What is a NAICS code?
A NAICS code is a numeric industry classification code used to place a business establishment into an industry based on its primary economic activity.
What Is a NAICS Code?
NAICS code definition
A NAICS code is a numeric industry classification code used to place a business establishment into an industry based on its primary economic activity. NAICS stands for the North American Industry Classification System. The system uses a production-oriented framework and a hierarchy that runs from broad 2-digit sectors to detailed 6-digit U.S. national industries.
NAICS is the standard used by U.S. federal statistical agencies to classify business establishments for economic data. It is also widely used in business databases, research, lending, insurance, contracting, market analysis, and other industry-based workflows.
In simple terms: a NAICS code tells you which industry a business location belongs to based on what that establishment primarily does.
- NAICS stands for
- North American Industry Classification System
- Classification unit
- Business establishment, generally an individual operating location
- Official structure
- 2-digit Sector through 6-digit U.S. National Industry
- Classification concept
- Production-oriented: groups establishments with similar processes for producing goods or services
- Current U.S. version
- 2022 NAICS; the 2027 revision process is underway
Reviewed by the SICCODE.com Industry Classification Review Team · Updated September 2026
What does NAICS stand for?
NAICS stands for the North American Industry Classification System. It was developed cooperatively by the United States, Canada, and Mexico so economic statistics could be organized using a comparable industry framework across North America.
In the United States, NAICS is the federal statistical standard for classifying business establishments. The system is hierarchical, so the code becomes more specific as additional digits are added.
How are NAICS codes structured?
NAICS uses five hierarchical levels. A broad 2-digit sector narrows through additional levels until the 6-digit U.S. national industry.
| Digits | NAICS level | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sector | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting |
| 111 | Subsector | Crop Production |
| 1113 | Industry Group | Fruit and Tree Nut Farming |
| 11133 | NAICS Industry | Noncitrus Fruit and Tree Nut Farming |
| 111331 | U.S. National Industry | Apple Orchards |
What the sixth digit means: the sixth digit identifies the national-industry level. Country-specific detail can differ at this level, which is why the full U.S. classification is referred to as a 6-digit U.S. NAICS industry.
How does NAICS classify a business?
NAICS classifies establishments according to their primary economic activity and uses a production-oriented concept: establishments with similar production processes are grouped into the same industry.
The establishment is the basic unit
An establishment is generally a single physical location where business activity occurs, such as a store, factory, office, hotel, farm, or warehouse.
Classification follows primary activity
The industry should reflect what the establishment primarily does. A company name, marketing description, product keyword, or corporate parent does not by itself determine the correct NAICS classification.
Example: a corporate headquarters, manufacturing plant, and retail location owned by the same enterprise can be classified in different NAICS industries because each establishment performs a different primary activity.
For detailed classification evidence, multi-activity establishments, boundary decisions, and defensible selection methodology, use the NAICS Classification & Reference Center.
What are NAICS codes used for?
NAICS provides a standardized way to organize businesses by industry. Government agencies and private-sector organizations use NAICS in different ways.
Government and statistical uses
- Collecting and publishing economic statistics
- Government contracting and SBA size-standard workflows
- Administrative forms and program-specific industry classification
- Industry research, benchmarking, and economic analysis
Business-data uses
- Business database classification
- CRM and customer segmentation
- Market research and industry analysis
- Prospect and account targeting
- Lending, insurance, underwriting, and risk workflows
- Data enrichment and business intelligence
Who assigns NAICS codes?
There is no single central government agency that assigns, monitors, or approves a NAICS code for every business. Different agencies maintain their own business records and may assign NAICS classifications for their own statistical or program purposes.
Businesses may also be asked to identify the NAICS code that best describes their activity when completing registrations, applications, tax or administrative forms, contracting records, or other business documents.
You generally do not “apply” for a NAICS code. When a form or system asks for one, identify the activity being classified and select the code that best matches the relevant NAICS definition and scope.
How do I find my NAICS code?
For a straightforward business, the process can usually be reduced to three steps.
Identify the primary activity
Describe what the specific establishment primarily does, makes, sells, distributes, repairs, or provides.
Search or browse candidate codes
Use the NAICS Code Lookup Directory to search by activity, keyword, or code.
Verify the detailed definition
Open the candidate code and review the industry description, examples, inclusions, exclusions, and nearby classifications before deciding.
Need a fuller walkthrough? Use How Do I Find My NAICS Code?. For complex classification questions, use the NAICS Reference Center.
How is a NAICS code different from a SIC code?
NAICS and SIC are separate industry-classification systems. NAICS was designed around a production-oriented concept and uses a hierarchy through 6-digit U.S. industries. Official SIC uses a different industry structure and ends at 4-digit industries.
A business can be classified under both systems, and NAICS-to-SIC mappings are not always one-to-one.
See NAICS vs SIC Codes: What Is the Difference? for the full comparison.
What are Extended NAICS codes?
The official U.S. NAICS system ends at 6 digits. Some commercial business-data systems add proprietary classification detail below the official 6-digit industry for more granular segmentation.
Important: 7-digit, 8-digit, or other extended NAICS layers are not additional official government NAICS levels. They should be identified separately from the official 2- through 6-digit NAICS hierarchy.
Explore Extended NAICS Code Lookup for SICCODE.com’s additional commercial segmentation.
What is the current NAICS version?
The current official U.S. classification is 2022 NAICS. NAICS is reviewed on a five-year cycle, and the process for the 2027 revision is underway.
When using a NAICS code in a formal program, dataset, or historical comparison, check which NAICS vintage that application expects because industry definitions and code structures can change between revisions.
Primary NAICS sources
These official references define the NAICS framework, hierarchy, establishment concept, and assignment guidance. They are distinct from SICCODE.com applied classification guidance.
- U.S. Census Bureau — North American Industry Classification System
Official NAICS search, structure, revision information, and federal statistical context. - U.S. Census Bureau — Understanding NAICS
Explains the production-oriented classification concept and 2- through 6-digit hierarchy. - 2022 NAICS Manual
Official U.S. manual with industry definitions, hierarchy, establishment guidance, and classification FAQs. - U.S. Small Business Administration — Size standards
Example of NAICS use in government contracting and size-standard workflows.
NAICS code questions and answers
What does NAICS stand for?
NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System.
How many digits are in a NAICS code?
The official hierarchy runs from 2-digit sectors to 6-digit U.S. national industries. When people refer to a full detailed U.S. NAICS classification, they generally mean the 6-digit industry code.
Who assigns NAICS codes?
There is no single central government agency that assigns or approves NAICS codes for every business. Statistical agencies assign codes to establishments on their own lists, while businesses may also be asked to identify appropriate NAICS codes for particular forms or programs.
Do I have to apply for a NAICS code?
No. Businesses do not apply to a central NAICS authority for a code. A code may be assigned by an agency for its own purposes or selected by the business when a form, registration, or application asks for one.
Can one company have different NAICS codes?
Yes. NAICS is fundamentally establishment-based, so different locations within the same enterprise can fall into different NAICS industries when their primary activities differ.
Does official NAICS go beyond six digits?
No. Official U.S. NAICS ends at the 6-digit national-industry level. Any additional 7-digit, 8-digit, or other extended layer is commercial or proprietary rather than an additional official government NAICS level.
What is the current NAICS version?
2022 NAICS is the current official U.S. version. The 2027 revision process is underway.