What are CPV codes and how should you use them?
4 min read · last reviewed 22 Aug 2026
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) codes are the standard classification system used to describe what a public contract is for. They look like eight-digit numbers with a check digit — 90910000-9 for cleaning services, for example — and they show up on most procurement notices.
How the structure works
CPV codes are hierarchical. The first two digits identify a broad division, and each subsequent pair narrows the category. So 45000000 covers construction work generally, while 45210000 covers building construction work and 45213000 narrows further into commercial buildings.
This matters when searching: the broader the code you use, the more you see, including things that are only loosely relevant.
Using codes without missing opportunities
CPV codes are assigned by the buyer, and buyers are inconsistent. A grounds maintenance contract might be tagged under landscaping, gardening, or general facilities services depending on who wrote the notice. Relying only on your favourite codes is one of the most common reasons businesses miss relevant work.
The practical approach is to combine both: use CPV codes to catch notices where the title is vague, and keyword searching against the title and description to catch notices where the code is wrong or missing.
How TenderClear handles classification
TenderClear stores the CPV codes exactly as published on each notice and displays them on the tender page, while matching primarily on the words in the title and description. That combination means a badly coded notice can still reach the right business — and you can always verify the official classification on the source notice.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to know CPV codes to bid?
- No. Codes help you search and filter, but they are not required to submit a bid. Buyers assign them; suppliers just use them to find relevant work.
- Where can I look up a CPV code?
- The European Commission publishes the full CPV listing, and both Find a Tender and Contracts Finder let you browse or search by code when filtering notices.