---
title: "Categories and merchant codes for Administrators - Payhawk Help Center"
slug: "list-of-payhawk-categories-and-merchant-codes"
description: "Look up the merchant categories and merchant codes behind each Payhawk category, such as Advertising and Marketing, based on all-time transaction data."
updated: 2026-10-15T13:04:28Z
published: 2026-10-15T13:04:28Z
canonical: "payhawk.com/list-of-payhawk-categories-and-merchant-codes"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://payhawk.com/help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# List of Payhawk categories and merchant codes

The following table lists the categories that are available in Payhawk, the merchant categories’ names, based on all-time transaction data in the system, and the merchant categories’ codes in Payhawk.

| Payhawk category | Merchant categories | Merchant codes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising & Marketing | Advertising services Direct marketing - continuity/subscription merchants Direct marketing/direct marketers - not elsewhere classified Direct marketing - combination catalogue and retail merchants Direct marketing - catalogue merchants Direct marketing - inbound telemarketing merchants Direct marketing - outbound telemarketing merchants Telemarketing - travel-related arrangement services | 7311, 5969, 5967, 5964, 5966, 5968, 5962, 5965 |
| Airlines, Car Rental and Lodging | Airlines, Car Rentals and Lodging Travel agencies and tour operators Lodging - hotels, motels and resorts Automobile rentals Passenger railways Airports, flying fields and airport terminals Bus lines Steamships and cruise lines Airlines and air carriers | 3000–3999, 4582, 4112, 4131, 4411, 7512, 7011, 4511, 4722 |
| Alcohol and Bars | Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) - bars, taverns, night-clubs, cocktail lounges and discothèques Package shops - beer, wine and liquor Duty-free shops | 5309, 5813, 5921 |
| Books and Newspapers | Books, periodicals, and newspapers | 5192, 5942 |
| Charity | Charitable and social service organizations | 8398 |
| Clothing | Miscellaneous apparel and accessory shops Miscellaneous general merchandise Men’s and women’s clothing shops Women’s ready-to-wear shops Women’s accessory and speciality shops Men’s and boys’ clothing and accessory shops Children’s and infants’ wear shops Miscellaneous home furnishing speciality shops Cosmetic Stores | 5399, 5621, 5611, 5631, 5699, 5641, 5691, 5719, 5977 |
| Cloud Computing | Computer software outlets Computer programming, data processing and integrated systems design services Computer network/information services Computer maintenance and repair services - not elsewhere classified Information retrieval services | 7379, 7375, 7372, 5734, 4816 |
| Clubs and Memberships | Membership clubs (sports, recreation, athletic), country clubs and private golf courses | 7997 |
| Digital Goods | Digital Goods: Applications Excludes Games Digital Goods: Multi-Category Digital Goods: Books, Movies, Music Digital Goods: Games | 5818, 5815, 5816, 5817 |
| Education | Schools and educational services - not elsewhere classified Colleges, universities, professional schools and junior colleges Business and secretarial schools Trade and vocational schools Correspondence schools | 8220, 8299, 8244, 8241, 8249 |
| Electronics | Electronics shops Computers, computer peripheral equipment - not elsewhere classified Telecommunication equipment and telephone sales Camera and photographic supply shops Photographic studios Electrical parts and equipment Electrical contractors Electronics repair shops | 4812, 5065, 5045, 7622, 7221, 1731, 5732, 5946 |
| Entertainment | Theatrical producers (except motion pictures) and ticket agencies Bands, orchestras and miscellaneous entertainers - not elsewhere classified Motion picture theatres Video game arcades and establishments Bowling alleys Amusement parks, circuses, carnivals and fortune tellers Sporting and recreational camps Tourist attractions and exhibits Recreation services - not elsewhere classified Marinas, marine service and supplies Video tape rentals Record shops | 7922, 7929, 7832, 7994, 7933, 7996, 7032, 7991, 7999, 4468, 7841, 5735 |
| Event Expenses and Conferences | Caterers Commercial sports, professional sports clubs, athletic fields and sports promoters Tourist attractions and exhibits | 5811, 7941, 7991 |
| Fuel and Gas | Service stations (with or without ancillary services) Fuel dealers - fuel oil, wood, coal and liquefied petroleum Automated fuel dispensers Automotive service shops (non-dealer) | 5541, 5542, 5983, 7538 |
| General Merchandise | Miscellaneous and specialty retail outlets Discount shops Variety stores Building Materials, Lumber Stores | 5999, 5331, 5310, 5211, 5722 |
| Government Services | Government services - not elsewhere classified Postal services - government only Intra – Government Transactions | 9399, 9402, 9405 |
| Insurance | Insurance sales, underwriting, and premiums | 6300 |
| Internet and Phone | Telecommunication services (local, long‑distance, credit card calls, faxes) | 4814 |
| Legal Services | Legal services and attorneys | 8111 |
| Medical | Medical services and health practitioners - not elsewhere classified Dental/laboratory/medical/ophthalmic hospital equipment and supplies Hospitals Nursing and personal care facilities Veterinary services Optometrists and ophthalmologists Chiropractors Osteopaths Massage parlors Hearing aids - sales, service, and supplies Podiatrists and chiropodists Opticians, optical goods and eyeglasses Orthopedic goods and prosthetic devices | 8099, 5047, 8062, 8050, 0742, 8042, 8041, 8031, 7297, 5976, 8049, 8043, 5975 |
| Office Supplies and Cleaning | Stationery, office supplies, and printing and writing paper Quick copy, reproduction and blueprinting services Photofinishing laboratories and photo developing Stenographic and secretarial support services Typewriter outlets - sales, service, and rentals Newsagents and news-stands Miscellaneous Publishing and Printing | 5111, 7339, 7395, 7338, 5994, 5978, 5943, 2741 |
| Other Travel Expenses (Miscellaneous) | Tourist attractions and exhibits Timeshares Piece goods, notions, and other dry goods Exterminating and disinfecting services Aquatic/pet shops - pet shops, pet food, and supplies | 7991, 7012, 5131, 7342, 5995 |
| Parking | Parking lots and garages Motor vehicle supplies and new parts Motorcycle shops and dealers Automotive parts and accessories outlets Automotive tire outlets Car washes Trailer parks and camp-sites Motor home and recreational vehicle rentals Camper, recreational and utility trailer dealers Tire retreading and repair shops Wrecking and salvage yards | 7523, 5013, 5571, 5532, 5533, 7534, 7542, 7549, 7033, 7519, 5561, 5552, 5935 |
| Political Organizations | Political organizations | 8651 |
| Professional Services, Consultant / contractor | Management, consulting and public relations services Professional services - not elsewhere classified Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services Architects, surveyors, and engineers - not elsewhere classified Business and secretarial schools Trade and vocational schools Correspondence schools Real Estate Agents and Managers–Rentals Business services - not elsewhere classified | 7392, 8999, 7399, 8931, 8911, 6513 |
| Religious Organizations | Religious goods and shops | 5973 |
| Restaurants | Eating places and restaurants Fast‑food restaurants | 5812, 5814 |
| Shipment, Freight, Moving and Delivery Services | Courier services - air, ground, freight forwarders | 4215 |
| Streaming Services | Cable and other pay television services | 4899 |
| Supermarkets and Grocery Stores | Groceries and supermarkets Miscellaneous food shops - convenience and specialty retail outlets Luggage and leather goods shops | 5411, 5499, 5948 |
| Specialty Food Stores | Bakery | 5462 |
| Taxes and Fees | Tax payments Taxes and tax preparation + Fees, licenses, and taxes | 9311, 7276 |
| Taxi and Rideshare | Taxi-cabs and limousines Transportation services - not elsewhere classified Ambulance services Towing services | 4121, 4789, 4119, 7549 |
| Toll and Bridge Fees | Tolls and bridge fees | 4784 |
| Utilities | Utilities - electric, gas, water, sanitary | 4900 |