NAICS 423710

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for organizing establishments to collect, analyze, and publish U.S. economic statistics. Developed jointly by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, NAICS was adopted in 1997 to replace SIC; the current U.S. vintage is 2022. ¹
NAICS 423710 covers establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of hardware, knives, or handtools. Illustrative examples include brads and staples; fasteners such as bolts, nuts, rivets, and screws; power handtools (e.g., drills, saws, sanders); general handtools (except motor-vehicle or machinists’ precision tools); and cutlery. Cross-references exclude nails and noninsulated wire (classified in 423510), motor-vehicle handtools (in 423120), machinists’ precision handtools (in 423830), and disposable plastic knives (in 424130). ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 423710 overview
• G2X — NAICS 423610
• G2X — NAICS 423720

What this NAICS covers

• General hardware wholesaling
• Fasteners (bolts, nuts, screws, rivets), brads, staples
• Handtools distribution (non-motor-vehicle; non-machinists’ precision)
• Power handtools distribution (e.g., drills, saws, sanders)
• Cutlery and knives (except disposable plastics)
• Builders’ and cabinet hardware (e.g., hinges, hasps, latches)
• Related small hardware items for construction, maintenance, and repair

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	423610	Electrical Apparatus and Equipment, Wiring Supplies, and Related Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
NAICS	423830	Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
PSC	5340	Miscellaneous Hardware
PSC	5325	Fastening Devices

NAICS cross-references and descriptors per the NAICS manual. ²

PSC descriptors per the federal PSC Manual. ³

Boundary and classification notes (official)

• Wholesale vs. retail: NAICS 423710 is wholesale distribution; retail hardware selling is classified under Hardware Retailers 444140 in the 2022 NAICS update. ⁴
• Electrical construction materials and wiring supplies belong in 423610, not 423710. ²
• Machinists’ precision handtools are classified in 423830, not 423710. ²
• Nails and noninsulated wire are classified in 423510, not 423710. ²

Where federal statistics appear for 423710

• Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) publishes national estimates for merchant wholesalers at the 2- to 4-digit NAICS levels, including industry group 42371 coverage. ⁵
• 2022 Economic Census sector resources provide Wholesale Trade (Sector 42) tables and FTP files that include NAICS 423710 statistics. ⁶

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 423710?
  Establishments primarily wholesale hardware, knives, or handtools. Examples include fasteners (bolts, nuts, rivets, screws), brads and staples, power handtools, general handtools, builders’ hardware, and cutlery. Exclusions cover machinists’ precision tools, motor-vehicle handtools, nails and noninsulated wire, and disposable plastic cutlery. ²

• How does NAICS 423710 differ from 423610 and 423720?
  423710 covers general hardware and handtools. 423610 covers electrical apparatus and wiring-related supplies. 423720 covers plumbing, hydronic heating equipment, and related supplies distribution. Use cross-references to assign by primary product lines. ²

• Did the 2022 NAICS update change the definition of 423710?
  Census highlighted major 2022 revisions in Retail Trade and Information; no specific change for 423710 is identified in Census summaries. Not specified by official sources ¹.
  See also on G2X: NAICS 444140 Hardware Retailers.

• Is manufacturing included under NAICS 423710?
  No. Wholesale Trade (Sector 42) covers distributing goods without transformation and related services, typically from warehouses not designed for walk-in retail traffic. Manufacturing activities belong to Sectors 31–33 and are classified separately from merchant wholesaling. ⁷

• What federal data products most often use NAICS 423710?
  Census programs such as the Economic Census and the Annual Wholesale Trade Survey publish estimates by NAICS at different aggregation levels. Data for 423710 appear within Wholesale Trade releases and detailed Economic Census tables and FTP files. ⁵

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 423710
• The Census Bureau’s implementation of the 2022 NAICS and timeline. ¹
• 2017 NAICS Manual (official industry descriptions and cross-references for 423710). ²
• Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (official PSC definitions). ³
• 2022 NAICS Sector 42 Wholesale Trade — data tables/FTP (Economic Census). ⁶

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS, including timeline and change summary. https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau/OMB — 2017 NAICS Manual: Wholesale Trade; 423710 Hardware Merchant Wholesalers (industry description, examples, and cross-references). https://www2.census.gov/library/reference/naics/publications/2017-NAICS-Manual.pdf
3. GSA — Product and Service Code Manual (April 2025) (official PSC definitions). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
4. U.S. Census Bureau — America Counts: Impact of Changes to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/11/naics-changes.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau — Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) press release. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/annual-wholesale-trade-survey.html
6. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Sector 42 Wholesale Trade: Economic Census data tables/FTP. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html
7. U.S. Census Bureau — Wholesale Trade (Sector 42) description (sector characteristics). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect42.html