E-commerce Warehouse Space in Fort Lauderdale: Costs, Sizes, and Options for Growing Sellers

Most e-commerce sellers hit the same inflection point somewhere between 100 and 300 orders per week. The garage that got you here stops working. Fulfillment takes twice as long as it should because you’re working around obstacles and hunting for inventory. In South Florida, there’s an added problem: humidity averaging 74-90% is slowly destroying your products in unconditioned storage.

This guide covers what warehouse space costs in Fort Lauderdale, how to determine the size you need, and how to evaluate your options.

How Much Does E-commerce Warehouse Space Cost in Fort Lauderdale?

You have three paths, each with different economics and tradeoffs.

1. Traditional leases in Broward County run $14-18/SF annually for base rent, but that’s just the starting point. NNN charges add $4-6/SF, utilities run $150-250/month, and insurance adds another $100-175. For 1,000 SF, expect $1,750-2,425/month all-in, plus $6,500-14,500 upfront for deposits, racking, and equipment. You’re also signing for 3-5 years. For a deeper breakdown of how these costs stack up, see our guide to Fort Lauderdale warehouse costs.
2. Co-warehousing bundles everything into one monthly payment. Facilities like WareSpace offer units starting around $750/month for space fitting 10+ pallets, scaling to $2,000/month for 40+ pallets. Climate control, racking, loading docks, WiFi, and utilities are typically included. Upfront cost is usually one month’s deposit, and terms start at 6 months rather than multiple years.
3. 3PL (outsourced fulfillment) means someone else handles storage and shipping. Typical costs run $2.50-5.00 per order for pick and pack, plus $15-40/pallet monthly for storage. At 1,200 orders/month, expect $3,200-6,500 before shipping.

The break-even math: At a $4.00 average 3PL cost per order, running your own space becomes cheaper around 400 consistent monthly orders. At 800 orders, you’re saving $1,700-2,200/month. 

At 1,200 orders, savings hit $2,800-3,300/month. The tradeoff is your time – 3PL frees you to focus on product and marketing, which may be worth more than the fulfillment savings depending on your business.

The Port Everglades Advantage

Port Everglades just completed its best year ever – 1,167,552 TEUs in FY2025, ranking #15 among U.S. container ports and #3 in North America for operational performance. The port generates $28.1 billion in economic activity annually and supports over 204,000 Florida jobs.

What this means for importers:

• 15-20 minutes from warehouse to port for container pickup
• Direct access to Latin America and Caribbean trade routes
• #1 Florida port for operational efficiency – faster container processing
• Adjacent to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport for air freight

Port Everglades is the only seaport in the country adjacent to an international airport. If your business touches both ocean and air freight, you have infrastructure access that doesn’t exist elsewhere.

For e-commerce sellers importing products, the math is simple: closer proximity means lower drayage costs, faster inventory turns, and quicker response when demand spikes.

How Much Warehouse Space Do E-commerce Sellers Need in South Florida?

Two variables drive your space requirements: order volume and SKU count. A seller doing 300 orders weekly from 30 SKUs needs far less room than one doing 300 orders from 300 SKUs, because fewer SKUs mean fewer pick locations and simpler inventory management.

General sizing:

• 50-100 orders/week with under 50 SKUs: 300-500 SF
• 100-250 orders/week with 50-150 SKUs: 500-800 SF
• 250-500 orders/week with 100-300 SKUs: 800-1,200 SF
• 500-1,000 orders/week with 200-500 SKUs: 1,200-2,000 SF

These assume average-sized products. Large items (furniture, fitness equipment) need more room; compact products (jewelry, supplements, electronics) let you work in a tighter space.

A functional operation needs dedicated areas for receiving, storage, packing, and shipping staging. Even in 500 SF, keeping these zones distinct speeds up the workflow. For more on setting up efficient warehouse operations, see our small warehouse space guide.

Size for 12-18 months ahead rather than current needs. Moving warehouses means address changes with carriers and suppliers, 2-4 weeks of reduced capacity, and inventory errors during transition. Growing into your space beats outgrowing it within a year.

What E-commerce Sellers Should Evaluate in Small Warehouse Space in South Florida

• Loading access depends on how you receive inventory. Parcel-only operations work fine with drive-in access at grade level. If suppliers occasionally send pallets via LTL freight, shared dock access handles it. Regular pallet receiving – weekly or more – calls for dedicated dock access or shared docks with reliable scheduling.
• 24/7 access matters more than expected. Prime Day runs overnight. Q4 means early mornings, late nights, and weekends. A lease that restricts your hours reduces your revenue during the periods that matter most.
• Climate control. Most sellers operating from unconditioned space lose 3-8% of inventory value annually to humidity damage – $1,500-4,000 on $50,000 in stock. That’s before accounting for returns, negative reviews, and platform account health issues stemming from shipping damaged products. When evaluating any space, ask: “What humidity level does this building maintain?” Proper climate control keeps relative humidity below 50%. Air conditioning alone doesn’t achieve this – you need active dehumidification. Our climate control guide identifies which product categories face the highest risk.

• Carrier proximity affects shipping cutoffs. Warehouses closer to UPS and FedEx hubs receive later pickup times, resulting in more same-day shipments. The Cypress Creek corridor has multiple carrier facilities within 10-15 minutes.
• Port proximity matters if you import. Drayage from Port Everglades to the Cypress Creek area costs $300-500/container, compared with $500-800+ further inland. At multiple containers monthly, that adds up.

Fort Lauderdale Neighborhoods for E-commerce Sellers

Your customers never visit, so optimize for your commute and shipping infrastructure access.

Cypress Creek / I-95 corridor offers the best balance for most sellers – central Broward positioning, easy highway access, and multiple carrier facilities nearby. Base rents run $14-18/SF.

Pompano Beach works for sellers prioritizing cost. Rents run $13-16/SF with better availability, still easy I-95 access.

Deerfield Beach is the value option at $12-15/SF, better for sellers in north Broward or serving Palm Beach.

Airport / Dania Beach commands $16-20/SF but only makes sense for significant air freight or immediate port access needs.

Common Mistakes E-Commerce Sellers Make When Leasing Warehouse Space in South Florida (And How to Avoid Them)

Mistake 1: Starting with 3PL Too Long

At $4/order average 3PL cost, you break even on your own space around 400 monthly orders. At 800 orders, you’re leaving $1,500-2,000/month on the table. Many sellers stay with 3PL out of inertia long past when the math favors their own space.

How to avoid it: Calculate your true 3PL cost per order (including storage, pick/pack, and special handling). Compare to your own space cost. Revisit quarterly as volume grows.

Mistake 2: Ignoring South Florida’s Humidity

This is the mistake that’s unique to South Florida. Humidity averages 74-90%—the highest in the continental U.S. Unconditioned space destroys inventory: boxes warp, electronics corrode, labels peel, mold grows on fabrics and leather.

How to avoid it: Climate control isn’t optional in South Florida for most products. Budget for it from the start. The $200-400/month premium costs far less than 5-10% inventory damage.

Mistake 3: Sizing for Current Volume

You fit 200 SKUs today. Q4 hits, you add 50 SKUs for the holidays, receive larger orders to prep for demand, and suddenly can’t move in your space. Fulfillment slows right when speed matters most.

How to avoid it: Size for 12-18 months ahead, including seasonal peaks. A few hundred extra square feet costs $200-400/month. Slow fulfillment during peak season costs far more in lost sales and reviews.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Carrier Cutoff Times

Warehouses closer to carrier hubs get later pickup times. The FedEx Ground hub in Pompano Beach processes 12,000 packages per hour. UPS has multiple facilities across Broward. Location within the market affects your shipping deadlines.

How to avoid it: Ask about carrier pickup schedules when evaluating locations. Call UPS and FedEx to confirm the latest pickup times for specific addresses.

Mistake 5: Not Planning for Returns

Returns run 20-30% for many e-commerce categories. If you don’t have space to receive, inspect, and restock returns, they pile up and become chaos during busy periods.

How to avoid it: Allocate 10-15% of your space for returns processing. Plan the workflow before you move in.

WareSpace Fort Lauderdale opens Spring 2026 at 700 NW 57th Ct, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. E-commerce warehouse space with climate control, loading docks, and 6-month terms starting at $750/month.