Dewey Decimal System Chart
Ten broad classes, one useful page. Keep an overview nearby while you explore the numbers.
This is a ten-class learning overview, not the complete official schedules or every three-digit division. Labels and examples are independently written. For detailed classification use the source record and official schedules.
The examples below come from specific public catalogue records. Open each book page to check its ISBN, version and source; a record’s number is not a universal shelf mark.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Number | Subject area | A few starting points | Recorded edition example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000 | Computing & general knowledge | Computers, information, reference works | Learning Python 005.117 |
| 100 | Philosophy & psychology | Ideas, reasoning, the mind, ethics | Atomic Habits 155.24 |
| 200 | Religion | Religious traditions, beliefs, theology | Mere Christianity 230 |
| 300 | Society & social sciences | Economics, law, education, social life | The Psychology of Money 332.4019 |
| 400 | Language | Linguistics, dictionaries, learning languages | The Language Instinct 400 |
| 500 | Science & mathematics | Space, numbers, nature, the physical world | A Brief History of Time 523.1 |
| 600 | Technology & practical subjects | Medicine, engineering, agriculture, cooking | Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat 641.5 |
| 700 | Arts & recreation | Art, design, music, performance, sports | Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain 741.2 |
| 800 | Literature | Poetry, drama, fiction, literary criticism | The Elements of Style 808.042 |
| 900 | History & geography | Places, travel, historical periods | Sapiens 909 |
Preview the printable layout
Dewey Number · A shelf-side overviewThe ten main classes.000Computing & general knowledge100Philosophy & psychology200Religion300Society & social sciences400Language500Science & mathematics600Technology & practical subjects700Arts & recreation800Literature900History & geographydeweynumber.com · Check your local catalogue for the exact shelf mark.Use the chart
- Find a broad subject area in the table.
- Look up a particular book and compare its edition and source.
- Follow the more detailed number in your library’s catalogue.
For explanations and distinctions, read the categories guide. For decimal sorting, use the reading guide.
Questions about using the Dewey chart
How do I use this chart to find a book?
Start with a broad subject area, then check the book’s edition in a catalogue. The linked examples show recorded numbers for particular editions. Use your library’s catalogue for the full call number and physical location.
Can I use the chart to assign numbers to all my books?
The ten classes are a starting overview. They do not provide the detailed schedules or rules needed to classify every book. Compare suitable catalogue records, and use official schedules or professional advice when making classification decisions.
How do I put Dewey numbers in shelf order?
Compare the whole-number part first, then read the digits after the decimal one at a time: 641.5, 641.51, 641.59, 641.6. Preserve leading zeroes, such as 005.1. Author letters and collection marks are additional local details.
Where does fiction go if my library uses FIC?
Literature belongs in the broad 800 class, but many libraries shelve novels alphabetically using FIC or an author label. The chart does not override that local arrangement. Check the catalogue rather than replacing a fiction label with a guessed numeric number.
What is included in the free printable PDFs?
The A4 and US Letter files each contain the same original one-page overview of the ten main classes. The edition examples and questions on this web page are additional reading. The PDFs are not the full official DDC schedules or a copy of WebDewey.
You may print and share this original chart with attribution to Dewey Number. OCLC’s trademarks and rights in its official classification are separate.