says "solutions" a lot can land in consulting when it really sells hardware.
- Multiple establishments. A company with a factory and a sales office has different codes at each location. Lookup sites often pick one.
- Stale data. Companies change what they do, and few databases notice.
The lesson for your own business is simple: decide on one correct primary code, use it on your tax return, SAM.gov registration, state filings and loan applications, and correct any provider that shows something else. Our guide on how to change your NAICS code covers each place.
Why your own code matters more than anyone else's
Lenders look up your code too. Some use the code on your application, some pull D&B, and some infer it from your bank statements and website. If those disagree, underwriting slows down while someone works out which is right. If the code they land on is a restricted industry, the file may stop before it starts.
| What the lender sees | What can happen |
|---|---|
| One consistent code across application, tax return and D&B | Clean match to lenders with appetite for your industry |
| Application says 541611, D&B says 523940 | Questions about whether you manage investments, a restricted activity for many lenders |
| Tax return says 454110 | Signals an outdated code; the lender maps it to a 2022 retail code itself |
| Website describes a different business from the application | Manual review and a slower decision |
Our page on NAICS codes and business loans explains how lenders use the code in detail.
The fastest lookup
For your own business, skip the lookup sites. Describe the business in the calculator, confirm the code against its definition, and use that code everywhere. Start an application and the AI matches the deal to lenders that fund your code.
Questions people ask
How do I look up my NAICS code?
Describe your main activity in the NAICS calculator or search the Census Bureau's NAICS 2022 tool by keyword, then read the code's definition to confirm it fits.
How do I find the NAICS code for a company?
Search the company in SAM.gov if it is a federal contractor, check SEC EDGAR for public companies, look at state business filings, or pull its Dun and Bradstreet profile.
Is there an official NAICS code lookup by company name?
No. The Census Bureau does not keep a register of company codes. Any company level lookup is either self reported, as on SAM.gov, or inferred by a data provider.
Why do lookup sites show different NAICS codes for the same company?
Each provider infers codes from different sources, such as websites, filings and older SIC codes, and few of them update when a company changes what it does.