Global DUNS Finder
Free Lookup

How to Look Up a DUNS Number for Free (3 Methods)

Whether you need to verify your own DUNS number or look up a vendor's, you should not have to pay for a basic lookup. There are three reliable methods to find a DUNS number at no cost, and this guide walks you through each one step by step.

What Is a DUNS Number? (Quick Recap)

A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) to individual business entities. It is the global standard for business identification, used in government contracting, credit reporting, vendor management, and app store registrations. If you want the full explanation, read our detailed guide on what a DUNS number is.

The reason you might need to look one up varies. You may have forgotten your own number, you may want to verify a potential supplier before signing a contract, or you may need it for a government registration form. Whatever the reason, here are your three best free options.

Method 1: Use Our Free DUNS Lookup Tool

The fastest and simplest option is our own free DUNS number lookup tool.

How It Works

  1. Go to our DUNS Lookup page.
  2. Enter the business name you want to search for. You can also add location details (city, state, country) to narrow your results if the company name is common.
  3. Review the results. Our tool searches verified business records and returns matching DUNS numbers along with basic company information, including the registered business name, address, and DUNS number.
  4. Confirm the match. Verify that the address and other details match the business you are looking for. Companies with common names may have multiple entries.

Why This Method Is Best

  • Instant results. No waiting, no email confirmations, no phone calls.
  • No account required. You do not need to create a login or provide personal information.
  • Completely free. There are no hidden fees, upsells, or trials to cancel.

Our tool is especially useful when you need to quickly verify a DUNS number before a deadline --- such as completing a SAM.gov registration or submitting a grant application.

Search for a DUNS number now

Method 2: Search on Dun & Bradstreet's Website

Since D&B is the organization that issues DUNS numbers, their own website is an authoritative source for lookups.

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Visit the D&B DUNS number lookup page. Go to dnb.com and navigate to their DUNS number lookup section. The exact URL changes periodically as D&B updates their site, so you may need to search for "DUNS number lookup" on their homepage.
  2. Enter your business details. You will typically need to provide:
    • Business name
    • Country
    • State/province
    • City (optional but helpful)
  3. Submit the search. D&B will return a list of matching businesses.
  4. Identify your business. Click on the correct match to see the DUNS number and basic company details.

Limitations of This Method

  • Account may be required. D&B increasingly requires you to create a free account or sign in to view full results.
  • Upsell experience. D&B will likely try to sell you premium products like credit reports, monitoring services, or their D&B Hoovers platform during the process.
  • Limited free lookups. Depending on D&B's current policies, you may be limited in the number of free searches you can perform per day or per month.
  • Slower interface. The D&B website can be cumbersome to navigate compared to a purpose-built lookup tool.

That said, D&B remains the authoritative source for DUNS data, and searching directly on their platform gives you access to the most current information.

Method 3: Search SAM.gov's Entity Database

If the business you are looking for is registered for U.S. federal contracting, you can find their DUNS number through SAM.gov (the System for Award Management).

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Go to sam.gov.
  2. Click on "Search" in the navigation menu or go directly to the entity search page.
  3. Enter the business name, DUNS number, or CAGE code in the search bar.
  4. Filter results if needed. You can narrow results by entity type, registration status, location, and other criteria.
  5. Click on the matching entity. The entity record will display the DUNS number (referred to as the UEI or Unique Entity Identifier in newer records), along with registration details, CAGE code, and business information.

Important Notes About SAM.gov

  • Only works for registered entities. If a business has never registered in SAM.gov for government contracting or grant purposes, it will not appear in this database. This is a significant limitation --- the majority of businesses are not in SAM.
  • UEI transition. The federal government transitioned from DUNS numbers to the SAM-generated Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in April 2022. Existing entity records still display the historical DUNS number alongside the new UEI, but new registrations generate a UEI rather than requiring a DUNS number first.
  • Public information only. SAM.gov displays publicly available registration data. Sensitive information like banking details or certain points of contact are not shown.
  • Free and no account needed for basic searches. You can search the public entity database without creating a SAM.gov account.

What to Do If You Cannot Find a DUNS Number

If none of the three methods above return results, here are the most likely reasons and what to do:

The Business Might Not Have One

Not every business has a DUNS number. If a company is very small, very new, or has never needed one for contracting, credit, or vendor purposes, D&B may not have a record for it.

Solution: The business will need to request a new DUNS number directly from D&B.

The Business Name May Be Different

Companies are often registered under a legal name that differs from the name they do business under. For example, "Joe's Coffee Shop" might be registered as "JLM Enterprises LLC."

Solution: Try searching by:

  • The full legal business name (check state business registration records if you are unsure)
  • The street address instead of the business name
  • Variations of the name (with and without "LLC," "Inc.," etc.)

The Business May Have Moved

If the company recently relocated, the old address in D&B's records may no longer match the address you are searching by.

Solution: Search by business name only, without filtering by city or state. Then review all results to see if any match the business you are looking for.

The Record May Be Inactive

D&B occasionally deactivates records for businesses that appear to be closed or dormant. If the business is still operating, the record may need to be reactivated.

Solution: Contact D&B directly to inquire about reactivating the record. The business owner will need to verify their information.

How to Request a New DUNS Number

If the business simply does not have a DUNS number yet, the process to get one is straightforward:

  1. Verify first. Use our DUNS lookup tool to make sure a number does not already exist. Duplicate records cause problems down the road.
  2. Apply through D&B. Visit the D&B website and submit a DUNS number request. You will need the business name, physical address, mailing address, phone number, legal structure, and the name of the owner or principal.
  3. Wait for processing. The standard free process takes up to 30 business days. Paid expedited options can deliver a number in 1--5 business days.
  4. Receive your number. D&B will email the DUNS number once the application is processed and verified.

For the full process, including tips to avoid delays, see our complete guide to getting a DUNS number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I look up any company's DUNS number for free?

Yes. Basic DUNS number lookups are free. Our lookup tool lets you search for any business without charge. What costs money is accessing detailed credit reports or monitoring services --- the number itself is public.

Is my DUNS number public information?

The DUNS number itself and basic associated details (business name, address, employee count) are generally available through public lookup tools. Detailed credit scores, payment histories, and financial data require paid access through D&B.

How do I find my own DUNS number if I forgot it?

Use our free lookup tool and search for your business name. You can also call D&B's customer service line and verify your identity to retrieve your number.

Can I look up a DUNS number by EIN?

No. DUNS numbers and EINs are issued by different organizations (D&B and the IRS, respectively) and are not cross-referenced in any public tool. You will need to search by business name or address.

How do I verify that a DUNS number is real and belongs to the right company?

Search for the number using our lookup tool and confirm that the returned business name and address match the entity you are verifying. For more detail on the verification process, see our guide on how to check and verify a DUNS number.

Is a DUNS number the same as a UEI?

No. The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is a separate 12-character ID generated by SAM.gov that replaced the DUNS number for federal procurement purposes in April 2022. However, DUNS numbers still exist and are still used for business credit and many other purposes outside of federal contracting.

Ready to look up a DUNS number? Use our free DUNS number lookup tool to search instantly --- no account or payment required.