From zero to your first NSN lookup

Quick start

1. Get a key

   Choose a plan on the pricing page. The Free plan is enough to follow this guide. Keys look like nsn_ followed by 48 letters and digits.

2. Look up an NSN

   Send your key in the X-Api-Key header. The NSN can have dashes or not, or be a 9-character NIIN.

   curl Python C# JavaScript PowerShell

   curl -H "X-Api-Key: $KEY" \
     "https://api.nsnlookup.com/v19/nsn/5305-00-123-4567?include=references,management"

   import requests
   
   r = requests.get(
       "https://api.nsnlookup.com/v19/nsn/5305-00-123-4567",
       headers={"X-Api-Key": KEY},
       params={"include": "references,management"},
       timeout=30,
   )
   if r.status_code == 404:
       print("No such NSN")
   else:
       r.raise_for_status()
       item = r.json()
       print(item["nsn"], item.get("itemName"))

   using var http = new HttpClient { BaseAddress = new Uri("https://api.nsnlookup.com") };
   http.DefaultRequestHeaders.Add("X-Api-Key", key);
   
   var item = await http.GetFromJsonAsync<JsonElement>(
       "/v19/nsn/5305-00-123-4567?include=references,management");
   
   Console.WriteLine(item.GetProperty("itemName").GetString());

   const res = await fetch(
     "https://api.nsnlookup.com/v19/nsn/5305-00-123-4567?include=references,management",
     { headers: { "X-Api-Key": process.env.NSN_API_KEY } }
   );
   if (!res.ok) throw new Error((await res.json()).error);
   const item = await res.json();
   console.log(item.nsn, item.itemName);
   
   // Call from your server, not from a web page: a key in browser code is public.

   $item = Invoke-RestMethod "https://api.nsnlookup.com/v19/nsn/5305-00-123-4567?include=references" `
       -Headers @{ 'X-Api-Key' = $key }
   $item.itemName
   $item.references | Format-Table partNumber, cage, rncc

3. Read the answer

   Properties are camelCase. A property with no value is left out. Every field is explained in the data dictionary.

   {
     "nsn": "5305-00-123-4567",
     "niin": "001234567",
     "fsc": "5305",
     "itemName": "SCREW,MACHINE",
     "demil": "A",
     "references": [
       { "partNumber": "MS35338-44", "cage": "96906", "rncc": "2", "rnvc": "2", "historical": false }
     ],
     "management": [
       { "moe": "DS", "unitOfIssue": "HD", "unitPrice": 12.34, "aac": "D", "effectiveDate": "2025-10-01" }
     ]
   }

   Sample values for illustration, not a real catalog record.

Endpoints

Base address https://api.nsnlookup.com. All are GET and return JSON.

Sections you can add to an NSN record

Ask only for what you need: ?include=references,management. Use all for everything.