NAICS Code 323 — Printing and Related Support Activities

Subsector in the official 2022 North American Industry Classification System (U.S. Census Bureau). It contains 1 direct sub-code.

Code	323
Title	Printing and Related Support Activities
Level	Subsector (3-digit)
Edition	NAICS 2022 edition

Official definition (2022 NAICS)

Industries in the Printing and Related Support Activities subsector print products, such as newspapers, books, labels, business cards, stationery, business forms, and other materials, and perform support activities, such as data imaging, platemaking services, and bookbinding. The support activities included here are an integral part of the printing industry, and a product (a printing plate, a bound book, or a computer disk or file) that is an integral part of the printing industry is almost always provided by these operations.

Processes used in printing include a variety of methods used to transfer an image from a plate, screen, film, or computer file to some medium, such as paper, plastics, metal, textile articles, or wood. The printing processes employed include, but are not limited to, lithographic, gravure, screen, flexographic, digital, and letterpress.

In contrast to many other classification systems that locate publishing of printed materials in manufacturing, NAICS classifies the publishing of printed products in Subsector 513, Publishing Industries. Though printing and publishing are often carried out by the same enterprise, it is less and less the case that these distinct activities are carried out in the same establishment. When publishing and printing are done in the same establishment, the establishment is classified in Subsector 513, Publishing Industries, in the appropriate NAICS industry even if the receipts for printing exceed those for publishing.

This subsector includes printing on clothing because the production process for that activity is printing, not clothing manufacturing. For instance, the printing of T-shirts is included in this subsector. In contrast, printing on fabric (or grey goods) is not included. This activity is part of the process of finishing the fabric and is included in Industry 31331, Textile and Fabric Finishing Mills.

Excluded from this subsector are establishment primarily engaged in manufacturing bare printed circuit boards. These establishments print, perforate, plate, screen, etch, or photoprint interconnecting pathways for electric current on laminates and are classified in Industry 33441, Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing. Establishments primarily providing printing brokerage services are classified in Industry 56199, All Other Support Services.

Where 323 sits in the hierarchy

Level	Code	Title
Sector	31-33	Manufacturing
Subsector	323	Printing and Related Support Activities

Codes under 323

Code	Title
3231	Printing and Related Support Activities

Related Subsector codes

• 311 — Food Manufacturing
• 312 — Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing
• 313 — Textile Mills
• 314 — Textile Product Mills
• 315 — Apparel Manufacturing
• 316 — Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
• 321 — Wood Product Manufacturing
• 322 — Paper Manufacturing
• 324 — Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
• 325 — Chemical Manufacturing
• 326 — Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
• 327 — Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing

Data: official 2022 NAICS structure, descriptions and Census concordances, U.S. Census Bureau — U.S. government works in the public domain (17 U.S.C. §105). Suggested reference, not an official determination.