2022 NAICS national industry in sector 23 Construction

238320 Painting and Wall Covering Contractors

NAICS 238320 is the US industry code for painting and wall covering contractors. It covers establishments primarily engaged in interior or exterior painting or interior wall covering.

Code: 238320 (2022 NAICS)
Title: Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
Part of: Building Finishing Contractors
SBA small business limit: Average annual receipts up to $19 million
Closest UK SIC: 43310, 43320, 43330, 43341 and 2 more (details)

Changes coming. The NAICS 2027 revision applies to data from 1 January 2027, and SBA proposed new size standards on 20 August 2026. The values on this page are the ones in force today; we update this page when the official files change.

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in interior or exterior painting or interior wall covering. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs.

Examples Census gives

Bridge painting
Paperhanging or removal contractors
House painting
Ship painting contractors
Paint and wallpaper stripping
Wallpaper hanging and removal contractors

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

Painting lines on highways, streets, and parking lots are classified in Industry 237310, Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction.
Roof painting are classified in Industry 238160, Roofing Contractors.
Installing wood paneling are classified in Industry 238350, Finish Carpentry Contractors.
Concrete coating, glazing, or sealing are classified in Industry 238390, Other Building Finishing Contractors.
Painting and rustproofing automotive vehicles and trailer bodies are classified in Industry Group 8111, Automotive Repair and Maintenance.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Businesses that use this code

Activities listed under 238320

The Census index assigns these 15 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

Bridge painting
Electrostatic painting, on-site, contractors
Engineering structure (e.g., oil storage tank, water tower) painting
House painting
Paint and wallpaper stripping
Painting (except roof) contractors
Painting and wallpapering
Paperhanging and removal contractors
Paperhanging or removal contractors
Rustproofing (except automotive)
Ship painting contractors
Wall covering or removal contractors
Wallpaper hanging and removal contractors
Wallpaper stripping
Whitewashing contractors

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 238320

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 238320, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $19 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 4330), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.

Similar codes to compare

Data last changed November 14, 2026. How this page is built.