NAICS 323117

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the framework federal statistical agencies use to classify business establishments for collecting and publishing data about the U.S. economy. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget in collaboration with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997 to align industry definitions across North America. ¹

NAICS 323117 covers establishments primarily engaged in printing, or printing and binding, books and pamphlets without performing the publishing function. It sits within Printing and Related Support Activities in manufacturing. Book publishing is classified separately under NAICS 511130 (Book Publishers), while binding performed without printing is classified under NAICS 323121 (Tradebinding and Related Work). ²

What this NAICS covers

• Printing complete books without publishing. ²
• Printing and binding books within the same establishment. ²
• Printing pamphlets and similar bound or unbound booklets without publishing. ²
• Integrated book manufacturing (printing plus binding) for trade, educational, or technical titles when the firm is not the publisher of record. ²
• Contract book printing for publishers, associations, or government organizations where publishing functions (e.g., editorial ownership, ISBN assignment) remain with another entity. ²
• Production across various printing processes (e.g., offset, digital, gravure, flexographic, letterpress) when applied to books or pamphlets. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	323121	Tradebinding and Related Work
NAICS	511130	Book Publishers
PSC	7610	Books and Pamphlets
PSC	7690	Miscellaneous Printed Matter

NAICS relationships reflect Census industry definitions and cross‑references. ²
PSC descriptors are defined in the GSA Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual. ⁷

Boundaries and exclusions

• Publishing activities (editorial control, copyright, ISBN, distribution as a publisher of record) fall under Book Publishers, NAICS 511130, not 323117. ⁵
• Binding-only operations without printing are classified in NAICS 323121 Tradebinding and Related Work. ²
• Prepress/postpress services performed without traditional printing (e.g., typesetting, platemaking) belong to Support Activities for Printing (NAICS 32312), not 323117. ²

2022 NAICS vintage context

NAICS is revised every five years; 2022 is the current vintage. The Census Bureau began releasing statistics on a 2022 NAICS basis with the 2022 Economic Census First Look in January 2024 and expects most programs to adopt 2022 NAICS by the end of 2027. ³

Federal printing procurement note

By policy, most executive-branch printing must be procured by or through the Government Publishing Office (GPO), with limited statutory exceptions. Agencies should consult FAR Subpart 8.8 when planning requirements that involve book printing. ⁶

Frequently asked questions

• How is NAICS 323117 defined?
  It covers establishments primarily engaged in printing or printing and binding books and pamphlets without publishing. Establishments that publish (editorial control, ISBN, distribution) are classified in the Publishing Industries subsector, not in NAICS 323117. ²

• What distinguishes 323117 from 511130?
  NAICS 323117 is production (printing/binding) without publishing. NAICS 511130 covers entities known as book publishers that perform editorial, design, marketing, and distribution functions for print, electronic, or audio titles. ⁵

• Is binding-only work included in 323117?
  No. Binding performed without printing in the same establishment is classified under NAICS 323121 Tradebinding and Related Work, not NAICS 323117. ²

• Do electronic books fall under 323117?
  No. NAICS 323117 pertains to printing and binding. Electronic-only publishing activities are addressed within the Publishing Industries (e.g., NAICS 511130 Book Publishers), not within printing manufacturing. ²

• What is the status of the 2022 NAICS transition for industry data?
  The Census Bureau began publishing data on the 2022 NAICS basis in 2024 and plans for most programs to adopt 2022 NAICS by the end of 2027, with some program-specific exceptions. ³

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 323117 overview
• Census: NAICS background and 1997 adoption history. ¹
• Census: Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and program adoption). ³
• Census: 2022 NAICS Descriptions (official industry description files, including 323117). ⁴
• FAR Subpart 8.8 — Acquisition of Printing and Related Supplies (GPO channel policy). ⁶
• GSA Product and Service Code Manual (official PSC definitions). ⁷

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Classifying Businesses (NAICS development and 1997 OMB adoption). https://www.census.gov/about/history/historical-censuses-and-surveys/census-programs-surveys/economic/classifying-businesses.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Sector 31–33 resource (includes 323117 definition and cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect31-33.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and impacts). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau — Industry Reference Files: 2022 NAICS Descriptions. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/technical-documentation/reference/naics-descriptions.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Sector 51 resource (511130 Book Publishers definition and cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect51.html
6. Acquisition.gov — FAR Subpart 8.8: Acquisition of Printing and Related Supplies. https://www.acquisition.gov/far/subpart-8.8
7. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (current and archived editions). https://login.acquisition.gov/psc-manual/all