Analysis
NAICS 33221 is the 2022 NAICS industry for cutlery and handtool manufacturing, part of 3322 (Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing). Census lists 150 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 980 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 31,762 people at an average annual payroll of $63,654 per employee (40th percentile of national industries). 40% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Census lists 7 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 33991, 33521, 33311 and 33351. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 10% and employment fell 8%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Across its national industries Census lists 150 index entries; typical ones are barber's scissors, manufacturing and agricultural handtools (e.g., hay forks, hoes, rakes….
Its goods appear in 180 statistical lines of the US tariff schedule, mostly under headings 8205 (handtools (including glass cutters) not elsewhere specified…), 8211 (knives with cutting blades, serrated or not (including…) and 8215 (spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives…). That link is how import data is matched to domestic producers, for example in trade-remedy cases.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) manufacturing metal kitchen cookware (except by casting (e.g., cast iron skillets) or stamped without further fabrication), utensils, and/or nonprecious and precious plated metal cutlery and flatware; (2) manufacturing saw blades, all types (including those for power sawing machines); and (3) manufacturing nonpowered handtools and edge tools.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing precious (except precious plated) metal cutlery and flatware | 33991 Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing electric razors and hair clippers for use on humans | 33521 Small Electrical Appliance Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing power hedge shears and trimmers and electric hair clippers for use on animals | 33311 Agricultural Implement Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing metal cutting dies, attachments, and accessories for machine tools | 33351 Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing power-driven handtools | 33399 All Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing finished cast iron kitchen utensils and cookware (i.e., cast iron skillets) and castings for kitchen utensils and cookware | 3315 Foundries |
| Manufacturing stampings for kitchen utensils, pots, and pans | 33211 Forging and Stamping |
Index entries (150)
- Barber's scissors, manufacturing
- Agricultural handtools (e.g., hay forks, hoes, rakes, spades), nonpowered, manufacturing