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SAP Purchasing Document Types, Item Categories and Account Assignment Reference

Every SAP purchasing document has a category, a document type and per item an item category and optionally an account assignment category. Together they decide the number range, the screen layout, the release strategy and the posting. This reference collects the standard keys so you can choose the right one before configuring or buying.

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Group	Code	Meaning	When to use it
Document category	F	Purchase order	Category for all PO document types such as NB, FO, UB
Document category	K	Contract	Outline agreement with the contract document types MK and WK
Document category	L	Scheduling agreement	Outline agreement with delivery schedule lines, types LP and LPA
Document category	A	Request for quotation	RFQ and quotation, standard type AN
Document category	B	Purchase requisition	Internal request created manually or by MRP
Document type	NB	Standard purchase order	Normal PO to an external vendor, the default for ME21N
Document type	FO	Framework order	Order with a validity period and a limit, used for services and low value repeat buying
Document type	UB	Stock transport order, same company code	Move stock between plants of one company code
Document type	MK	Quantity contract	Agreed total quantity over a validity period, releases made through POs
Document type	WK	Value contract	Agreed total value over a validity period, releases made through POs
Document type	LP	Scheduling agreement	Long term agreement with schedule lines, common in automotive style supply
Document type	LPA	Scheduling agreement with release documentation	Scheduling agreement that keeps a history of each release
Document type	AN	Request for quotation	Standard RFQ document type
Item category	Standard	Standard item (blank category)	Normal material or service purchase with goods receipt and invoice receipt
Item category	K	Consignment	Vendor owned stock at your site, liability arises on consumption
Item category	L	Subcontracting	Components provided to a vendor who returns an assembled product
Item category	U	Stock transfer	Item of a stock transport order
Item category	S	Third party	Vendor delivers directly to your customer on a sales order
Item category	D	Service	Service entry sheets and service specifications
Item category	B	Limit	Open ended item with a value limit and an expected value
Item category	W	Material unknown	Item for a material with no master, only a material group
Account assignment	K	Cost center	Consumable bought for a department, expense on invoice or goods receipt
Account assignment	A	Asset	Capitalised purchase posted to an asset master record
Account assignment	F	Order	Purchase charged to an internal order
Account assignment	P	Project	Purchase charged to a WBS element
Account assignment	Q	Project make to order	Project stock for make to order scenarios
Account assignment	C	Sales order	Purchase for a specific sales order item
Account assignment	N	Network	Purchase charged to a network activity
Account assignment	U	Unknown	Account assignment is entered later, at invoice or goods receipt

Document types are customised in OMEG (purchase orders) and OMH6 (outline agreements) and are often copied under custom names. The standard names above are the SAP delivered ones, check your own configuration before building rules.

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How to use this reference

Filter by group to see only document categories, document types, item categories or account assignment categories. Search for a word like consignment or service to jump to the correct key. Export the list when you document your procurement design, or compare it with what you find in your own system with a SELECT on tables T161 (document types) and T163 (item categories).

Category, type and item category explained

The document category is the broad family: PO, contract, scheduling agreement, RFQ or requisition. The document type refines the category and carries the control settings: number range, field selection, whether a release strategy applies and which partner roles are allowed. The item category sets the process on a line, for example a subcontracting item expects component provision and a consignment item posts no vendor liability at receipt. Account assignment category decides which cost object receives the cost.

Document type controls numbering, field selection and release
Item category controls the process of each line
Account assignment decides the posting object
Material type and valuation class still decide the inventory account

Worked example

A plant buys safety glasses for a department every month. A framework order FO with item account assignment K and a value limit fits better than creating an NB per purchase. For aluminium extrusions with a supplier agreed price for the year, a quantity contract MK with PO releases keeps price in one place. For a subcontract heat treatment, the PO uses item category L, so the system tracks components supplied and consumed at the vendor.

Common mistakes

Teams often use account assignment K for stock items, which skips inventory valuation entirely. Another mistake is using NB with a service item category without service specifications, which blocks proper service entry control. A third is creating too many custom document types, each with its own release strategy, which makes the release configuration unmaintainable. Keep the set small and put variety into release characteristics instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default PO document type in SAP?

NB is the standard purchase order document type delivered by SAP and is the default in ME21N. FO framework order and UB stock transport order are the other common PO types. Customers often add their own types for specific number ranges or release rules.

What is the difference between MK and WK contracts?

MK is a quantity contract: the agreed target is a total quantity and releases consume it. WK is a value contract: the target is a total value across materials or services. Both are outline agreements with category K and both release through normal purchase orders.

Where do I find purchasing document types in the system?

Display table T161 in SE16N or SE16H for a full list with category and numbering. Configure them in SPRO under Materials Management, Purchasing, Purchase Order, Define Document Types, or with transaction OMEG. Outline agreement types are in OMH6.

When should I use a scheduling agreement instead of a PO?

Use a scheduling agreement when you receive repeat deliveries of the same material on a planned schedule, and want MRP to create schedule lines instead of new POs each time. For ad hoc or one off buys a standard PO is simpler.

If you are cleaning up document types or release strategies in an existing SAP system, we can help analyse how they are actually used in your PO history before you change anything.

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