NAICS 423850

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal statistical standard for classifying business establishments to collect, analyze, and publish data about the U.S. economy. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997; the current vintage is 2022. ¹
NAICS 423850 covers merchant wholesalers primarily engaged in distributing specialized equipment and supplies used by service establishments. Official scope notes exclude specialized equipment and supplies used in offices, stores, hotels, restaurants, schools, health and medical facilities, photographic facilities, and equipment specialized for transportation and construction activities. Illustrative examples include janitorial equipment and supplies, beauty parlor equipment, drycleaning and car-wash equipment, amusement park equipment, undertakers’ supplies, and upholsterers’ tools (except fabrics). ¹

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 423850 overview: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/423850
• G2X — NAICS 423840 Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/423840
• G2X — NAICS 423860 Transportation Equipment and Supplies (except Motor Vehicle) Merchant Wholesalers: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/423860

What this NAICS covers

• Distribution of janitorial equipment and supplies used by service providers. ¹
• Merchant wholesaling of beauty parlor and barber shop equipment and supplies. ¹
• Merchant wholesaling of drycleaning and laundry service equipment and supplies. ¹
• Distribution of car-wash equipment and associated service supplies. ¹
• Merchant wholesaling of amusement park and similar recreational service equipment. ¹
• Distribution of undertakers’ (funeral service) equipment and supplies. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Scope notes and exclusions

• Janitorial and automotive chemicals distribute under NAICS 424690, not NAICS 423850. ⁴
• Piece goods, fabrics, knitting yarns (except industrial), thread, notions: NAICS 424310. ⁴
• Industrial yarns: NAICS 424990. ⁴

Data availability

• The Annual Wholesale Trade Survey publishes national estimates by 2- through 4-digit NAICS, providing context for merchant wholesalers across Sector 42. ⁵
• 2022 Economic Census releases include Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade) tables on a 2022 NAICS basis, covering establishments and firm characteristics used for benchmarking. ⁶

Frequently asked questions

• What activities fall under NAICS 423850?
  NAICS 423850 encompasses merchant wholesale distribution of specialized equipment and supplies for service establishments, such as janitorial, beauty/barber, drycleaning, car-wash, amusement park, undertaker, and upholsterer categories (excluding specified institutional and construction/transport uses). ¹

• How does NAICS 423850 differ from NAICS 423440 and nearby categories?
  NAICS 423440 covers commercial machines and equipment generally used in restaurants and stores, whereas NAICS 423850 focuses on service-establishment equipment and explicitly excludes hotel/restaurant, office, school, and medical equipment. ¹

• Are janitorial chemicals part of NAICS 423850?
  No. Official cross-references place janitorial and automotive chemicals in NAICS 424690 (Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers), not in NAICS 423850. ⁴

• Is NAICS 423850 comparable across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico?
  Yes. The NAICS manual marks this industry with “T,” indicating three-country comparability at the industry level for 2017; NAICS continues to serve as the trilateral standard. ¹

• Where are official data for wholesalers under NAICS Sector 42 published?
  AWTS provides national-level estimates by 2- through 4-digit NAICS, and the Economic Census publishes detailed Sector 42 tables on the 2022 NAICS basis for establishments with payroll. ⁵

Useful resources

• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS search and introduction (includes 2022 NAICS): https://www.census.gov/naics/?details=423850&input=423850&year=2022 ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Sector 42: Wholesale Trade (Economic Census tables): https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html ⁶
• U.S. Census Bureau — Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (coverage and releases): https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/annual-wholesale-trade-survey.html ⁵
• GSA — Product and Service Codes Manual (definitions for PSC mappings): https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS search (2022) and 2017 NAICS Manual (industry definition and comparability). https://www.census.gov/naics/?details=423850&input=423850&year=2022; https://www2.census.gov/library/reference/naics/publications/2017-NAICS-Manual.pdf
2. U.S. Census Bureau. Employer Categories and Corresponding Establishment NAICS Industries — Sector 42 listings (including 423840, 423850, 423860). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/esp/guidance/employer.html
3. General Services Administration. Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual, April 2025 — Groups 35 and 79. https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
4. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 423850 — cross-references to 424690/424310/424990 (legacy reference). https://www2.census.gov/econ2007/Reference_materials/htm%20files/423850.htm
5. U.S. Census Bureau. 2024 Annual Wholesale Trade Survey — coverage by 2- to 4-digit NAICS. 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 tables). https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html