The standard manufacturer abbreviation is mfr., and the plural is mfrs. You will find it on product labels, parts catalogs, invoices and warranty forms, often in a short field name such as "Mfr. part no."
It sits in a small family of look-alike short forms. Mfg. means manufacturing, and mfd. means manufactured. Mixing them up is the most common mistake, so this page shows each one with real examples from a label and a spreadsheet.
Quick facts
Main form
mfr.Plural
mfrs.Less common
manuf., mfgr.Period
Traditional style uses one; labels and data fields often drop itUsed in
Labels, invoices, parts lists, spec sheets, warrantiesNot to be confused with
mfg. (manufacturing), mfd. (manufactured)
The manufacturer abbreviation and its family
| Short form | Full word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mfr. | manufacturer (the company) | Mfr.: Ridgeline Tools |
| mfrs. | manufacturers | Contact list of approved mfrs. |
| mfg. | manufacturing (the process) | Mfg. plant in Ohio |
| mfd. | manufactured (a date or fact) | Mfd. 03/18 |
A simple test: if you can swap in "maker," use mfr. If you can swap in "making," use mfg. If you can swap in "made," use mfd. For the process word, see our page on the abbreviation for manufacturing.
Abbreviation for manufacturer on labels and paperwork
- Parts lists: a column headed "Mfr. part no." holds the maker's own part number, which can differ from the store's item number. Many systems shorten this to MPN, manufacturer part number.
- Invoices and purchase orders: "Mfr." names the brand that made the item, separate from the seller.
- Warranty cards: "Return to mfr." means send the item back to the company that made it, not the store.
- Medicine and food packages: "Mfd. for" or "Mfr. by" lines show who made the product or who it was made for.
A spreadsheet header: "Item | Mfr | Mfr Part # | Qty." The second column lists the company that built each part, and the third lists that company's number for it. Data fields like these often skip the period.
Periods, capitals and plurals
Follow the setting you are writing in:
- Running text: use a period, mfr., and keep it lowercase except at the start of a sentence. Better yet, spell out manufacturer in a sentence meant for customers.
- Labels and column headers: Mfr or MFR without a period is normal, because space is tight.
- Plural: add s before the period, mfrs. Do not add an apostrophe unless you mean ownership, as in "the mfr.'s warranty."
Most readers say the full word when they see mfr., so write "a mfr." just as you would write "a manufacturer." For broader tips, see how to abbreviate.
Acronyms that contain the word manufacturer
The word also hides inside several well known acronyms:
- MSRP: manufacturer's suggested retail price, the amount the maker recommends stores charge.
- OEM: original equipment manufacturer, a firm whose parts go into another company's product.
- MPN: manufacturer part number, the maker's own code for an item.
- CM: contract manufacturer, a firm that builds products for other brands.
In these, the M is written as a capital with the rest of the letters, and no period is used.
Sample lines using mfr.
- "Mfr.: Coastal Paint Co. | Color: Harbor Gray"
- "Please list all approved mfrs. on the bid form."
- "Warranty claims go directly to the mfr."
- "Mfr. part no. must match the drawing."
- "The mfr. date is printed under the battery cover."
Find more short forms for work documents in the common abbreviations collection, including the abbreviation for equipment.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between mfr. and mfg.?
Mfr. is the manufacturer, the company. Mfg. is manufacturing, the process of making things. A label might say "Mfr.: Delta Foods" and "Mfg. facility: Plant 2."
What does mfd. mean on a product?
It means manufactured. It is usually followed by a date or a place, as in "Mfd. 06/15" or "Mfd. in Mexico."
Is MFR capitalized?
In sentences, write it lowercase with a period, mfr. On labels, forms and spreadsheet headers, all capitals or an initial capital without a period is common.
What is the plural of the abbreviation for manufacturer?
The plural is mfrs. Add the s before the period, and use no apostrophe unless you are showing possession.