NAICS 339920

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to support the collection, analysis, and publication of U.S. economic statistics. Developed under OMB and adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, NAICS was created jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico to enable cross‑country comparability; the current reference vintage is 2022. ¹

NAICS 339920 defines establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing sporting and athletic goods, excluding apparel (Subsector 315) and footwear (see NAICS 316219). Cross‑references direct small arms and small arms ammunition to NAICS 332994 and NAICS 332992, respectively, rather than to NAICS 339920. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Manufacturing sporting and athletic goods other than apparel and footwear. ²
• Manufacturing sporting‑goods helmets and protective athletic equipment. ²
• Manufacturing equipment used for organized and individual sports that NAICS categorizes as sporting and athletic goods (e.g., balls, bats, rackets, goals, nets). ²
• Manufacturing exercise and fitness equipment (e.g., gym and training equipment) as sporting and athletic goods. ²
• Manufacturing components and accessories integral to sporting and athletic goods within this industry’s scope — not specified by official sources. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	316219	Other Footwear Manufacturing (athletic footwear is classified here, not in 339920)
NAICS	332992	Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing (excluded from 339920)
NAICS	332994	Small Arms Manufacturing (excluded from 339920)
PSC	7810	Athletic and Sporting Equipment
PSC	7830	Recreational and Gymnastic Equipment

NAICS relationships are based on Census cross‑references for NAICS 339920. ²

PSC descriptors follow the federal PSC manual. ³

Key exclusions and cross‑references

• Athletic apparel is classified under Apparel Manufacturing (Subsector 315), not NAICS 339920. ²
• Athletic footwear is classified under NAICS 316219, not NAICS 339920. ²
• Firearms and ammunition are classified under NAICS 332994 and NAICS 332992, respectively, not NAICS 339920. ²

Industry footprint (Census highlights)

In the 2022 County Business Patterns, the sporting and athletic goods manufacturing industry (NAICS 339920) included 1,673 establishments employing 40,574 people during the March 12, 2022 pay period; the 2021 Annual Survey of Manufactures reported more than $12.4 billion in sales/shipments/revenue for this industry. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 339920? Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing sporting and athletic goods are covered by NAICS 339920. The industry excludes apparel (Subsector 315) and footwear, which belongs to NAICS 316219. Examples include equipment for team and individual sports, protective gear, and exercise equipment. ²

• Are helmets and protective pads included in NAICS 339920? Yes. Manufacturing sporting‑goods helmets, pads, guards, and related protective athletic equipment is classified in NAICS 339920, consistent with Census industry descriptions and cross‑references. ²

• Does NAICS 339920 include firearms or ammunition? No. Small arms are classified under NAICS 332994 and small arms ammunition under NAICS 332992, both outside NAICS 339920. These exclusions are explicitly noted in the official cross‑references. ²

• How large is the U.S. sporting and athletic goods manufacturing sector? For 2022, Census County Business Patterns reported 1,673 establishments and 40,574 employees in NAICS 339920. The 2021 Annual Survey of Manufactures reported more than $12.4 billion in revenue for this industry. Figures reflect official releases as of 2024. ⁴

• Which PSCs commonly align with NAICS 339920 on product buys? Federal product purchases in this space often map to PSC 7810 (Athletic and Sporting Equipment) and PSC 7830 (Recreational and Gymnastic Equipment), depending on the item and end use. Always confirm the PSC description for the specific product. ³

Useful resources

• Census NAICS 2022 search: 339920 industry description and cross‑references — https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=339920&year=2022&details=339920
• Acquisition.gov: Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual — https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
• Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems (2022 guidance) — https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics-redirect.html
• Census: Stats for Stories (industry highlights referencing 2022 CBP and 2021 ASM) — https://www.census.gov/about/history/stories/monthly/2024/october-2024.html

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems (2022 guidance). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics-redirect.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022: 339920 Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (official definition and cross‑references). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=339920&year=2022&details=339920
3. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual. https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
4. U.S. Census Bureau — Stats for Stories (includes highlights referencing 2022 CBP and 2021 ASM for NAICS 339920). https://www.census.gov/about/history/stories/monthly/2024/october-2024.html