You can look up your D-U-N-S number for free using Dun & Bradstreet’s official lookup tool at dnb.com/duns-number/lookup.html. The search takes just a few minutes if your business is already in D&B’s database. If you don’t have one yet, you can request a new number through the same site, though processing takes up to 30 business days.
Use the D&B Lookup Tool
The fastest way to find your D-U-N-S number is through Dun & Bradstreet’s free online lookup. Go to dnb.com/duns-number/lookup.html and select whether you’re searching for your own company or another company. You’ll then enter your business name and location to search.
If your business already has a D-U-N-S number, it will appear in the results. Many businesses have one without realizing it, because D&B creates profiles based on public records, trade data, and other commercial information sources. Even if you never applied, there may already be a number assigned to your company.
Check Old Paperwork and Emails
If the online lookup isn’t returning results, your D-U-N-S number may be buried in documents you already have. Check the confirmation email from when the number was originally requested, any past loan or credit applications where you listed business identifiers, and contracts with vendors or suppliers who asked for it. The number is nine digits long, so searching your email for “DUNS” or “D-U-N-S” along with a nine-digit string can surface it quickly.
Contact D&B Directly
If you can’t find your number online or in your records, call D&B’s sales line at (800) 526-9018. You can also visit their Service Center through the contact page at dnb.com. Be prepared to verify your identity as an authorized representative of the business. Have your business’s legal name, address, and phone number ready, since a customer service rep will use those details to locate your record.
Request a New D-U-N-S Number
If your business genuinely doesn’t have a D-U-N-S number yet, you can request one for free through D&B’s website. You’ll need to provide:
- The legal name of your business
- Your business address (each location needs its own separate number)
- Business phone number
- Name of the business owner, president, or CEO
- Legal structure of the business (LLC, corporation, sole proprietorship, etc.)
- The year the business was created
- Primary business industry
- Total number of full- and part-time employees
Normal processing takes up to 30 business days. Plan ahead if you need the number for a specific deadline, like a grant application or vendor registration. D&B does offer paid options to expedite processing, but the standard request is free.
D-U-N-S Numbers and Federal Contracting
If you’re looking for your D-U-N-S number because you need it for federal contracting or government grants, there’s an important change to know about. The federal government no longer uses D-U-N-S numbers as business identifiers. SAM.gov replaced the D-U-N-S number with a Unique Entity ID (UEI), which is now the only accepted identifier across all federal award systems, including SAM.gov, FPDS, CPARS, and others.
You can no longer find D-U-N-S numbers in SAM.gov searches, and any data fields that once contained them are now empty. If you’re registering for federal contracts or grants, you need your UEI from SAM.gov, not your D-U-N-S number. SAM.gov assigns the UEI automatically when you register or validate your entity.
That said, a D-U-N-S number still has value outside the federal system. Many private lenders, suppliers, and business credit agencies use it to evaluate your company’s creditworthiness. It remains the standard identifier in Dun & Bradstreet’s commercial credit reports, which lenders and partners may pull before extending credit or signing contracts.
Watch Out for Unnecessary Fees
Third-party websites sometimes charge fees to “help” you get a D-U-N-S number, but you can always request one directly from D&B at no cost. The only reason to pay is if you need faster processing than the standard 30-business-day timeline. If a site is charging you simply to submit basic information to D&B on your behalf, you’re paying for something you can do yourself in a few minutes.