NAICS 423440

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to produce consistent statistics about the U.S. economy. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget with partners in Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997 and is maintained on a five-year cycle. Current federal economic data are published on the 2022 NAICS vintage. ¹

NAICS 423440 covers merchant wholesalers of “Other Commercial Equipment,” a residual industry for commercial equipment not elsewhere classified. Illustrative examples include wholesaling non-laboratory balances and scales, coin-operated vending machines, commercial chinaware and cooking equipment, electrical signs, partitions, lockers, shelving, and non-refrigerated store fixtures. Related lines such as office equipment, computers and peripherals, medical/ophthalmic goods, photographic equipment, laboratory scales, and refrigerated store fixtures are classified in their respective NAICS industries. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Merchant wholesale distribution of commercial kitchen equipment and foodservice chinaware for institutional and business customers. ²
• Wholesaling of non-laboratory balances and scales used in commercial settings. ²
• Distribution of coin-operated merchandising (vending) machines to service establishments and retailers. ²
• Wholesaling of electrical signs and related commercial signage equipment. ²
• Supply of partitions, lockers, shelving, and non-refrigerated store fixtures for commercial build-outs. ²
• Wholesaler functions characteristic of Sector 42, including warehousing and services incidental to the sale of merchandise. ¹
• Excludes laboratory scales and balances (classified in NAICS 423490) and refrigerated store fixtures (NAICS 423740). ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Small business size standard (SBA)

For NAICS 423440, SBA’s small business size standard is 100 employees. Sector 42 wholesale/retail codes are generally not used to classify government supply acquisitions; offerors may qualify as nonmanufacturers if they have 500 or fewer employees and meet 13 CFR 121.406. ³

Frequently asked questions

• What distinguishes NAICS 423440 from 423420 and 423430?

  • 423440 is the “other” commercial equipment wholesaling category, covering items like vending machines, electrical signs, partitions, balances and scales (non-lab), and store fixtures. Office equipment and computer/peripheral equipment are covered by their dedicated NAICS codes and are excluded from 423440. ²

• What is the SBA small business size standard for NAICS 423440?

  • The size standard is 100 employees. For supply-set acquisitions, firms may alternatively qualify under the nonmanufacturer rule if they have 500 or fewer employees and meet the requirements in 13 CFR 121.406. ³

• Are installation or maintenance services included under NAICS 423440?

  • Wholesale industries may provide services incidental to the sale of merchandise. Classification hinges on an establishment’s primary activity; substantial standalone installation or service work may fall under a different NAICS. ¹

• Are vending machines and commercial signs within this code?

  • Yes. The NAICS 2022 definition and index list coin-operated merchandising (vending) machines and electrical signs among examples for “Other Commercial Equipment” merchant wholesalers. ²

• How is this industry represented in federal statistics?

  • Census data are organized by the NAICS hierarchy (2- through 6-digit levels). Analysis often uses the 4-digit industry group 4234, which includes 423440 within commercial equipment merchant wholesalers. ¹

Useful resources

• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Search (2022): code 423440 with official definition and index at https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=423440&year=2022&details=Yes
• SBA — Table of Small Business Size Standards (current PDF): https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20March%2017%2C%202023%20%282%29.pdf
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Sector 42: Wholesale Trade (Economic Census data access): https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html
• U.S. Census Bureau — Industry Reference Files: 2022 NAICS Descriptions: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/technical-documentation/reference/naics-descriptions.html

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census: Understanding NAICS (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 Search, 2022: 423440 Other Commercial Equipment Merchant Wholesalers. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=423440&year=2022&details=Yes
3. U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Small Business Size Standards (PDF; shows 423440 = 100 employees and nonmanufacturer rule note). https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20March%2017%2C%202023%20%282%29.pdf