DUNS Number Lookup: 4 Free Ways to Find Any Company’s DUNS (2026)
Quick Answer: To look up a DUNS number free, use Dun & Bradstreet’s own lookup tool on dnb.com — search by company name and country. No account or payment needed. If the company doesn’t have one yet (or won’t share it), the other free routes are its supplier-portal documents, its federal award records on USAspending.gov (pre-2022), or asking its procurement contact directly.
Why You’re Probably Looking This Up
Someone asked for yours, or you need someone else’s. Both are normal. Corporate supplier portals, grant applications, and app-store reviews all start with a DUNS lookup. And since the number is public-facing, finding it costs nothing.
Method 1 — D&B’s Free Lookup Tool (Fastest)
This is the primary source, and it’s free.
- Go to Dun & Bradstreet’s free D-U-N-S Number Lookup Tool.
- Enter the company name and country or state.
- Pick the right match from the results — check the address, because large companies have multiple DUNS numbers (one per location).
- The result shows business name, address, and phone.
What the free lookup doesn’t show: the company’s credit score or payment history. The lookup finds the ID; the credit data behind it is a paid report. Compare the report options and prices.
Method 2 — The Company’s Own Paperwork (If You’re the Vendor)
If you’re onboarding with a big buyer, they’ve done this before. Check the supplier welcome email, onboarding portal, or vendor forms — their DUNS is often printed right there. Also check the company’s website footer, “About,” or supplier-diversity pages: firms that have a D-U-N-S Registered seal publish their number on it.
Method 3 — USAspending.gov (For Federal Contractors)
If the company won US federal contracts before April 2022, its DUNS appears in the public award records. Search the company name on USAspending.gov, open an award record from that era, and the DUNS field is listed. Free, and no account needed. (Newer awards show the UEI instead — that’s the identifier change, not a data error. More: do you still need a DUNS number?)
Method 4 — Just Ask (Underrated)
For B2B purposes, the DUNS is not a secret. Email the company’s procurement or vendor-management contact and ask — responses typically come within a day. If you’re the one being asked: your number is yours to share freely, and sharing it speeds up every onboarding you do.
Looking Up Your Own DUNS Number
You may already have one — D&B creates files from public records, so registered businesses often exist in the database without ever applying.
- Search yourself in D&B’s lookup tool first
- If you’re listed: that’s your number — done, no application needed
- If you’re not listed: apply free (~30 business days) or expedited with DUNSFile ($229, 8 business days)
Full step-by-step application walkthrough.
International DUNS Lookups
The DUNS system covers 600M+ businesses worldwide. D&B runs country-specific lookup and application sites:
- India: dnb.co.in
- UK: dnb.com/uk
- Same number format everywhere: nine digits, globally unique.
Lookup ≠ Credit Check: Know the Difference
A DUNS lookup tells you the company exists. It doesn’t tell you whether they pay on time. If you’re extending terms or sizing up a partner, what you actually want is the credit report behind the number:
| Need | Free lookup gives you | Paid report gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm company exists | ✔ | ✔ |
| Address + phone | ✔ | ✔ |
| PAYDEX payment score | ✘ | ✔ |
| Payment history + trade references | ✘ | ✔ |
| Risk ratings & trends | ✘ | ✔ |
D&B sells one-off Business Information Reports (On Demand from $189.99 as of 30 Oct 2026) or subscriptions from $49/month. If you check counterparties regularly, a subscription is cheaper after 2–3 reports.
Checking multiple companies?
Credit Insights includes report credits and monitoring alerts from $49/month.
FAQ — Real Questions, Short Answers
Is DUNS number lookup free?
Yes — D&B’s own lookup tool is free and needs no account. Third-party sites charging for “DUNS lookup” are reselling a free tool.
Can I look up a DUNS number by company name only?
Yes, on D&B’s lookup page — add the country or state to narrow results. Large companies have multiple DUNS numbers (one per location), so verify the address before using it.
Why can’t I find my company in the D&B database?
Your business may not have a file yet. D&B creates files from public records, but young or small businesses often aren’t captured. Apply for your free DUNS number and D&B opens your file.
Does SAM.gov still show DUNS numbers?
Not for new records — SAM.gov switched to the UEI on April 4, 2022. For pre-2022 federal awards, USAspending.gov records still display the DUNS.
Can I get someone’s DUNS number in India?
Yes — D&B India (dnb.co.in) provides the same free lookup and registration for Indian companies.
Is a DUNS number confidential?
No. It’s a public-facing business identifier. Companies publish it on supplier registrations, D-U-N-S Registered seals, and pitch documents.
The Bottom Line
Start with D&B’s free lookup tool. Nine times out of ten, that’s the whole job. If the company isn’t in the database, it either hasn’t registered yet — or it’s new enough that you should be pulling its credit report, not just its ID.
