# What is a size standard? A size standard is the SBA ceiling, in average annual receipts or employees, under which a business counts as small for a given NAICS code; the full table is in 13 CFR 121.201. Most service industries use average annual receipts, usually over the last five fiscal years, and most manufacturing industries use average employees over the last 24 months.Checked on 2026-11-12.Official source: [13 CFR part 121](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-121) | Term | Size standard | | --- | --- | | Source | 13 CFR part 121 | ## Size standard meaning A size standard is the SBA ceiling, in average annual receipts or employees, under which a business counts as small for a given NAICS code; the full table is in 13 CFR 121.201.Most service industries use average annual receipts, usually over the last five fiscal years, and most manufacturing industries use average employees over the last 24 months. Affiliates are counted together with the firm. For example, NAICS 541512 Computer Systems Design Services has a $34 million receipts standard and NAICS 336411 Aircraft Manufacturing a 1,500-employee standard. ## Questions Who decides whether a firm is small?Firms represent their own size in SAM.gov; SBA decides formal size protests and determinations.Do size standards change?Yes, through SBA rulemaking and periodic inflation adjustments; a proposed change is not in effect until a final rule. ## Related - [Size standard checker](https://samgovapi.io/size-standard-checker) - [NAICS code lookup](https://samgovapi.io/naics-code-lookup) - [Glossary](https://samgovapi.io/glossary)Updated 2026-11-12. Sources checked 2026-11-12.Independent. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by GSA, SAM.gov or any U.S. government agency. Registering in SAM.gov is free at sam.gov.

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