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CPV code finder: search every CPV code in plain English

Type what you sell. Get the right CPV codes for UK public sector tenders, where they sit in the tree, and a one-tap copy for your alerts and bids.

All 9,454 CPV 2008 codes Instant, in your browser Used on Find a Tender

Type what you sell in plain English. We search all 9,454 CPV 2008 codes in your browser.

    Found your codes? Now win the work. AI Tender Writer drafts every answer from your company profile, in any sector.

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    Browse by division

    All 45 CPV divisions

    Every CPV code sits under one of these. Open a division to see its full code tree.

    How CPV codes work

    Read a CPV code left to right

    The Common Procurement Vocabulary is one list of 9,454 codes that public buyers use to say what they are buying. Each code has eight digits, plus a check digit after a dash on official notices. The more zeros at the end, the broader the code.

    Worked example: office cleaning
    1. 90000000Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services
    2. 90900000Cleaning and sanitation services
    3. 90910000Cleaning services
    4. 90919000Office, school and office equipment cleaning services
    5. 90919200Office cleaning services

    A contract cleaner should set alerts on 90910000 and 90919200, and also on 90911200 (building cleaning) and 90919300 (school cleaning), because buyers pick different levels for the same job. The same pattern works in every sector: a web agency wants 72413000 (website design) and 72212224 (web page software development) as well as the broad 72000000.

    CPV codes under the Procurement Act 2023

    The Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025. Notices under it are published on the central Find a Tender service, which lists the notice types buyers use, and those notices still carry CPV codes. The codes also do legal work: the Procurement Regulations 2024 list light touch services by CPV code in Schedule 1 and define works by CPV code in Schedule 3. See the gov.uk light touch contracts guidance for how that affects care, health and education contracts.

    Three tips from bid teams

    • Search like a buyer. Buyers write “refuse collection”, not “bin men”. The finder maps everyday words to the official terms for you.
    • Go one level up. A class code catches tenders that a narrow sub-category misses.
    • Codes find tenders; answers win them. Once you are in, quality questions decide it. Our guide on how to answer tender questions covers the scoring.

    New to public sector work? Start with government tenders for small businesses, then how UK public sector procurement works. Or skip straight to live UK contracts.

    CPV codes: questions, answered

    Comparing tender alert tools? Read our tender alert service comparison and the Find a Tender guide. Plans are on the pricing page.

    What is a CPV code?

    A CPV (Common Procurement Vocabulary) code is an 8-digit number that describes what a public contract buys, such as 90910000 for cleaning services or 72000000 for IT services. Buyers tag every tender notice with one or more codes, and suppliers use the same codes to set up alerts and search for opportunities. The UK still uses the CPV 2008 list on Find a Tender.

    Does the UK still use CPV codes after Brexit and the Procurement Act 2023?

    Yes. The Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025, and notices published under it on Find a Tender still carry CPV codes. The Procurement Regulations 2024 also use CPV codes to define which services count as light touch (Schedule 1) and which activities count as works (Schedule 3).

    How do I find the right CPV code for my business?

    Search the finder above for what you sell in plain words, not jargon. Start with the broad code for your field, then add the more specific codes underneath it. Check the codes on two or three recent tenders you would have wanted to win: that tells you what buyers in your sector actually pick.

    How many CPV codes should I use for tender alerts?

    Use more than you think. Buyers are inconsistent: one council tags a cleaning contract 90910000, another uses 90911200 or even a facilities management code. Pick the division or group code for your core service plus 5 to 15 specific codes, then review which alerts turned into bids after a month.

    What does the number after the dash mean, like 72000000-5?

    It is a check digit used to catch typing errors. It is part of the official code format, but the first eight digits identify the service. This finder accepts codes with or without the check digit and shows the eight-digit version.

    What is the difference between a division, group, class and category?

    They are levels of the same tree, read from the left of the code. The first two digits are the division (72 = IT services), the third adds the group, the fourth the class and the fifth the category. The last three digits get more specific still. Trailing zeros mean the code sits higher in the tree.

    Can I bid for a tender if my CPV code is not listed on it?

    Usually, yes. CPV codes help people find tenders; the requirements are set by the specification and conditions of participation in the tender documents. Read what the buyer is asking for. If you can deliver it and meet the conditions, the code on the notice does not stop you bidding.

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