CAGE Code: How to Look One Up and How to Get Yours

A CAGE code is the five character ID the Defense Logistics Agency assigns to every business that completes a SAM.gov registration. Look up any CAGE code for free, learn how yours is assigned, or let a Fed Services specialist handle the SAM registration that produces it.

FedServices is a private company, not a government agency, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government. SAM.gov registration and renewal are free when completed directly at SAM.gov. We charge for optional assistance with registration and related services.

What Is a CAGE Code?

A Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code is a five character alphanumeric ID assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to every entity that completes a SAM.gov registration. The CAGE code identifies a business at a specific physical address and follows that business through contracts, payments and Department of Defense systems. A company cannot be awarded a federal contract without an active CAGE code.

CAGE codes are free. U.S. businesses do not file a separate application, because DLA assigns the code automatically once SAM.gov validates the registration. Fed Services completes that SAM registration for $595, so the CAGE code arrives without the trial and error. Looking for the other identifier SAM.gov issues? Read our guide to the UEI number.

CAGE code at a glance

Five characters, letters and numbers
Assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency
Issued free during SAM.gov registration
Tied to one physical address
Expires five years after the last update
Required to win federal contracts

How to Look Up a CAGE Code

A CAGE code look up is free and public. Use SAM.gov for the full registration record, or the DLA CAGE search for the code itself.

Open the SAM.gov entity search

Go to SAM.gov, choose Search and select the Entity Information domain. No login is needed to search active public registrations.

Search by name, UEI or CAGE code

Enter the legal business name, the 12 character UEI or the five character CAGE code. Filter by state or registration status to narrow down common names.

Read the CAGE record

Open the result to see the CAGE code, registration status (Active or Inactive), physical address and expiration date. Confirm the address matches the company you expect.

Cross check on the DLA CAGE site

Search cage.dla.mil to confirm the code, its status and any NCAGE record for a foreign company. The DLA tool shows the CAGE record, not the full SAM registration.

Find your own CAGE code

Sign in to SAM.gov and open your Entity Workspace. Your CAGE code sits on the entity record next to your UEI, and in the email SAM.gov sends when your registration activates.

Why a CAGE Code Lookup Comes Up Empty

A missing result usually means the record exists but is hidden, inactive or still in progress.

Registration not active yet

A CAGE code is not issued until SAM.gov finishes validation. Registrations still marked Submitted or Work in Progress will not show a code.

Address changed

A CAGE code belongs to one physical address. A move sends the record back through DLA validation, and searches on the old details may miss it.

Opted out of public search

Businesses can hide their SAM.gov record from public display. Try cage.dla.mil instead, or ask the company for its CAGE code directly.

How to Get a CAGE Code

Getting a CAGE code has one honest answer: register your business in SAM.gov. U.S. businesses do not apply to DLA separately. Once SAM.gov validates the legal name and physical address, the registration is routed to the DLA CAGE Branch, which assigns a new code or confirms an existing one and sends the code back to SAM.gov.

CAGE assignment is part of SAM.gov processing time. SAM.gov notes that registrations can take up to 10 business days, longer when extra validation is needed. Legal names and addresses that do not match IRS records cause most delays. Visit our SAM registration page to have Fed Services handle every step.

Steps to a CAGE code

Create a Login.gov account and sign in to SAM.gov
Choose Register Entity in your workspace
Enter legal name, EIN, physical address and banking
Pass validation against IRS and state records
Submit, then DLA assigns your CAGE code
Watch for the activation email from SAM.gov

CAGE Code vs UEI vs DUNS

Three identifiers show up on federal forms. Here is what each one does.

CAGE code

A CAGE code is a five character code from DLA, assigned after a full SAM registration. The code ties an entity to a physical address for contracts, DoD systems and payments.

UEI

A Unique Entity ID is the 12 character identifier SAM.gov issues to every entity. A UEI alone covers some grants, while contracts need the full registration and a CAGE code.

DUNS number

The nine digit DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet was retired as the federal identifier in April 2022. Registered entities were given a UEI in its place.

	CAGE code	UEI	DUNS
Length	5 characters	12 characters	9 digits (retired)
Issued by	Defense Logistics Agency	SAM.gov (GSA)	Dun & Bradstreet
How you get it	Complete a full SAM.gov registration	Request a UEI only or register in SAM.gov	No longer used for federal awards
Main use	Contracts, DoD systems and payments	All federal awards, including grants	Replaced by the UEI in April 2022

Why Contracting Officers Check Your CAGE Code

Contracting officers check the CAGE code because the code links an offer to one verified business at one address. The same code appears in past performance records, in payment systems such as WAWF and IPP, and in the SBA small business search (DSBS). A mismatch between the CAGE address and the address on a capability statement or proposal raises questions before an award.

Confirms the offeror is registered and Active
Links past performance to the right company
Routes invoices and payments correctly
Matches your address across SAM, DSBS and proposals
Surfaces inactive or excluded records early

DLA, NCAGE and Foreign Entities

The Defense Logistics Agency runs the CAGE Program and keeps the master file of CAGE codes used across the federal government. DLA only changes data for SAM registered businesses after the business updates its SAM.gov registration, so SAM.gov is the place to correct a legal name, address or ownership change.

NCAGE codes are the NATO version of a CAGE code for companies outside the United States. A foreign business must request an NCAGE code from its National Codification Bureau, or through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), before starting a SAM.gov registration. U.S. companies that sell only to foreign governments may also be asked for one.

Foreign entity checklist

Request an NCAGE code before SAM.gov
Wait for the NCAGE code to sync to SAM.gov
Register as a foreign entity in SAM.gov
Use the same legal name and address everywhere
Keep NCAGE and SAM.gov records matched

CAGE Code Renewal and Changes

A CAGE code stays with your business, but it only stays usable while your SAM registration is current. Keep yours active with an on time SAM renewal.

Five year expiration

CAGE codes assigned or updated since August 2016 expire five years after the last update. Each annual SAM.gov renewal counts as an update and keeps the code current.

Inactive with SAM

A CAGE code does not change when a SAM registration lapses, but the record goes inactive. Contract awards and payments stop until the registration is Active again.

Moves, mergers and new names

A new address, legal name or owner sends the record back through DLA validation. Update SAM.gov first, then tell your contracting officer within 30 days of any CAGE code change.

Let Fed Services Get Your CAGE Code Through SAM Registration

A CAGE code only arrives when the SAM registration behind it is complete and correct. Fed Services handles that registration for you. A specialist gathers your documents, enters and submits the registration, and stays on it until SAM.gov shows Active and your CAGE code is assigned.

Consultation and document checklist before anything is submitted
Legal name and address checked against IRS records
Registration entered and submitted for you
DSBS profile set up so buyers can find you
Status checks until your CAGE code and Active status are confirmed

Want to talk it through first? Book a free consultation and a specialist will review where your registration stands.

SAM Registration Service

$595

Done for you SAM registration, including your CAGE code assignment. See every package on our pricing page.

Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PT

CAGE Code FAQs

How do I find my CAGE code?

Sign in to SAM.gov and open your Entity Workspace, where the CAGE code is listed beside your UEI on the entity record. The code also appears in the activation email SAM.gov sends. Anyone can find the CAGE code for an active public registration with the free SAM.gov entity search or the DLA CAGE search at cage.dla.mil.

How long does it take to get a CAGE code?

A CAGE code is assigned after SAM.gov validates your registration and routes it to the Defense Logistics Agency. SAM.gov notes that registrations can take up to 10 business days to process, and longer when extra validation is needed. Legal names or addresses that do not match IRS records are the most common reason for a delay.

Is a CAGE code free?

Yes. The Defense Logistics Agency does not charge to assign or update a CAGE code, and SAM.gov registration is free when completed directly at SAM.gov. Companies such as Fed Services charge only for optional help with the registration, which costs $595 with Fed Services. Be cautious of any site that presents a fee as a government charge.

Do I need a CAGE code to bid on government contracts?

Yes. Federal contracts require an active SAM.gov registration, and every registered U.S. entity receives a CAGE code as part of that registration. Some grants only need a UEI, but contract awards, Department of Defense systems and payment platforms rely on the CAGE code to identify the business at its physical address.

What is the difference between a CAGE code and a UEI?

A CAGE code is a five character code from the Defense Logistics Agency that ties a business to a physical address for contracts and payments. A UEI is the 12 character identifier SAM.gov issues to every entity, including organizations that only need grants. A full SAM registration gives a business both identifiers.

Does my CAGE code expire?

CAGE codes assigned or updated since August 2016 carry an expiration date five years after the last update. Annual SAM.gov renewals count as updates, so a business that renews on time keeps its CAGE code current. A lapsed SAM registration also makes the CAGE record inactive until the registration is renewed.

What is an NCAGE code?

An NCAGE code is the NATO version of a CAGE code, assigned to businesses located outside the United States. Foreign companies request an NCAGE code from their National Codification Bureau or through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency before registering in SAM.gov. The NCAGE code then links the foreign entity to its SAM registration.

Get Your CAGE Code Without the Guesswork

Talk to a Fed Services specialist today about your SAM registration and CAGE code. Already registered and need a renewal? See our SAM renewal service.