Analysis
NAICS 488991 is the 2022 national industry for packing and crating, part of 48899 (Other Support Activities for Transportation). Census lists 3 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 1,572 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 18,419 people at an average annual payroll of $48,197 per employee (15th percentile of national industries). 53% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 18% and employment rose 19%. 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.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 2 codes at this level within Other Support Activities for Transportation, with 67.4% of them.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include crating goods for shipping, packing and preparing goods for shipping and preparing goods for transportation (i.e., crating, packing).
Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 561910, 4931 and 115114. 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.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in packing, crating, and otherwise preparing goods for transportation.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Providing packaging and labeling services (except warehousing) | 561910 Packaging and Labeling Services |
| Providing warehousing services | 4931 Warehousing and Storage |
| Providing packing and crating services for agricultural products | 115114 Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) |
Index entries (3)
- Crating goods for shipping
- Packing and preparing goods for shipping
- Preparing goods for transportation (i.e., crating, packing)