MCC Codes: What Is My Merchant Category Code? (Full 2026 List)

A merchant category code (MCC) is a four-digit number that tells the card schemes what kind of business you are. It looks like a small technical detail, but it affects what you pay to process cards, how closely your transactions are watched, and whether some cardholders can pay you at all.

This guide explains what MCCs are, how to find yours, which codes count as high risk, and what to do if you have been given the wrong one. The full MCC list is further down the page.

Key takeaways

• An MCC is a four-digit code that classifies a business by what it sells. The codes follow the international standard ISO 18245.
• You do not apply for an MCC yourself. Your acquirer or payment processor assigns it when your merchant account is set up.
• Your MCC affects fees, risk monitoring, card scheme registration requirements and whether some issuers decline your transactions.
• Codes such as 5967, 7273, 7995, 5122, 5912, 5993 and 6051 are treated as high risk and usually need extra scheme registration.
• A wrong MCC is not just an admin error. Using a code that hides what you really sell breaks card scheme rules.

What is an MCC (merchant category code)?

A merchant category code is a four-digit number attached to every card transaction you process. It tells the card schemes, such as Visa and Mastercard, and the card issuer what type of goods or services the payment is for. A hotel uses 7011, a restaurant 5812, a travel agency 4722 and a software shop 5734.

The codes are based on the international standard ISO 18245. Visa and Mastercard each publish their own list built on it, and the two are almost identical. A few codes exist on one scheme only, and some are limited to certain countries, such as 7801 for internet gambling in the US.

Your MCC is set at merchant account level. If you run several businesses or sell very different things, you may need more than one merchant account, each with its own MCC. That is one reason businesses often have several merchant IDs.

How to find your MCC

There is no public database where you can look up a merchant’s MCC. To find yours:

• Check your merchant statement. Most acquirers show the MCC on monthly statements or in the account set-up documents.
• Look in your processor’s dashboard. Many processors show the MCC in the account or business settings.
• Ask your acquirer or payment processor. They assigned the code, so they can confirm it and explain why it was chosen.

As a cardholder, you will sometimes see a merchant’s category in your banking app, because many issuers use the MCC to group your spending. The four-digit code itself is rarely shown.

Why your MCC matters

Fees

Card schemes and acquirers use the MCC when they price transactions. In the United States, interchange rates differ by merchant category. In the EU, consumer card interchange is capped by the Interchange Fee Regulation at 0.2% for debit cards and 0.3% for credit cards, so the MCC matters less for that part of the fee. It still drives scheme fees, acquirer pricing, reserves and the registration fees that apply to high-risk categories.

Risk monitoring

Card schemes and acquirers watch some categories more closely than others. A high-risk MCC usually means stricter onboarding, more frequent reviews and lower tolerance for chargebacks and fraud. It also means your acquirer has to register you with the card schemes before you can process.

Declines and blocks

Issuers can block categories. Some banks let cardholders block gambling transactions, and some corporate card programmes only allow certain MCCs. If your code falls into a blocked category, those payments are declined before they reach you, whatever your product is.

Cardholder rewards

Issuers use MCCs to decide which purchases earn bonus points or cashback, for example extra rewards at restaurants or petrol stations. This matters more to your customers than to you, but it explains why customers sometimes ask what category you fall under.

Reporting

Companies use MCCs to sort spending for budgets and expense reports. In some countries, tax authorities and regulators also use them to identify certain types of payments.

High-risk MCCs

Some merchant categories carry more chargebacks, more fraud, more regulation or more brand risk for the card schemes. Visa and Mastercard both run programmes that require acquirers to register merchants in these categories before processing, and to monitor them afterwards. The categories below are among those most commonly treated as high risk.

Registration under these programmes comes with fees, which acquirers usually pass on to the merchant. The amounts depend on the scheme, the region and the category, and the schemes change them from time to time, so ask your acquirer for its current fee schedule before you sign.

Regardless of which card scheme or MCC code you have, keep an eye on the fees for your cards. One of the more important fees to consider as a high-risk merchant is the high-risk scheme fee, which is part of the Visa Integrity Risk Program (VIRP). This is similar to a registration fee, and you have to pay a yearly fee of $950, check for each card scheme.

Dennis E.R. Pedersen, CEO and Founder of FastoPayments

Being in a high-risk category does not mean you cannot get a merchant account. It means you need an acquirer that works with your category and registers you correctly. If you run an adult business, a gambling or gaming business, a dating service, a nutraceutical brand, a vape shop or a subscription business, that is where a specialist high-risk merchant account comes in.

Who assigns your MCC, and what if it’s wrong?

Your acquirer assigns the MCC when it onboards you, based on what you told it you sell and what it sees on your website. The code should describe your main line of business. If you sell several very different things, the acquirer may need to set up separate merchant accounts with different codes.

A wrong MCC can cause real problems:

• Too low a risk category. If a high-risk business is coded as low risk, the transactions are miscoded. The card schemes treat deliberately using a code that hides what you sell as a serious breach, and it can lead to fines for the acquirer and the account being closed.
• Too high a risk category. If your business is coded as high risk when it is not, you may pay for registration you don’t need and face declines from issuers that block that category.
• Wrong category altogether. Your transactions may be declined by corporate card programmes, or customers may lose rewards they expected.

If you think your MCC is wrong, contact your acquirer or processor, explain what your business sells, and ask for a review. Keep a record of the request. If your business changes, for example you add a new product line, tell your acquirer before you start selling it, not after.

MCC vs merchant ID

People often mix up the two. Your MCC describes the type of business and is shared with every other merchant in the same category. Your merchant ID (MID) is unique to your merchant account and identifies you specifically. You don’t apply for either yourself. Both are assigned when your merchant account is opened.

Full MCC list (merchant category codes)

The list below groups the merchant category codes in common use by number range. Descriptions are shortened for readability. Visa and Mastercard occasionally add or retire codes, so your acquirer’s list is the final word for your account.

MCC 0742 to 2842: agriculture, contractors and trade services

MCC 4011 to 4789: transport and travel

MCC 4812 to 4900: telecoms, utilities and money transfer

MCC 5013 to 5199: wholesale and business supplies

MCC 5200 to 5599: home, food and motor retail

MCC 5611 to 5699: clothing and accessories

MCC 5712 to 5999: home goods, digital goods, specialty retail and direct marketing

MCC 6010 to 6540: financial services and money movement

MCC 7011 to 7299: lodging and personal services

MCC 7311 to 7999: business, repair, entertainment and gambling services

MCC 8011 to 8999: health, education and professional services

MCC 9211 to 9950: government and intra-company

Frequently asked questions

What is an MCC code?

An MCC (merchant category code) is a four-digit number that classifies a business by the type of goods or services it sells. It is attached to every card transaction and is used by card schemes, issuers and acquirers for pricing, risk monitoring and reporting.

How do I find my MCC code?

Check your merchant statement or your payment processor’s dashboard, where the MCC is usually listed in the account details. If you can’t find it, ask your acquirer or processor, because they assigned it.

Can I choose or change my MCC?

You can’t pick it yourself, but you can ask your acquirer to review it if it doesn’t match what your business sells. The acquirer decides, based on your main line of business.

What are high-risk MCC codes?

High-risk MCCs are categories the card schemes watch more closely because of higher chargebacks, fraud, regulation or brand risk. Common examples are 5967 (adult content), 7273 (dating), 7995 (gambling), 5122 and 5912 (pharmacies), 5993 (tobacco and vape) and 6051 (often used for cryptocurrency).

Do MCC codes affect processing fees?

Yes. In the US, interchange rates differ by merchant category. In the EU, consumer card interchange is capped, but your MCC still affects scheme fees, acquirer pricing, reserves and any high-risk registration fees.

Is an MCC the same as a merchant ID?

No. An MCC describes your type of business and is shared by every merchant in that category. A merchant ID is unique to your merchant account.

What happens if my business has the wrong MCC?

You may pay the wrong fees, see more declines, or, if a high-risk business is coded as low risk, breach card scheme rules, which can lead to the account being closed. Ask your acquirer to review the code as soon as you notice.

Next step

If your business sits in one of the high-risk categories above, the right acquirer matters more than the code itself. Fasto works with adult, subscription, nutraceutical, gaming, dating and hospitality merchants, registers them correctly with the card schemes, and approval typically takes two to three weeks.

Get a free quote and tell us what you sell. We’ll tell you which MCC applies and what that means for your account.