Commercial Lease Cost in Washington
Updated July 2026 · Washington commercial real estate rates
Calculate Commercial Lease Cost in Washington
Commercial Lease Rates in Washington
| Space Type | /sqft/yr | 1,000 sqft/mo | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office A | $73.20 | $6,100 | $60/sqft |
| Office B | $34.16 | $2,847 | $28/sqft |
| Retail Prime | $42.70 | $3,558 | $35/sqft |
| Retail Secondary | $21.96 | $1,830 | $18/sqft |
| Warehouse | $14.64 | $1,220 | $12/sqft |
| Industrial | $12.20 | $1,017 | $10/sqft |
Commercial Real Estate in Washington
Seattle's commercial lease market is above the national average, driven by Amazon, Microsoft, and major tech employers. Seattle CBD Class A office runs $45–$70/sqft/yr; Bellevue Eastside is comparable or higher. Post-2022 tech layoffs created more availability and improved tenant leverage, but Seattle remains one of the pricier commercial markets nationally.
Key Lease Terms to Understand
- • NNN: Tenant pays base rent + property taxes + insurance + maintenance
- • CAM charges: Common area maintenance; add $3–$8/sqft/yr typically
- • Rent escalations: Typically 2–4% annually built into lease
- • TI allowance: Tenant improvement allowance from landlord for build-out
- • Personal guarantee: Landlords often require for small businesses
Negotiation Tips
- • Get a tenant's broker — they're paid by the landlord, not you
- • Negotiate free rent periods (1–3 months is common in soft markets)
- • Push for higher TI allowance vs. lower rent
- • Include a subletting clause for flexibility
True Total Occupancy Cost in Washington — NNN Lease
NNN leases list only base rent — but total occupancy cost includes CAM charges, utilities, and insurance. Here's the real annual cost for 1,000 sqft in Washington.
| Space Type | Base Rent/yr | +CAM/yr | Total/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office A | $73,200 | +$6,100 | $79,300 |
| Office B | $34,160 | +$6,100 | $40,260 |
| Retail Prime | $42,700 | +$4,880 | $47,580 |
| Retail Secondary | $21,960 | +$4,880 | $26,840 |
| Warehouse | $14,640 | +$1,830 | $16,470 |
| Industrial | $12,200 | +$1,830 | $14,030 |
Based on 1,000 sqft. CAM includes property tax, insurance, and maintenance pass-throughs. 3-year total assumes 3.5% annual escalation. Add utilities ($1.50–$3.50/sqft/yr) for full occupancy cost.
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