NAICS Code Finder
Describe your business capabilities in plain English and we'll find the best matching NAICS codes, plus PSC codes commonly paired with them in real federal contracts.
Matching NAICS Codes
Correlated PSC Codes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a NAICS code?
A NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code is a 2-to-6-digit number that classifies a business by its industry. The U.S. Census Bureau maintains the system, and federal agencies use NAICS codes on every contract opportunity posted to SAM.gov.
How many digits is a NAICS code?
NAICS codes range from 2 to 6 digits. The first two digits identify the broad economic sector, and each additional digit narrows the classification. Federal contracts use the full 6-digit code to specify the type of work being solicited.
Who assigns NAICS codes?
Businesses choose their own NAICS codes when registering on SAM.gov — there is no government agency that assigns them. For federal contracts, the contracting officer selects the NAICS code that best describes the work being solicited. The SBA then uses that code to determine the applicable small business size standard.
How do I find the right NAICS code for my business?
Describe your business capabilities in the NAICS Code Finder tool above — it uses AI to match your description against all NAICS codes. You can also browse the U.S. Census Bureau's official NAICS list or look at what codes appear on federal contracts similar to the work you do.
What is a primary NAICS code?
Your primary NAICS code is the one that best represents your main line of business. When you register on SAM.gov, you select a primary NAICS code along with additional codes for other services you offer. Most businesses list 2–5 NAICS codes.
Why do NAICS codes matter for government contracting?
Every federal contract on SAM.gov is assigned a NAICS code, and the SBA uses that code to determine whether your business qualifies as “small” for that specific opportunity. The size standard (revenue or employee count threshold) varies by NAICS code, so the same company can be “small” under one code and “large” under another.
Common NAICS Codes in Government Contracting
The most frequently used NAICS codes across active federal contract opportunities on SAM.gov.
| Code | Title | Active Opps |
|---|---|---|
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | 3,333 |
| 336413 | Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Mfg | 3,001 |
| 237990 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 1,533 |
| 541519 | Other Computer Related Services | 1,435 |
| 541715 | R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | 1,340 |
| 541330 | Engineering Services | 1,260 |
| 332722 | Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivet, and Washer Mfg | 917 |
| 336611 | Ship Building and Repairing | 885 |
| 541611 | Administrative and General Management Consulting | 861 |
| 336412 | Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Mfg | 829 |
| 561210 | Facilities Support Services | 800 |
| 541511 | Custom Computer Programming Services | 747 |
| 561730 | Landscaping Services | 718 |
| 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 710 |
| 334511 | Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance Systems Mfg | 631 |
| 561720 | Janitorial Services | 581 |
| 325412 | Pharmaceutical Preparation Mfg | 580 |
| 811210 | Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair | 500 |
| 237110 | Water and Sewer Line Construction | 485 |
| 541512 | Computer Systems Design Services | 470 |
How this tool works
This tool uses AI-powered semantic matching to compare your business description against all NAICS codes. Unlike keyword search, it understands the meaning of your description, so “we build websites” correctly matches “Computer Systems Design Services” (541512) even without exact keyword overlap.
The correlated PSC codes are derived from real federal contract data — we analyze which PSC codes appear alongside each NAICS code in actual contract awards and solicitations.