MCC Code Lookup Tool

A Merchant Category Code (MCC) is a four-digit number assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard) to classify businesses by the type of goods or services they provide. Every merchant that accepts credit cards is assigned an MCC when they open their merchant account. The code determines how card issuers categorize your purchases for rewards, spending limits, and reporting.

Credit cards that offer bonus categories (such as 3x points on dining or 5% back at grocery stores) use MCC codes to determine which purchases qualify for elevated rewards. For example, a warehouse club like Costco has MCC 5300, which some issuers categorize as wholesale clubs rather than grocery stores. Knowing the MCC helps you predict whether a purchase will earn bonus rewards or only the base rate.

There are several ways. You can use this lookup tool to search by category or merchant type. You can also check your credit card statement, which sometimes shows the MCC. Some card issuers display the merchant category in their mobile app or online portal. For a definitive answer, you can call your card issuer and ask what MCC was assigned to a specific transaction.

Yes. A merchant can have different MCC codes depending on the card network (Visa vs. Mastercard) and even by location. Large retailers with multiple departments sometimes have different MCCs for different types of transactions. For example, a pharmacy inside a grocery store might code as either MCC 5411 (grocery) or MCC 5912 (pharmacy) depending on how the terminal is configured.

MCC codes are generally stable, but card networks do add new codes and reclassify existing ones periodically. Visa and Mastercard publish updates to their merchant classification tables. Individual merchants can also have their MCC changed if they successfully request a reclassification from their payment processor, though this is uncommon.

While most MCC codes are shared between Visa and Mastercard, the two networks can differ in how they describe or group certain codes. A merchant might be described slightly differently on each network. This tool shows the standard ISO 18245 classification along with network-specific descriptions where available.

Some stores that appear to be grocery stores may have a different MCC than expected. For example, Walmart Supercenters typically code as MCC 5411 (grocery) but some locations code as 5311 (department store). Similarly, warehouse clubs like Costco may code as 5300 (wholesale) rather than 5411 (grocery). Use this tool to check the expected MCC for any merchant type.

There are approximately 1,000 active MCC codes defined in the ISO 18245 standard. This tool includes 981 codes covering all major merchant categories. The codes range from 0742 (veterinary services) to 9950 (intra-company purchases). New codes are added occasionally — for example, buy-now-pay-later services received their own MCC in recent years.

Costco typically codes as MCC 5300 (wholesale clubs). This means purchases at Costco generally do not earn grocery bonus rewards, even though Costco sells groceries. Some Costco gas stations may code separately as MCC 5541 (service stations). Use this MCC lookup tool to verify how specific merchant types are classified.

Most restaurants use MCC 5812 (eating places and restaurants), which qualifies for dining bonus categories on cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred (3x) and Amex Gold (4x). Fast food restaurants also typically code as 5812. Some establishments like bakeries (5462) or caterers (5811) use different MCC codes and may not trigger dining bonuses.

It depends on the location. Walmart Supercenters typically code as MCC 5311 (department stores), which means purchases there usually do not earn grocery bonus rewards. However, standalone Walmart Neighborhood Markets often code as MCC 5411 (grocery stores) and do qualify for grocery bonuses. Check your credit card statement to confirm how your local Walmart codes.

Gas stations primarily use two MCC codes: 5541 (service stations with or without ancillary services) and 5542 (automated fuel dispensers). Most pay-at-the-pump transactions code as 5542. Cards offering gas station bonus categories, like the Citi Custom Cash (5% on top category) or Chase Freedom Flex (rotating 5%), typically recognize both MCC codes for bonus rewards.

Streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and Hulu are typically classified under MCC 4899 (cable and other pay TV services) or MCC 5815 (digital goods), not under entertainment. Many cards that offer bonus categories for streaming specifically list which MCC codes qualify. If your subscription does not earn a bonus, the merchant may be coded differently than expected.