Kuge can be classified into two ranks in a broader sense - "Toshoke" (the hereditary lineage of court nobles occupying relatively high ranks) which refers to a family allowed to be tenjobito (a high-ranking courtier allowed into the Imperial Palace) and Jigeke (family status of non-noble retainers who are not allowed into the Emperor's living quarters in the Imperial Palace) which refers to a family otherwise, but generally speaking, kuge refers to Toshoke.
公家は、広い意味では殿上人が許された家である堂上家と許されていない地下家の2つに分けられるが、一般的に公家と言えば堂上家を指す。