What is a D-U-N-S Number?
TL;DR
A D-U-N-S Number is a nine-digit identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet — a private data company — that keys your business credit file. It is free to request and still widely asked for by lenders, distributors, and corporate suppliers. It is not a government ID: since April 4, 2022, US federal registration uses the SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI) instead.
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D-U-N-S Number meaning
The D-U-N-S Number (Data Universal Numbering System) is "a unique nine-digit identifier used exclusively for businesses," in Dun & Bradstreet's own words (D&B). It is issued by D&B — a private commercial data company, not a government agency — and assigned per physical business location, so a firm with several sites can hold several numbers.
The number's job is to point at a file: your D&B business credit profile — trade payment history, filings, corporate linkage to parents and subsidiaries. D&B describes counterparties using it to "evaluate your business credit profile, maintain their records, onboard your company, and maintain compliance."
It is not a tax ID, not a license, and not proof of anything. Having one confers no status; it means a file exists and can be found.
D-U-N-S vs UEI: the part most guides get wrong
A great deal of live advice still tells US businesses they need a D-U-N-S Number to register for federal contracts or grants. That has been out of date since April 4, 2022. On that date, per GSA's own announcement, "SAM.gov and all other General Services Administration (GSA) systems will switch to the new Unique Entity ID (SAM) as the authoritative government entity identifier" (GSA).
The Unique Entity ID (UEI) is now assigned by SAM.gov as part of entity registration. A UEI alone is available if you only report as a sub-awardee, but SAM.gov notes that "if you choose to only get a Unique Entity ID, you cannot apply directly for federal awards" (SAM.gov). Its guidance no longer references DUNS at all, and DUNS can no longer be used to search entities there.
D&B is candid about the same boundary: a D-U-N-S is not strictly required for US federal contracts, though many agencies and non-US governments still ask for one. Both facts hold at once — the number is real and commercially useful, and it is no longer the US federal identifier.
| D-U-N-S Number | Unique Entity ID (UEI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Dun & Bradstreet (private company) | SAM.gov / GSA (US federal government) |
| What it keys | Your D&B business credit file | Your federal entity registration record |
| Used for | Credit checks, supplier and distributor onboarding, some non-US tenders | Bidding on US federal contracts and federal assistance |
| Cost | Free to request; expedited service is paid | Free |
| US federal status | Not the federal identifier since April 4, 2022 | The authoritative federal entity identifier |
Who asks for a D-U-N-S Number, and why
The number persists because commercial counterparties, not governments, lean on it hardest. Expect to be asked when:
- A lender or insurer underwrites you — it pulls your trade-payment history rather than take your word for it.
- You apply to a distributor or supplier program — wholesale and authorized-reseller applications ask for it as a standard onboarding field, alongside a resale certificate and trade references.
- A large corporate onboards you as a vendor — procurement systems key supplier master data to it and read the corporate linkage to see who owns you.
- A non-US government or platform requires it — plenty still use it as their entity identifier.
The common thread: someone is about to extend credit, terms, or a channel relationship, and wants an independent read on the entity first.
How to get a D-U-N-S Number
It is free. Dun & Bradstreet states plainly that "there is no cost to request and receive a D-U-N-S Number" (D&B). Treat any service charging you to obtain one as a convenience fee at best.
Check first whether you already have one — D&B assigns numbers to businesses that never asked, and a second request creates a duplicate file that has to be merged later.
The request runs through D&B's own site: select your business type, supply the legal entity details, choose standard or expedited processing, and wait for D&B to validate before the number is emailed to you. Plan for the slow path — D&B says normal processing "can take up to 30 business days," while its paid expedited service delivers "within eight business days."
And if the need is US federal work, a D-U-N-S will not get you there — register in SAM.gov and take the UEI.
Frequently asked questions
Is a D-U-N-S Number free?
Yes. Dun & Bradstreet states there is no cost to request and receive a D-U-N-S Number. D&B does sell an optional expedited service that shortens the wait, and third-party services will charge to file on your behalf, but the number itself is free to obtain directly.
Do I still need a D-U-N-S Number for SAM.gov?
No. Since April 4, 2022, SAM.gov and other GSA systems use the Unique Entity ID (UEI) as the authoritative federal entity identifier, and DUNS can no longer even be used to search entities there. Your UEI is assigned by SAM.gov as part of entity registration. Guides that still tell you to get a DUNS for federal registration are out of date.
How long does it take to get a D-U-N-S Number?
Dun & Bradstreet says normal processing can take up to 30 business days. Its paid expedited option delivers the number within eight business days. Because D&B validates the entity details before issuing, plan around the slower figure if a supplier application or financing deadline depends on it.
Is a D-U-N-S Number the same as a tax ID or EIN?
No. An EIN is issued by the IRS and identifies your business to the tax authority. A D-U-N-S Number is issued by Dun & Bradstreet, a private data company, and identifies your business in commercial credit and supplier records. They serve different purposes and neither substitutes for the other.
Does a business need more than one D-U-N-S Number?
Possibly. Numbers are assigned per physical business location, so a company operating several sites, or a parent with subsidiaries, can hold multiple numbers linked together in D&B's corporate family tree. Most single-location businesses need only one.
Can I check whether my business already has a D-U-N-S Number?
Yes, and you should before applying. D&B assigns numbers to businesses that have never requested one, simply from data it already holds. Look yours up first — requesting a second one creates a duplicate file that has to be merged later.
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