How do federal firearms license counts and types differ by state?
Firearms manufacturers (Type 07) account for 52% of Massachusetts's listed licenses—the largest manufacturer share among the 50 states. Texas leads in total listed licenses. Rates per resident use compatible Census population estimates. A license record is not a public storefront.
2026 edition · data through August 2026 · next update January 2027
Key findings
- 139.96listed records per 100,000 residents
Wyoming has about 140 listed license records per 100,000 residents versus about 4 in New Jersey, among the 50 states. This uses the ATF list, August 2026 and Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025; license records are not storefronts.
Cite
USA Arms, “How do federal firearms license counts and types differ by state?” (2026 edition): Wyoming has about 140 listed license records per 100,000 residents versus about 4 in New Jersey, among the 50 states. This uses the ATF list, August 2026 and Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025; license records are not storefronts. https://usaarms.com/research/ffl-density/#finding-density-comparison (source: ATF list, August 2026; Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025)
Source: ATF list, August 2026; Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025 - 77,150license records
The ATF list, August 2026 contains 77,150 license records; a license record is not a storefront open to the public.
On the statistics pageCite
USA Arms, “How do federal firearms license counts and types differ by state?” (2026 edition): The ATF list, August 2026 contains 77,150 license records; a license record is not a storefront open to the public. https://usaarms.com/research/ffl-density/#finding-listed-license-records (source: ATF list, August 2026)
Source: ATF list, August 2026 - 5,785license records
The ATF list, August 2026 contains 5,785 type 02 pawnbroker records.
Cite
USA Arms, “How do federal firearms license counts and types differ by state?” (2026 edition): The ATF list, August 2026 contains 5,785 type 02 pawnbroker records. https://usaarms.com/research/ffl-density/#finding-pawnbroker-count (source: ATF list, August 2026)
Source: ATF list, August 2026 - 8,343license records
Texas has the largest state count in the ATF list, August 2026, with 8,343 listed records; this ranks counts, not density.
Cite
USA Arms, “How do federal firearms license counts and types differ by state?” (2026 edition): Texas has the largest state count in the ATF list, August 2026, with 8,343 listed records; this ranks counts, not density. https://usaarms.com/research/ffl-density/#finding-largest-state-count (source: ATF list, August 2026)
Source: ATF list, August 2026
Compare federal firearm licenses by state
Listed license records by state for one license type on the newest ATF list. Each state’s counts by type, type shares, changes between lists and records per 100,000 residents are in the data file. Counts describe licenses, not public storefronts; changes between lists are not openings or closures.
ATF list, August 2026 · 01 · Dealer in firearms other than destructive devices · listed license records
- Under 380
- 380–660
- 660–940
- 940–1,200
- 1,200 or more
9 primary sources
ATF list, January 2021; ATF list, January 2022; ATF list, January 2023; ATF list, January 2024; ATF list, January 2025; ATF list, January 2026; ATF list, August 2026; Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025; Census TIGERweb state boundaries, January 1, 2026
Read the chart values
Compare two states
Choose two states, then use the map to choose a measure and the date of the ATF list. The difference is State A minus State B; the source rows show the figures used.
- Texas · 01 · Dealer in firearms other than destructive devices
- 4,202 listed license records
- Florida · 01 · Dealer in firearms other than destructive devices
- 2,094 listed license records
- Texas minus Florida · 01 · Dealer in firearms other than destructive devices
- 2,108 listed license records
A license record is not a public storefront. A difference between snapshots is not an opening or closure.
2026 edition · updated October 5, 2026
Counts describe listed licenses, not public storefronts or unique businesses. License mix uses each state’s listed records, not population. Subtract shares in percentage points. Changes compare the selected ATF list with the preceding available list; they do not establish openings or closures. Missing type observations and population remain unavailable.
8 primary sources
ATF list, January 2021; ATF list, January 2022; ATF list, January 2023; ATF list, January 2024; ATF list, January 2025; ATF list, January 2026; ATF list, August 2026; Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025
How many license records are listed in each state?
ATF list, August 2026. All listed types, not just dealers. Select a state to count licenses by the city named in each license address. These ATF address labels are not Census-defined places.
ATF list, August 2026 · listed license records
Read the chart values
FFL records per 100,000 residents
ATF list, August 2026; Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025. The license list and population estimate refer to different dates. Choose a license type to compare records per resident. Type 03 collector licenses are not reported in this list; unavailable is not zero.
All listed license types · ATF list, August 2026 · listed records per 100,000 residents
- Under 18
- 18–27
- 27–32
- 32–45
- 45 or more
Read the chart values
What kinds of licenses are in the national list?
ATF list, August 2026. National counts include the District of Columbia and listed territories; the density comparison is restricted to the 50 states.
ATF list, August 2026 · license records
Read the chart values
How does the license mix change from state to state?
ATF list, August 2026. Each share uses all listed license records in that state, not its population. Type 03 remains unavailable when absent from the selected source.
01 · Dealer in firearms other than destructive devices · ATF list, August 2026 · percent of listed state license records
Read the chart values
Annual January license counts
Read the number of license records in each January ATF list. Choose a year to show that list; the bars show counts, not differences between years. Changes between lists do not establish business openings or closures. Only January lists are shown here.
ATF list, January 2026 · listed license records
6 primary sources
ATF list, January 2021; ATF list, January 2022; ATF list, January 2023; ATF list, January 2024; ATF list, January 2025; ATF list, January 2026
Read the chart values
Your state versus the national benchmark
Choose your state and a license type to compare its listed-license density with the 50-state benchmark.
ATF list, August 2026; Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025. The benchmark includes the 50 states only. All listed types are not all dealers; type 03 is unavailable in the selected source.
The numbers behind the findings
ATF list, August 2026 is the selected source. State rows also include published January ATF lists; each row names its own date. National and national-type rows include all listed source geographies, including DC and territories; state rows contain only the state in the license address. These overlapping scopes must not be summed together. Missing historical type observations and absent Type 03 are unavailable, not zero. Shares divide that type's reported count by the listed state total; changes subtract the immediately preceding included ATF list, not openings or closures. Population estimate used: Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025.
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Explore the states
Open a state for its figures and its statistics page.
Browse all 50 states
Alabama
Alabama has 1,479 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 807 type 01 dealers and 372 type 07 manufacturers. 28.5 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Alaska
Alaska has 562 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 383 type 01 dealers and 133 type 07 manufacturers. 76.2 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Arizona
Arizona has 2,580 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,113 type 01 dealers and 1,142 type 07 manufacturers. 33.8 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Arkansas
Arkansas has 1,500 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 797 type 01 dealers and 374 type 07 manufacturers. 48.2 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
California
California has 2,030 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,209 type 01 dealers and 585 type 07 manufacturers. 5.2 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Colorado
Colorado has 1,679 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 940 type 01 dealers and 542 type 07 manufacturers. 27.9 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Connecticut
Connecticut has 659 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 383 type 01 dealers and 217 type 07 manufacturers. 17.9 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Delaware
Delaware has 135 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 108 type 01 dealers and 18 type 07 manufacturers. 12.7 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Florida
Florida has 4,558 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 2,094 type 01 dealers and 1,495 type 07 manufacturers. 19.4 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Georgia
Georgia has 2,425 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,192 type 01 dealers and 685 type 07 manufacturers. 21.5 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Hawaii
Hawaii has 105 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 87 type 01 dealers and 15 type 07 manufacturers. 7.3 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Idaho
Idaho has 1,341 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 661 type 01 dealers and 524 type 07 manufacturers. 66.1 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Illinois
Illinois has 1,414 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 987 type 01 dealers and 295 type 07 manufacturers. 11.1 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Indiana
Indiana has 1,731 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,141 type 01 dealers and 439 type 07 manufacturers. 24.8 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Iowa
Iowa has 1,456 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,057 type 01 dealers and 311 type 07 manufacturers. 45 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Kansas
Kansas has 1,206 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 783 type 01 dealers and 305 type 07 manufacturers. 40.5 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Kentucky
Kentucky has 1,442 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 811 type 01 dealers and 333 type 07 manufacturers. 31.3 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Louisiana
Louisiana has 1,288 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 813 type 01 dealers and 295 type 07 manufacturers. 27.9 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Maine
Maine has 547 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 348 type 01 dealers and 136 type 07 manufacturers. 38.7 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Maryland
Maryland has 792 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 507 type 01 dealers and 200 type 07 manufacturers. 12.6 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 589 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 254 type 01 dealers and 306 type 07 manufacturers. 8.2 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Michigan
Michigan has 2,436 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,646 type 01 dealers and 592 type 07 manufacturers. 24.1 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Minnesota
Minnesota has 1,552 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,137 type 01 dealers and 311 type 07 manufacturers. 26.6 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Mississippi
Mississippi has 1,053 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 656 type 01 dealers and 215 type 07 manufacturers. 35.6 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Missouri
Missouri has 2,437 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,569 type 01 dealers and 563 type 07 manufacturers. 38.9 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Montana
Montana has 1,184 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 690 type 01 dealers and 346 type 07 manufacturers. 103.4 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Nebraska
Nebraska has 804 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 587 type 01 dealers and 159 type 07 manufacturers. 39.8 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Nevada
Nevada has 859 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 351 type 01 dealers and 342 type 07 manufacturers. 26.2 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire has 602 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 311 type 01 dealers and 238 type 07 manufacturers. 42.5 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
New Jersey
New Jersey has 380 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 214 type 01 dealers and 140 type 07 manufacturers. 4 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
New Mexico
New Mexico has 689 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 407 type 01 dealers and 205 type 07 manufacturers. 32.4 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
New York
New York has 1,816 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,357 type 01 dealers and 365 type 07 manufacturers. 9.1 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
North Carolina
North Carolina has 3,058 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,704 type 01 dealers and 916 type 07 manufacturers. 27.3 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
North Dakota
North Dakota has 543 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 417 type 01 dealers and 90 type 07 manufacturers. 67.9 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Ohio
Ohio has 2,785 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,696 type 01 dealers and 829 type 07 manufacturers. 23.4 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma has 1,704 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 941 type 01 dealers and 505 type 07 manufacturers. 41.3 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Oregon
Oregon has 1,379 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 937 type 01 dealers and 335 type 07 manufacturers. 32.3 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 3,237 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 2,213 type 01 dealers and 792 type 07 manufacturers. 24.8 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 115 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 66 type 01 dealers and 36 type 07 manufacturers. 10.3 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
South Carolina
South Carolina has 1,494 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 811 type 01 dealers and 455 type 07 manufacturers. 26.8 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
South Dakota
South Dakota has 646 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 440 type 01 dealers and 151 type 07 manufacturers. 69.1 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Tennessee
Tennessee has 1,990 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,076 type 01 dealers and 620 type 07 manufacturers. 27.2 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Texas
Texas has 8,343 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 4,202 type 01 dealers and 2,712 type 07 manufacturers. 26.3 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Utah
Utah has 1,370 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 620 type 01 dealers and 574 type 07 manufacturers. 38.7 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Vermont
Vermont has 340 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 229 type 01 dealers and 99 type 07 manufacturers. 52.7 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Virginia
Virginia has 1,994 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,228 type 01 dealers and 474 type 07 manufacturers. 22.5 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Washington
Washington has 1,165 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 627 type 01 dealers and 376 type 07 manufacturers. 14.6 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
West Virginia
West Virginia has 943 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 587 type 01 dealers and 177 type 07 manufacturers. 53.4 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has 1,775 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 1,179 type 01 dealers and 485 type 07 manufacturers. 29.7 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
Wyoming
Wyoming has 824 listed records in the ATF list, August 2026, including 466 type 01 dealers and 275 type 07 manufacturers. 140 listed records per 100,000 residents (Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025). A license is not a storefront open to the public.
How we calculated this
Count each entry in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) license list as one record, keeping license types separate. Cross-check each state and license-type count against the same month in the retained statistics edition.
Group states by the state in each ATF license address. Count cities as written in the ATF records, ignoring surrounding spaces and letter case; these names are not necessarily Census-defined places.
State map boundaries come from Census TIGERweb state boundaries, January 1, 2026; boundaries are separate from population observations and the ATF license snapshot. The map counts exclude DC and territories.
Calculate records per 100,000 residents as listed records divided by the resident-population estimate, multiplied by 100,000. Population estimate used: Census Bureau population estimate, July 1, 2025, Vintage 2025. Missing or nonpositive population estimates produce unavailable results, not zero.
Calculate the 50-state national density from the sum of state license counts divided by the sum of the same compatible state population estimates. Do not average the state rates.
Use January ATF snapshots for annual editions. The launch edition explicitly uses the ATF list, August 2026, not a retroactively assigned January snapshot. The Census Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates residents annually; it is separate from the American Community Survey (ACS). The license snapshot and population reference years can differ.
Limits
- The density ranking and benchmark exclude the District of Columbia and territories; national license-type totals retain all source rows.
- Type 03 is absent from the selected list, not evidence of zero collector licenses. Do not infer storefronts, open businesses, sales, firearm ownership, public access or unique companies.
- No county rates are published: the county code in a license number has not been shown to identify the Census county of the license address. Counts by cities as written in the ATF records are not city rates per resident.
Sources
Cite this study
USA Arms, “How do federal firearms license counts and types differ by state?” (2026 edition). https://usaarms.com/research/ffl-density/