Every warehouse listing shows a price per square foot. None of them show what you’ll actually pay each month.
This guide breaks down the real costs of small warehouse space in Atlanta—traditional leases with all the add-ons, all-inclusive options, and hidden costs that catch first-time renters off guard.
How Traditional Small Warehouse Pricing Works in Atlanta
Traditional warehouse leases quote rent in one of two ways:
Gross lease: One number that includes most costs. Rare for industrial/warehouse space.
NNN (Triple Net) lease: Base rent plus separate charges for taxes, insurance, and common area maintenance (CAM). Standard for warehouse space, and where most surprises hide.
Here’s what NNN actually includes:
Charge
What It Covers
Atlanta Range
Base rent
Space only
$5.50-10.50/SF/year
Property taxes (N)
Your share of building taxes
$1.50-3.00/SF/year
Insurance (N)
Building insurance
$0.30-0.75/SF/year
CAM (N)
Common area maintenance
$2.00-4.50/SF/year
Total NNN
Base + all N charges
$9.30-18.75/SF/year
Then add utilities you pay directly:
- Electricity: $0.15-0.40/SF/month
- Gas (if applicable): $0.05-0.10/SF/month
- Water/sewer: $0.03-0.08/SF/month
- Internet: $75-150/month flat
Example: 1,000 SF space listed at “$7.50/SF NNN”
What you actually pay:
- Base rent: $7.50 × 1,000 SF = $7,500/year = $625/month
- NNN charges: ~$3.50/SF = $3,500/year = $292/month
- Utilities: ~$200-350/month
Total: $1,117-1,267/month (not the $625/month the listing implied)
2026 Atlanta Small Warehouse Rates by Size
Traditional Lease (Total Monthly Cost Including NNN + Utilities)
Space Size
Low End
Mid Range
High End
200-400 SF
$300-450
$400-600
$550-850
400-800 SF
$500-800
$700-1,200
$1,000-1,650
800-1,500 SF
$850-1,400
$1,200-2,000
$1,700-2,700
1,500-2,000 SF
$1,250-1,900
$1,700-2,600
$2,300-3,500
Low end: Fulton Industrial, older buildings, non-climate-controlled
Mid range: Gwinnett, South Atlanta, average quality
High end: Northeast Atlanta, North Fulton, climate-controlled, newer buildings
All-Inclusive Co-Warehousing (Total Monthly Cost)
Space Size
Monthly Cost
What’s Included
200-400 SF
Starting under $700
Climate control, WiFi, loading docks, racking, conference rooms, utilities
400-800 SF
$1,100-1,900
Same
800-1,500 SF
$1,900-3,500
Same
1,500-2,000 SF
$3,500-4,800
Same
Side-by-Side: Traditional vs. All-Inclusive Total Cost
400-600 Square Feet
Traditional lease breakdown:
- Base rent: $275-525/month
- NNN charges: $115-245/month
- Utilities: $100-200/month
- Total: $490-970/month
All-inclusive co-warehousing:
- Total: $700-1,400/month
800-1,000 Square Feet
Traditional lease breakdown:
- Base rent: $450-875/month
- NNN charges: $165-410/month
- Utilities: $150-300/month
- Total: $765-1,585/month
All-inclusive co-warehousing:
- Total: $1,400-2,500/month
1,000-1,500 Square Feet
Traditional lease breakdown:
- Base rent: $600-1,250/month
- NNN charges: $200-490/month
- Utilities: $175-350/month
- Total: $975-2,090/month
All-inclusive co-warehousing:
- Total: $1,900-3,500/month
1,500-2,000 Square Feet
Traditional lease breakdown:
- Base rent: $1,000-1,700/month
- NNN charges: $310-650/month
- Utilities: $250-450/month
- Total: $1,560-2,800/month
All-inclusive co-warehousing:
- Total: $3,500-4,800/month
The Hidden Costs in Traditional Warehouse Leases
Beyond monthly rent, traditional leases come with costs that don’t appear in the listing:
- Security deposit: Typically 2-3 months’ rent. For a $1,500/month space, that’s $3,000-4,500 due at signing before you move anything in.
- First month + last month: Often required at signing along with the deposit. You might need $6,000-9,000 cash just to get the keys.
- Personal guarantee: Most landlords require a personal guarantee on the lease. If your business fails, you’re personally liable for the remaining lease term. On a 3-year lease at $1,500/month, that’s up to $54,000 of personal exposure.
Buildout costs: Many small warehouse spaces are delivered as empty shells. You pay for:
- Racking and shelving: $1,500-5,000
- Lighting upgrades: $500-2,000
- Electrical work: $500-3,000
- Security system: $500-1,500
- Internet setup: $200-500
- Basic office furniture: $500-2,000
Insurance: Required by lease, $1,000-2,000/year for general liability plus contents coverage.
Maintenance and repairs: Depending on lease terms, you may be responsible for HVAC maintenance, minor repairs, and unit upkeep. Budget $500-1,500 annually for unexpected issues.
Lease escalations: Most leases include 2-4% annual rent increases built in. Your $1,500/month space becomes $1,560 in year two, $1,622 in year three.
How Location Affects Small Warehouse Price in Atlanta
Atlanta warehouse costs vary significantly by submarket:
Area
Relative Cost
Why
North Fulton / Alpharetta
Premium (+20-30%)
Tightest vacancy, affluent market access
Northeast Atlanta / I-85 Corridor
Above average (+10-20%)
High demand, excellent access, limited inventory
Gwinnett County
Average
Good balance of cost and access
South Atlanta / Airport
Average to below
Industrial focus, less amenity-driven
Fulton Industrial / West
Below average (-10-20%)
Older buildings, improving but still value-priced
For the same 1,000 SF space, you might pay $1,800/month in Alpharetta and $1,200/month in Fulton Industrial. The Alpharetta space gets you closer to high-income customers; the Fulton Industrial space stretches your budget further.
WareSpace Presidential Parkway sits in the Northeast Atlanta / I-85 corridor—premium access to all of metro Atlanta at competitive all-inclusive rates.
When Traditional Leases Make Financial Sense
Traditional leases save money over time if:
- You’re confident about space needs for 3+ years (no uncertainty)
- You have capital for deposits, buildout, and equipment ($5,000-15,000+)
- You can absorb unexpected costs (HVAC repair, utility spikes)
- Time spent managing the space isn’t a significant opportunity cost
- Your business is stable enough to personally guarantee a long-term lease
Break-even analysis: If all-inclusive costs $600/month more than traditional, but traditional requires $8,000 upfront plus 10 hours/month of management time, all-inclusive breaks even in about 13 months. After that, traditional saves money—if nothing goes wrong.
When All-Inclusive Pricing Makes Financial Sense
All-inclusive co-warehousing makes sense if:
- Your space needs may change in the next 1-2 years
- You’re seasonal (scale up for Q4, scale down after)
- This is your first warehouse space (avoid expensive learning curve)
- You don’t have $5,000-15,000 for deposits and buildout
- Your time is worth more than the monthly premium
- You’re not ready to personally guarantee a multi-year lease
- You need professional infrastructure (conference rooms, kitchen) immediately
For most businesses under 2,000 SF, the flexibility and predictability of all-inclusive pricing outweighs the monthly premium—especially in the first 1-2 years when your needs are still evolving.
Questions to Ask Before Signing a Small Warehouse Lease in Atlanta
For any warehouse lease:
- What’s the total monthly cost including all fees? (Get this in writing)
- What’s included vs. what do I pay separately?
- What are the lease terms and renewal options?
- What happens if I need to exit early?
- Who handles repairs and maintenance?
- What are the rules about business operations, visitors, signage?
For traditional leases specifically:
- What are current NNN charges and how often do they adjust?
- What were utility costs for this space last year?
- What’s the security deposit and is any of it refundable?
- What buildout is included vs. my responsibility?
- Is a personal guarantee required? Can it be limited?
For all-inclusive spaces:
- What exactly is included in the monthly price?
- Are there any fees that aren’t included?
- What are the lease term options?
- How does scaling up or down work?
- What’s the notice period to exit or change space?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does NNN mean in warehouse leases?
NNN (triple net) means tenants pay three categories of expenses on top of base rent: property taxes, building insurance, and common area maintenance (CAM). These charges typically add $2.80-5.00/SF annually to the quoted base rent. Always ask for total occupancy cost, not just base rent.
What’s included in CAM charges?
Common Area Maintenance covers shared expenses: parking lot maintenance, landscaping, exterior lighting, property management fees, shared utility areas, and building repairs. CAM can fluctuate significantly—especially when major repairs occur—making budgeting difficult under traditional NNN leases.
How do all-inclusive warehouse rentals work in Atlanta?
All-inclusive pricing bundles base rent, property taxes, insurance, CAM, utilities, and amenities into one monthly payment. Nothing additional gets charged. This model makes budgeting predictable and eliminates surprise reconciliation bills common with NNN leases.
Should I choose the cheapest warehouse space available?
Not necessarily. Consider total business impact: Can you operate efficiently? Is inventory protected? Will the location work for shipping and client visits? Cheap space with poor dock access, inadequate climate control, or inconvenient location often costs more in operational inefficiency than slightly higher rent for better facilities.
What’s the typical security deposit for warehouse space in Atlanta?
Traditional industrial leases require 1-3 months’ rent as security deposit. Flexible small-bay facilities often require just one month or first and last month’s rent. On a $1,500/month space, this difference can mean $3,000+ in freed-up working capital.
How much should I budget for warehouse utilities in Atlanta?
In a traditional lease, budget $0.75-1.50/SF annually for electricity in climate-controlled space, plus gas for heating. A 1,500 SF space might run $100-200/month for utilities. All-inclusive facilities bundle utilities into the monthly rate, eliminating this variable cost.
Can I negotiate warehouse rental rates in Atlanta?
Negotiation opportunity depends on market conditions and lease terms. Currently, small-bay vacancy under 5% gives landlords leverage. Longer lease commitments (3+ years) typically earn better rates than short-term deals. All-inclusive facilities usually have set pricing but may offer move-in specials or first-month discounts.
Want predictable warehouse costs in Atlanta?
WareSpace Presidential Parkway offers all-inclusive pricing with everything included—climate control, loading docks, equipment, WiFi, conference rooms, 24/7 access. No NNN surprises, no utility spikes, no equipment to buy. Flexible 6-month terms, no personal guarantee.
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