On this page
- What does CPV stand for?
- How is a CPV code built?
- The supplementary vocabulary
- The main CPV divisions
- How to choose the right CPV codes for your business
- Example: a small IT company
- Example: a construction SME
- Where CPV codes fall short
- CPV codes and other classification codes
- Next steps
- Frequently asked questions
Every public tender in the EU carries one or more CPV codes. They are the closest thing procurement has to a universal language: a Spanish hospital and a Swedish municipality buying the same thing should use the same code, whatever words they write in the title.
That makes CPV codes very useful for finding tenders, as long as you understand how they work and where they fall short.
What does CPV stand for?#
CPV is the Common Procurement Vocabulary, set up by Regulation (EC) No 2195/2002 and revised by Regulation (EC) No 213/2008, which is the version in use today. It covers works, supplies and services, and it exists in all EU languages, so code 90910000 means "cleaning services" in every one of them.
Buyers must use CPV codes in notices published under the EU directives, and most national portals use them for below-threshold notices too.
How is a CPV code built?#
A CPV code has eight digits followed by a check digit, for example 45000000-7 (construction work). The check digit only verifies the other digits, so you can ignore it when searching.
The eight digits form a tree. Each level narrows the subject:
| Digits | Level | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 2 | Division | 45000000 | Construction work |
| First 3 | Group | 45200000 | Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work |
| First 4 | Class | 45210000 | Building construction work |
| First 5 | Category | 45214000 | Construction work for buildings relating to education and research |
| Last 3 | More precise | 45214200 | Construction work for school buildings |
The zeros at the end mean "everything under this level". That's why searching with a short prefix such as 45 catches all construction work, while 45214200 is very specific.
The supplementary vocabulary#
There is also a supplementary vocabulary with alphanumeric codes describing extra characteristics, such as the material, the purpose or the way something is delivered. It's used much less often and is rarely useful for searching.
The main CPV divisions#
Here are the divisions small companies most often bid in:
| Division | Subject |
|---|---|
| 03 | Agricultural, farming, fishing and forestry products |
| 09 | Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy |
| 15 | Food, beverages, tobacco and related products |
| 18 | Clothing, footwear, luggage and accessories |
| 22 | Printed matter and related products |
| 30 | Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies |
| 33 | Medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and personal care products |
| 34 | Transport equipment and auxiliary products |
| 39 | Furniture, furnishings, domestic appliances and cleaning products |
| 44 | Construction structures and materials |
| 45 | Construction work |
| 48 | Software packages and information systems |
| 50 | Repair and maintenance services |
| 55 | Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services |
| 60 | Transport services |
| 64 | Postal and telecommunications services |
| 71 | Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services |
| 72 | IT services: consulting, software development, internet and support |
| 73 | Research and development services |
| 77 | Agricultural, forestry, horticultural services |
| 79 | Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security |
| 80 | Education and training services |
| 85 | Health and social work services |
| 90 | Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services |
| 92 | Recreational, cultural and sporting services |
How to choose the right CPV codes for your business#
- 1
Start with the division.
Pick the one or two divisions that describe what you deliver. An IT company might start with 72 (IT services) and 48 (software).
- 2
Look at real tenders.
Find ten recent tenders you would have wanted to bid for and note their main and additional CPV codes. This shows how buyers actually code your type of work.
- 3
Collect neighbouring codes.
Buyers often code the same work differently. Software development might appear under 72200000 (software programming and consultancy), 72260000 (software-related services) or 48000000 (software packages).
- 4
Decide the level.
Use a broader prefix where you deliver most things in the group, and specific codes where only a niche fits.
- 5
Add keywords.
Pair your codes with the words buyers use, to catch tenders coded too broadly or in an unexpected division.
Example: a small IT company#
A software company building case management systems for municipalities first searched only 72000000. It got hundreds of irrelevant results (hardware support, telecoms, IT staffing). By looking at tenders it actually wanted, it found buyers mostly used 48000000 and 72200000 with words like "case management", "e-services" and "system renewal". It narrowed its search to those codes plus keywords and added "municipal" buyers via a country filter.
Example: a construction SME#
A roofing company starts with 45260000 (roof works and other special trade construction works). But many school and housing renovations that include roofing are coded broadly as 45000000 or 45453000 (overhaul and refurbishment work). The company keeps 4526 as its core code and adds a keyword search for "roof" within division 45.
Where CPV codes fall short#
Buyers code inconsistently. The same purchase can appear under different codes, and multi-part contracts often get only a broad main code.
Codes are old. The vocabulary dates from 2008, so newer things (cloud services, some digital services) don't have neat codes.
One main code per notice. A facility management contract may be coded as cleaning even if it includes security and maintenance; check the additional codes and lot descriptions.
Mixed contracts. If a contract combines works and services, the main CPV code follows the main subject, which may not be the part you care about.
CPV codes and other classification codes#
You'll meet a few related codes in notices:
NUTS codes show where the contract is performed: for example FI1B is Helsinki-Uusimaa. Use them to filter by region.
eForms codes in TED describe the notice type, procedure and other fields in a structured way.
National platforms sometimes add their own categories, but they almost always map to CPV.
Next steps#
With your codes and keywords ready, turn them into saved searches so new tenders reach you automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CPV code?
CPV stands for Common Procurement Vocabulary, the EU's classification of what public buyers purchase. Each code has eight digits plus a check digit, for example 45000000-7 for construction work. Every notice on TED carries a main CPV code and often additional ones.
How do I find the CPV code for my product or service?
Start from the two-digit division that covers your field (for example 72 for IT services or 90 for cleaning and environmental services), then drill down to more specific codes. Check which codes buyers actually used in tenders similar to the ones you want to win.
Do I need to register CPV codes to bid?
No. CPV codes describe the contract, not your company. Some national platforms and bidder registers ask you to choose CPV codes for notifications, but they don't limit what you can bid for.
Should I search by CPV code or by keyword?
Both. CPV codes find notices in any language, but buyers often choose broad or unexpected codes. Keywords catch what the codes miss. A combination of a few divisions and good keywords gives the best coverage.
Put it into practice
Search open tenders across Europe and save your searches to get new ones by email.