DUNS number
A DUNS number (Data Universal Numbering System) is a nine-digit business identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet, assigned per physical business location and used to verify and track a company for credit, trade, and vendor-onboarding purposes. It is not a GS1 identifier and doesn't convert into a GLN or GTIN. Since April 2022, the U.S. federal government no longer uses DUNS for contractor and grant registration — SAM.gov issues its own Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) instead — but D&B still issues and maintains DUNS commercially, and retailers, GPOs, and trading partners still ask for it during vendor setup.
What a DUNS number identifies
Dun & Bradstreet assigns one DUNS number per physical location of a legal entity, so a company with three warehouses can hold three separate numbers. It's the key D&B uses to link a business to its credit file, ownership structure, and trade history. Retailers, GPOs, and large distributors have historically used it as a stable identifier during vendor onboarding — a way to confirm the entity behind a new supplier record actually exists and isn't a duplicate of one already in their vendor master.
DUNS vs. UEI: the federal government switch
Before April 4, 2022, a DUNS number was required to register as a U.S. federal contractor or grant recipient in SAM.gov (the System for Award Management). On that date, the federal government fully transitioned to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), a 12-character alphanumeric ID issued directly by SAM.gov itself rather than by a third party. Entities registering with the federal government now get a UEI automatically during SAM.gov registration and no longer need to obtain a DUNS number from D&B first. Existing DUNS numbers didn't disappear — many organizations still have one and use it for non-federal purposes — but it stopped being a federal registration requirement.
DUNS vs. GLN
The two get confused because both show up on the same vendor-onboarding forms, but they're issued by different organizations for different purposes.
| DUNS number | GLN | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Dun & Bradstreet | GS1 |
| Length | 9 digits | 13 digits |
| Identifies | A business entity or location, for credit and trade | A party or location, for supply-chain messaging |
| Used in | Vendor onboarding, credit checks, historically SAM.gov | EDI routing, GDSN registration |
There's no conversion between them — a company typically needs both if it trades with partners that require each.
Where DUNS still matters for product data teams
Commercially, DUNS hasn't gone anywhere: D&B continues to issue and maintain it, and many retailer and distributor vendor-onboarding portals still ask for it alongside a GLN, a tax ID, and banking details before a new supplier record goes live. It's worth getting right early, since a mismatched or missing DUNS number is a common reason a new-vendor application stalls before any product data even enters the conversation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a DUNS number in 2026?
Not for U.S. federal contracting or grants — SAM.gov has issued its own UEI directly since April 2022. Commercially, many retailers, GPOs, and trading partners still request a DUNS number during vendor onboarding, so most B2B suppliers still carry one.
Is a DUNS number free?
D&B offers a standard DUNS number request at no cost, though the process can take one to two weeks; expedited or premium request paths are paid. Confirm current options directly with D&B, since request channels and processing times change.
What's the difference between a DUNS number and a GLN?
A DUNS number is issued by Dun & Bradstreet and tied to a business entity's credit file. A GLN is issued through GS1 and identifies parties and physical locations for supply-chain messaging like EDI and GDSN. Different issuer, different registry, no conversion between them — a supplier often needs both.
What is a UEI and does it replace my DUNS number?
A UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) is a 12-character ID issued directly by SAM.gov, and it replaced DUNS for federal contractor and grant registration in April 2022. It doesn't replace DUNS for commercial purposes — D&B's registry and your existing DUNS number, if you have one, are unaffected outside federal registration.