Visa MCC Codes: The Complete Merchant Category Code List

Merchant category codes (MCCs) are four-digit numbers that card networks use to classify every business that accepts card payments. This guide gives you a complete Visa MCC code list organized by category, shows you how to look up your own code, explains the most searched codes — including MCC 7011 and MCC 5411 — and covers what it means if your business falls under a high-risk MCC.

What Are MCC Codes (Merchant Category Codes)?

MCC stands for merchant category code. MCC codes are four-digit numbers used to categorize businesses by the products or services they sell. The system originates from ISO 18245, the international standard for merchant classification, and all four major credit card networks — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover — use it. Each network maintains its own list, so the code assigned to the same business may differ slightly from one network to another.

Your MCC appears on your merchant statement as a business category. Beyond classification, banks and card networks use MCC codes to aggregate transaction data, track trends across verticals, and monitor changes in consumer purchasing habits. When a vertical starts producing elevated chargebacks — as banks saw when the nutraceutical market grew — card companies and banks can respond by classifying those businesses as high risk.

Complete Visa MCC Code List by Category

Every Visa merchant category code falls within one of the numeric ranges below, which come from Visa's Merchant Data Standards documentation. Ranges 3000–3999 are reserved for individually assigned airlines, car rental agencies, and hotel chains; the rest group merchants by industry. The list below covers the codes merchants and cardholders look up most within each range — use your browser's find function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to jump straight to a specific code.

Agricultural Services (0742–1499)

• 0742 — Veterinary services
• 0763 — Agricultural cooperatives
• 0780 — Landscaping and horticultural services

Contracted Services (1500–2999)

• 1520 — General contractors, residential and commercial
• 1711 — Heating, plumbing, and air conditioning contractors
• 1731 — Electrical contractors
• 1761 — Roofing, siding, and sheet metal work
• 1799 — Special trade contractors (not elsewhere classified)
• 2741 — Miscellaneous publishing and printing

Airlines (3000–3299)

Each major airline carries its own Visa MCC in this range — for example, 3000 United Airlines, 3001 American Airlines, 3058 Delta, and 3066 Southwest. Carriers without a dedicated code process under 4511, airlines and air carriers not elsewhere classified.

Car Rental Agencies (3300–3499)

Major rental agencies are individually assigned — for example, 3357 Hertz, 3389 Avis, 3393 National, and 3405 Enterprise. Agencies without a dedicated code fall under 7512.

Lodging and Hotel Chains (3500–3999)

Major hotel chains carry their own codes — for example, 3501 Holiday Inn, 3502 Best Western, 3503 Sheraton, 3504 Hilton, 3509 Marriott, and 3640 Hyatt. Independent hotels, motels, resorts, and central reservation services use 7011, covered in detail below.

Transportation Services (4000–4799)

• 4011 — Railroads (freight)
• 4111 — Local and suburban commuter transportation, including ferries
• 4121 — Taxicabs and limousines
• 4131 — Bus lines
• 4214 — Motor freight carriers and trucking
• 4215 — Courier services
• 4411 — Steamship and cruise lines
• 4511 — Airlines and air carriers (not elsewhere classified)
• 4582 — Airports, flying fields, and airport terminals
• 4722 — Travel agencies and tour operators
• 4784 — Tolls and bridge fees
• 4789 — Transportation services (not elsewhere classified)

Utilities and Telecommunications (4800–4999)

• 4812 — Telecommunication equipment and telephone sales
• 4814 — Telecommunication services
• 4816 — Computer network and information services
• 4829 — Money transfers and wire transfer money orders
• 4899 — Cable, satellite, and other pay television and radio services
• 4900 — Utilities: electric, gas, water, and sanitary

Retail Stores (5000–5599)

• 5045 — Computers, computer peripherals, and software
• 5111 — Stationery, office supplies, and printing paper
• 5122 — Drugs, drug proprietaries, and druggist sundries
• 5192 — Books, periodicals, and newspapers
• 5200 — Home supply warehouse stores
• 5211 — Lumber and building materials
• 5251 — Hardware stores
• 5261 — Nurseries and lawn and garden supply stores
• 5300 — Wholesale clubs
• 5310 — Discount stores
• 5311 — Department stores
• 5331 — Variety stores
• 5399 — Miscellaneous general merchandise
• 5411 — Grocery stores and supermarkets
• 5441 — Candy, nut, and confectionery stores
• 5462 — Bakeries
• 5499 — Miscellaneous food stores: convenience stores and specialty markets
• 5511 — Car and truck dealers, new and used
• 5532 — Automotive tire stores
• 5533 — Automotive parts and accessories stores
• 5541 — Service stations (with or without ancillary services)
• 5542 — Automated fuel dispensers

Clothing Stores (5600–5699)

• 5611 — Men's and boys' clothing and accessories
• 5621 — Women's ready-to-wear stores
• 5641 — Children's and infants' wear stores
• 5651 — Family clothing stores
• 5661 — Shoe stores
• 5691 — Men's and women's clothing stores
• 5699 — Miscellaneous apparel and accessory shops

Miscellaneous Stores, Restaurants, and Digital Goods (5700–5999)

• 5712 — Furniture and home furnishings stores
• 5722 — Household appliance stores
• 5732 — Electronics stores
• 5734 — Computer software stores
• 5811 — Caterers
• 5812 — Eating places and restaurants
• 5813 — Drinking places: bars, taverns, nightclubs, and cocktail lounges
• 5814 — Fast food restaurants
• 5815 — Digital goods: media (books, movies, music)
• 5816 — Digital goods: games
• 5817 — Digital goods: applications (excluding games)
• 5818 — Digital goods: large digital goods merchants
• 5912 — Drug stores and pharmacies
• 5921 — Package stores: beer, wine, and liquor
• 5941 — Sporting goods stores
• 5942 — Book stores
• 5944 — Jewelry, watch, clock, and silverware stores
• 5945 — Hobby, toy, and game shops
• 5962 — Direct marketing: travel-related arrangement services
• 5966 — Direct marketing: outbound telemarketing
• 5967 — Direct marketing: inbound telemarketing
• 5968 — Direct marketing: continuity and subscription merchants
• 5993 — Cigar stores and stands
• 5995 — Pet shops, pet food, and supplies
• 5999 — Miscellaneous and specialty retail stores

Financial Services (6010–6513)

• 6010 — Financial institutions: manual cash disbursements
• 6011 — Financial institutions: automated cash disbursements (ATMs)
• 6012 — Financial institutions: merchandise and services
• 6051 — Non-financial institutions: foreign currency, money orders, and travelers cheques
• 6211 — Securities brokers and dealers
• 6300 — Insurance sales, underwriting, and premiums
• 6513 — Real estate agents and managers: rentals

Personal and Business Services (7011–7399)

• 7011 — Lodging: hotels, motels, and resorts (including central reservation services)
• 7012 — Timeshares
• 7210 — Laundry and cleaning services
• 7230 — Beauty and barber shops
• 7273 — Dating services
• 7276 — Tax preparation services
• 7298 — Health and beauty spas
• 7299 — Miscellaneous personal services
• 7311 — Advertising services
• 7372 — Computer programming and data processing
• 7392 — Management, consulting, and public relations services
• 7399 — Business services (not elsewhere classified)

Automotive Services, Entertainment, and Recreation (7500–7999)

• 7512 — Automobile rental agencies
• 7523 — Parking lots and garages
• 7538 — Automotive service shops
• 7542 — Car washes
• 7832 — Motion picture theaters
• 7922 — Theatrical producers and ticket agencies
• 7941 — Commercial sports, athletic fields, and sports clubs
• 7991 — Tourist attractions and exhibits
• 7995 — Betting: casino gambling, lottery tickets, and off-track betting
• 7996 — Amusement parks, circuses, and carnivals
• 7997 — Country clubs and membership clubs (sports and recreation)
• 7999 — Recreation services (not elsewhere classified)

Professional Services and Membership Organizations (8000–8999)

• 8011 — Doctors and physicians
• 8021 — Dentists and orthodontists
• 8043 — Opticians, optical goods, and eyeglasses
• 8062 — Hospitals
• 8099 — Medical services (not elsewhere classified)
• 8111 — Legal services and attorneys
• 8211 — Elementary and secondary schools
• 8220 — Colleges and universities
• 8299 — Schools and educational services (not elsewhere classified)
• 8351 — Child care services
• 8398 — Charitable and social service organizations
• 8661 — Religious organizations
• 8911 — Architectural, engineering, and surveying services
• 8931 — Accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping services
• 8999 — Professional services (not elsewhere classified)

Government Services (9000–9999)

• 9211 — Court costs, including alimony and child support
• 9222 — Fines
• 9311 — Tax payments
• 9399 — Government services (not elsewhere classified)
• 9402 — Postal services (government only)

How to Look Up Your Visa MCC

If you're not sure which MCC your business carries, there are four reliable ways to look it up:

• Check your merchant statement. Your MCC typically appears on your monthly processing statement alongside your business category.
• Ask your payment processor or acquiring bank. Your processor selected the code when your merchant account opened and can confirm it directly.
• Reference Visa's documentation. Visa publishes its full list of active codes in its Merchant Data Standards documentation.
• Cross-check the IRS MCC list. The IRS maintains its own list of merchant category codes for tax reporting, which works as a helpful cross-reference.

Because each card network keeps its own list, note which network you're checking — your Visa MCC may not match your code on another network exactly.

Common Visa MCC Codes Explained

These are the individual Visa MCC codes people search for most, and what each one actually covers.

MCC 7011 - Hotels, Motels, and Resorts

Visa's MCC 7011 covers lodging — hotels, motels, and resorts — including central reservation services that aren't classified elsewhere. Major hotel brands carry their own dedicated codes in the 3500–3999 range, so 7011 generally applies to independent properties and booking services. Lodging merchants tend to see elevated no-show and chargeback activity, which can draw closer attention from processors and underwriters.

MCC 5411 - Grocery Stores and Supermarkets

MCC 5411 covers grocery stores and supermarkets. It's one of the most looked-up codes because many credit cards tie bonus rewards and cashback to grocery purchases, and interchange for supermarket transactions is often priced differently than general retail. Food sellers that operate primarily as convenience or specialty markets may fall under 5499 instead.

MCC 5814 - Fast Food Restaurants

MCC 5814 covers fast food and quick-service restaurants, while full-service restaurants fall under MCC 5812. The distinction matters: many credit cards offer higher cashback percentages for dining out or fast food purchases, and your assigned code determines whether those rewards apply at your business.

MCC 5815 - Digital Goods and Media

MCC 5815 covers digital goods — media such as books, movies, and music, along with other digital services like online media content. Related codes include 5816 (digital games), 5817 (digital applications, excluding games), and 5818 (large digital goods merchants). Because these are card-not-present transactions, digital goods sellers often face closer fraud and chargeback scrutiny, which makes purpose-built ecommerce payment processing especially important for online sellers.

MCC 6012 - Financial Institutions and Personal Finance

MCC 6012 covers merchandise and services sold by financial institutions, including personal finance services such as bill payment. The code often impacts fee structures and how issuers treat purchases for consumer rewards, so financial services merchants should confirm they're classified here rather than under a neighboring financial code.

MCC 6211 - Securities Brokers and Dealers

MCC 6211 covers securities brokers and dealers — brokerages and merchants selling investment products. Because these transactions involve regulated financial products, they can draw additional review from issuers and underwriters, and rewards treatment varies by card issuer.

MCC 6051 - Foreign Currency and Quasi-Cash

MCC 6051 covers non-financial institutions dealing in foreign currency, money orders (not wire transfers), and travelers cheques — currency exchange services often found at airports or travel agencies. These count as quasi-cash transactions, which issuers may treat differently from ordinary purchases, and 6051 is one of the codes processors commonly flag for closer risk review.

High-Risk MCC Codes: What Merchants Need to Know

Certain MCC codes get flagged by card networks, banks, and payment processors because the industries behind them historically show higher chargeback ratios, fraud exposure, or compliance concerns. Commonly flagged examples include:

• 7995 — Betting and casino gambling, including lottery tickets and off-track betting
• 6051 — Foreign currency exchange and quasi-cash
• 5966 and 5967 — Outbound and inbound telemarketing
• 5968 — Continuity and subscription billing merchants
• 7273 — Dating services

Industries such as online gaming, nutraceuticals, and CBD also routinely land in high-risk territory, whatever specific code they carry.

Underwriters care because these categories create more financial exposure for the acquiring bank: more chargebacks, more fraud disputes, and more regulatory oversight. In practice, a high-risk MCC can mean higher processing fees, rolling reserve requirements, closer monitoring, and stricter terms on your merchant account.

If your business falls under one of these codes, the wrong move is disguising what you sell — that's how accounts get terminated (more on that below). The better path is working with a processor that knowingly underwrites your industry. PayKings works with a wide range of high-risk industries, and applying for a high-risk merchant account built for your category can help you set up processing that accounts for your industry's risk profile.

How MCC Codes Affect Interchange Fees and Rewards

Interchange fees — the fees merchants pay to process credit card transactions — vary depending on the MCC code. Higher-risk businesses typically face higher fees to offset the potential for fraud or chargebacks, which is why processors may charge more for transactions in industries like gambling or nutraceuticals.

For cardholders, MCC codes decide which purchases earn bonus rewards. Issuers tie bonus categories to specific codes — extra points for fast food (5814), higher cashback at grocery stores (5411), travel rewards on airline codes (3000–3299) — so knowing which category a business falls under helps consumers understand where they can earn extra cashback or points.

For business owners, the assigned code cuts both ways. It affects the interchange you pay, it influences the rewards your customers earn when they shop with you (which can affect where they choose to spend), and it can classify your business as high risk — bringing higher processing fees and stricter compliance requirements with it.

Visa MCCs vs. Mastercard, Amex, and Discover (ISO 18245)

Merchant category codes come from ISO 18245, the international standard that defines the four-digit classification system. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover each maintain their own MCC list on top of that standard. The lists overlap heavily — core codes like 5411 for grocery stores are broadly consistent — but assignments can differ per network, and each network publishes its own documentation (Visa's is the Merchant Data Standards manual).

The practical takeaway for merchants: confirm your classification for each network you accept rather than assuming your Visa code applies across the board, and remember that the IRS list used for tax reporting is a separate list again.

Can You Change Your MCC Code?

Your MCC is selected by your payment processing company at an early stage of the application process. Your account broker picks the most accurate code reflecting your business or service, and the ISO verifies that code before underwriting. From there, your business is essentially locked into the code unless something substantial changes.

If the code is simply wrong, start with your processor or acquiring bank; they can review the classification and correct a genuine miscategorization. If your business changes substantially — new products, a new regulated vertical — you may need to open a new merchant account altogether under the correct code.

What you shouldn't do is misrepresent your business to get a friendlier code. ISOs sometimes try to game the system by classifying a company as a different business type. The account opens fast, but the trouble comes later: misrepresentation can end with a terminated account and placement on the MATCH list, which can make it much harder to get approved for processing afterward. For example, if a company sells CBD online, there are specific regulations it has to follow — opening a proper CBD merchant account can help manage those unique requirements efficiently instead of hiding behind the wrong code.

Key Takeaways

• Visa MCC codes are four-digit numbers, rooted in ISO 18245, that card networks use to categorize businesses and transactions by industry.
• The complete list is organized by category ranges — airlines (3000–3299), lodging (3500–3999 plus 7011), retail (5000s), services (7000s), and more.
• MCC codes drive fees and rewards: interchange pricing and credit card bonus categories both key off the code assigned to a business.
• Certain MCCs are high risk: codes like 7995 (gambling) and 6051 (quasi-cash) can bring higher fees, reserve requirements, and closer scrutiny from processors.
• Processors assign MCC codes during the application process — if yours looks wrong, ask your processor to review it rather than misrepresenting your business.