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SIC Code Lookup {API}

Find any company's 4-digit SIC code from a domain or name.

The 1987 Standard Industrial Classification list (1,004 codes) and the SEC EDGAR list (430 codes) — both queryable from one API. Built for CRM enrichment, lead scoring, KYC/KYB, and SEC filing prep.

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What You Get

Each API call returns structured SIC classification data.

4-digit SIC code

Most specific industry level

Major group + name

2-digit parent group on every match

Confidence score

High, medium, or low per match

Two SIC datasets

1987 original (1,004 codes) or SEC EDGAR (430 codes with review office)

How It Works

We analyze website content and metadata to determine the most accurate SIC classification.

— step 01 —

Pass a domain or name

Like stripe.com or "Stripe"

— step 02 —

We analyze the brand

Site content, metadata, and industry signals

— step 03 —

SIC codes matched

Best-fit 4-digit codes with confidence

— step 04 —

JSON returned

Codes, names, major group or SEC office

API Response

Extracted SIC classification for stripe.com

GET /v1/web/sic?input=stripe.com

Try in API Playground

{
  "status": "ok",
  "domain": "stripe.com",
  "type": "sic",
  "classification": "original_sic",
  "codes": [
    {
      "code": "7372",
      "name": "PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE",
      "confidence": "high",
      "majorGroup": "73",
      "majorGroupName": "BUSINESS SERVICES"
    },
    {
      "code": "6099",
      "name": "FUNCTIONS RELATED TO DEPOSIT BANKING, NEC",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "majorGroup": "60",
      "majorGroupName": "DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS"
    }
  ]
}

How SIC codes are structured

A SIC code is a 4-digit number that classifies a U.S. business by its primary activity. Each digit narrows the classification:

Digits 1–2 — Major Group / Division. The broadest level. Example: 73 = Business Services.
Digit 3 — Industry Group. Example: 737 = Computer Services.
Digit 4 — Industry. The most specific level. Example: 7372 = Prepackaged Software.

SIC vs NAICS: which should you use?

NAICS replaced SIC as the official U.S. industry standard in 1997, but SIC is still used everywhere SIC was used in 1996: SEC EDGAR filings, Dun & Bradstreet credit reports, legacy CRMs, and many federal datasets. If your system requires SIC, use SIC. If you have a choice, use the more granular NAICS Code Lookup API— or call both and store both codes for maximum portability.

Common workflows for SIC classification

Pre-filling SIC fields on SEC Form 10-K and 10-Q filings
CRM and lead enrichment, segmentation, and territory routing
KYC / KYB workflows and supplier risk classification
Credit-decision systems that read D&B / Experian SIC feeds
Industry research and competitive landscape analysis
Compliance reporting where 1987 SIC categories are mandated

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about SIC codes and the Context.dev SIC Code Lookup API.

Am I billed for failed requests?

No. You are not billed for failed requests or requests where we are blocked (rarely happens). Credits are only consumed on successful responses.

How do I find a company's SIC code from a domain?

Pass a domain (e.g. "stripe.com") to GET /v1/web/sic. The API analyzes the company's website — content, metadata, and industry signals — and returns one or more 4-digit SIC codes with a confidence score (high, medium, low) per match. No spreadsheet matching, no manual SIC table lookup.

Can I look up SIC codes by company name instead of a domain?

Yes. The input parameter accepts either a valid domain (used directly) or a company title, which we resolve to a brand before classification. Domain input is more accurate because names are ambiguous ("Apple" → fruit, label, computer).

Why are SIC codes still used in 2026 if NAICS replaced them?

Because: (1) the SEC still classifies public companies by SIC for EDGAR filings, (2) D&B, Experian, and major credit bureaus still report SIC, (3) huge installed bases of CRMs, sales tools, and government datasets predate NAICS and store SIC. Migration is hard, so SIC remains in production.

Is the SIC code lookup API free?

Yes. The free tier covers thousands of monthly SIC lookups, more than enough for prototyping and small workflows. A single API key also unlocks the NAICS code API, company data, logos, colors, fonts, and the rest of the Context.dev brand-data suite.

What is a SIC code?

SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) is a 4-digit U.S. industry code system established in 1937 and last revised in 1987. It classifies businesses into major groups (2-digit), industry groups (3-digit), and industries (4-digit). SIC was officially replaced by NAICS in 1997, but it's still used by the SEC for EDGAR filings, by Dun & Bradstreet, and by many CRMs and lead-routing systems.

What is the difference between original_sic and latest_sec?

"original_sic" returns codes from the full 1987 SIC list (1,004 four-digit codes across 82 major groups) and is best for general-purpose industry tagging. "latest_sec" returns codes from the SEC's curated 430-code list used for EDGAR filings, and each result includes the SEC review office that handles filings under that code.

Should I use SIC or NAICS for industry classification?

SIC is older (last revised in 1987) but is still required for SEC EDGAR filings and is widely used in CRM, lead-routing, and credit-bureau systems. NAICS (1997+) is more granular (6 digits vs 4) and is the current U.S. statistical standard. If your downstream system specifies one, match it. Context.dev provides both — see the NAICS Code Lookup API for the modern equivalent.

How many SIC codes does the API return per request?

You control the range with minResults and maxResults (1–10 each). Set both to 1 for the single strongest match, or raise maxResults and filter by confidence === "high" downstream to handle diversified businesses.